    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 47 (Monday, November 29, 1999)]
    [Pages 2423-2424]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Signing the Federal Financial Assistance Management
    Improvement Act of 1999

    November 20, 1999

        Today I have signed into law S. 468, the ``Federal Financial
    Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999.'' I strongly support the
    objective of this legislation--to make it easier for State, local, and
    tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to apply for and report
    on financial assistance. While different types of grant programs can and
    should have different applications, there is ample room for
    consolidation and streamlining of similar programs.
        Nonetheless, I have strong reservations about some of the specific
    provisions in the Act. In particular, as my Administration has indicated
    to the Congress on several occasions, the Act does not provide resources
    for, nor allow sufficient time to accomplish even partially, the very
    ambitious overhaul of grant programs that it requires. In addition, the
    Act anticipates a common application and reporting system for Federal
    grant programs, but does not amend the many program statutes that
    establish different application and reporting requirements for different
    grant programs. Furthermore, the deadlines in the Act are inconsistent
    with other legislation and unlikely to be achievable in practice. For
    example, the Act requires agencies to create a common system for
    electronic processing of all grant programs, but on a schedule that is
    inconsistent with related requirements of the Government Paperwork
    Elimination Act of 1998. For these reasons, even an extensive effort may
    yield only minimal improvements in the simplification of the grants
    process and the administration of Federal resources.
        I remain concerned that S. 468 may create expectations that will not
    be fulfilled, and tarnish the success of the efforts we have already
    begun. My Administration will, of course, continue its long-standing
    efforts to streamline, simplify, and consolidate application and
    reporting requirements.
                                                William J. Clinton
    The White House,
    November 20, 1999.

    Note: S. 468, approved November 20, was assigned Public Law No. 106-107.

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