For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 10, 2002

Defense Bill Signing Statement
Statement by the President
[2002-01] --  38 WCPD 46 (January 14, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 3338, the "Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002," which provides $317.2 billion for national security programs administered by the Department of Defense.

It also provides $20 billion in emergency supplemental funding for the consequences of the September 11th attacks, including $3.5 billion for the Department of Defense that is urgently needed to prosecute the war on terrorism.

The Act provides appropriations for the Nation's defense and supplemental appropriations for many agencies for recovery from and response to terrorist attacks on the United States.

In particular, the Act provides the resources needed to continue the war against global terrorism, pursue an effective missile defense, properly support members of the Armed Forces and their families, and begin to transform our Armed Forces to meet the military requirements of the 21st century.

I appreciate the bipartisan effort that has gone into producing this Act. It abides by the agreed-upon aggregate funding level for Fiscal Year 2002 of $686 billion and the agreed-upon level enacted in Public Law 107-38, the "2001 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to the Terrorists Attacks on the United States" that occurred on September 11, 2001.

Public Law 107-38 -- legislation crafted and enacted with strong bipartisan cooperation -- provided a total of $40 billion in emergency funding to the Emergency Response Fund.

The $40 billion in emergency expenses was provided to assist victims of the attacks and to deal with other consequences of the attacks, including the costs of: (1) providing Federal, State, and local preparedness for mitigating and responding to the attacks; (2) providing support to counter, investigate, or prosecute domestic or international terrorism; (3) providing increased transportation security; (4) repairing public facilities and transportation systems damaged by the attacks; and (5) supporting national security. As required by Public Law 107-38, I designated the entire $40 billion as an emergency funding requirement. To date, my Administration has transferred $19.7 billion of the first $20 billion, which was made available to agencies, without requiring any further congressional action, to address the immediate needs and consequences of the attacks.

The second $20 billion provided in this Act will continue those efforts. The funds in this Act include: $3.5 billion for Department of Defense operations; $8.2 billion for New York, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania, to help those areas recover from the terrorist attacks; and $8.4 billion for homeland security activities.

I am proud that we worked together with such bipartisan spirit in the weeks following the despicable attacks on our Nation. My Administration will work together with the Congress to address additional needs as they become known during the second session of the 107th Congress.

The Act funds the vast majority of my request for critical pay raises and other quality of life programs. It supports my commitment to improving the quality of life of our military personnel and their families by including pay raises of 5 to 15 percent.

The Act also funds many of my modernization priorities, including conversion of Trident submarines to sub-marines that can carry cruise missiles.

However, because it provides approximately $2 billion less than requested, the Act does not adequately fund all my critical priorities, specifically the readiness of our forces. The $2 billion reduction is largely achieved by cuts to operation and maintenance programs.

While a small portion of that reduction is offset in dollar terms by congressional increases, those increases are for programs of a much lower priority. As a result, these cuts will place our military forces in the all too familiar predicament of having to choose either to sacrifice near-term readiness or to forego critical repair of family housing, defer important depot maintenance of our weapon systems, and reduce base operations.

Section 8007 of the Act prohibits use of funds to initiate a special access program until 30 calendar days of congressional session have elapsed after the executive branch has notified the congressional defense committees of initiation of the program.

The U.S. Supreme Court has stated that the President's authority to classify and control access to information bearing on national security flows from the Constitution and does not depend upon a legislative grant of authority.

Although 30-day advance notice can be provided in most situations as a matter of comity, situations may arise, especially in wartime, in which the President must promptly establish special access controls on classified national security information under his constitutional grants of the executive power and authority as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

The executive branch shall construe section 8007 in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President.

Section 8072 of the Act provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds available to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2002 may be used to transfer defense articles or services, other than intelligence services, to another nation or international organization for international peacekeeping, peace-enforcement, or humanitarian assistance operations, until 15 days after the executive branch notifies six committees of Congress of the planned transfer.

The provision does not affect transfers using funds available to the Department of Defense if the recipient is other than a nation or an international organization or if the transfer is of intelligence services, such as provision of or accommodation procurements for imagery intelligence, geospatial information, or cryptological support.

The provision also does not affect transfers of defense articles or services using funds contained in the Act that are available to the Central Intelligence Agency rather than the Department of Defense.

To the extent that protection of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed for international peacekeeping, peace-enforcement, or humanitarian assistance operations might require action of a kind covered by section 8072 sooner than 15 days after notification, section 8072 shall be construed in a manner consistent with my constitutional duty as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

Provisos in section 8098 of the Act purport to limit during fiscal year 2002 the number of Department of Defense military and civilian personnel assigned to legislative affairs or legislative liaison functions and to mandate the percentage distribution of such personnel among various offices of the Department. In particular, section 8098 cannot constitutionally restrict the authority of the President to control the activities of members of the armed forces, including whether and how many members of the Armed Forces assigned to the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the combatant commands, or any other element of the Department of Defense shall perform legislative affairs or legislative liaison functions.

Section 8173 prohibits the use of appropriated funds for assistance or other support to the International Criminal Court (ICC). While section 8173 clearly reflects that the Congress agrees with my Administration that it is not in the interests of the United States to become a party to the ICC treaty, I must note that this provision must be applied consistent with my constitutional authority in the area of foreign affairs, which, among other things, will enable me to take actions to protect U.S. nationals from the purported jurisdiction of the treaty.

Sections 911 and 912 in Division B of the Act provide for assistance by executive departments and agencies, including the Armed Forces, to the U.S. Capitol Police in the performance of its duties.

Safeguarding the Congress and its ability to carry out its constitutional role is vital to the continuity of our constitutional Government, and the executive branch will assist as needed and appropriate. In carrying out these sections, it is important to ensure proper respect for the separate constitutional roles and authorities of the executive and legislative branches.

With the aim of ensuring that respect within the executive branch, the Attorney General shall serve as the single point of contact within the executive branch for requests from the legislative branch, including the U.S. Capitol Police, for assistance under sections 911 and 912, and the District of Columbia National Guard and Federal law enforcement authorities shall enter into an agreement under section 912 only with the prior approval of the Attorney General.

Section 208 of Division B makes a technical correction to subsection 626(c) of Public Law 107-77 (the FY 2002 Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies Appropriations Act), but does nothing to alter the effect of that provision or any other provision of law.

Since the enactment of sub-section 626(c) and consistent with it, the executive branch has encouraged the courts to act, and will continue to encourage the courts to act, in a manner consistent with the obligations of the United States under the Algiers Accords that achieved the release of U.S. hostages in 1981.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 10, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 10, 2002

President Signs Foreign Operations Appropriations Act
Statement by the President
[2002-02] --  38 WCPD 49 (January 14, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 2506, the "Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2002." The Act provides the funds needed to support U.S. foreign policy objectives abroad and reflects the restraint on spending that has been a key goal of my Administration.

I appreciate the bipartisan effort that has gone into producing this Act. It abides by the agreed upon aggregate funding level for Fiscal Year 2002 of $686 billion. The Act will provide $15.4 billion, largely along the lines of my request, and includes essential funding to support America's war on terrorism. The Act supports such key Administration initiatives as the campaign against HIV/AIDS, with up to $100 million available for the global fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis and an additional $100 million is also provided by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

I also welcome the additional flexibility that the Act provides through the reduction in earmarks and added waiver authorities, including the changes to the annual counternarcotics certification process and the waiver provision allowing me the flexibility to provide additional assistance to Azerbaijan. This flexibility will allow my Administration to meet the diplomatic requirements stemming from the September 11th attacks, as well as to continue to address the ever-changing foreign policy challenges we face.

The Act does not interfere with our policies regarding bilateral international family planning assistance, and ensures that U.S. funds are not made available to organizations supporting or participating in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. The Act provides additional discretion to determine the appropriate level of funding for the United Nations Population Fund.

Several provisions of the Act purport to direct or burden the conduct of negotiations by the executive branch with foreign governments, international organizations, or other entities abroad, or otherwise interfere with the President's constitutional authority to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs. These include sections 514, 560, and 581(a), and the appropriations heading related to the International Development Association, which purport to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to require the U.S. representatives to take particular positions for the United States in international organizations or require the Secretary to accord priority to a particular objective in negotiations with such an organization. Another such provision is section 567(b), which purports to direct the Secretary of State to consult certain international organizations in determining the state of events abroad. These provisions shall be construed consistent with my constitutional authorities to conduct foreign affairs, participate in international negotiations, and supervise the executive branch.

Section 573 of the Act calls for the Department of State to provide regular and detailed briefings to congressional committees on any discussions between the executive branch and a particular government abroad on any potential purchase of defense articles or defense services by that government. This provision shall be construed as advisory only, given the constitutional powers of the President to supervise the executive branch and to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, which includes the authority to determine what information about international negotiations may, in the public interest, be made available to the Congress and when such disclosure should occur. The Secretary of State will, however, as a matter of comity between the executive and legislative branches, keep the Congress appropriately informed of the matters addressed by section 573.

Finally, section 577 requires that the President direct executive agencies possessing information relevant to specified deaths abroad to declassify and release that information. I will direct the Attorney General to coordinate the implementation of this section within the executive branch, so as to produce the requested information in a manner consistent with my constitutional and statutory responsibilities to protect various kinds of sensitive information.

Many provisions of the Act make funds available for particular purposes subject to, in accordance with, or under "the regular notification procedures of the Committee on Appropriations." The executive branch shall construe the reference to the "regular notification procedures" to be a reference to the procedures in section 515 of the Act.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 10, 2002.


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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 10, 2002

President Signs Labor, Health & Human Services, Education Appropriations
Statement by the President
[2002-03] --  38 WCPD 50 (January 14, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 3061, the "Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002." The legislation provides funding for key domestic programs, including the important education initiatives that have been a top priority of my Administration.

I appreciate the bipartisan effort that has gone into producing this Act. The bill abides by the agreed-upon aggregate funding level for Fiscal Year 2002 of $686 billion and supports several of my Administration's key initiatives with:

• $10.4 billion for title I grants to close the achievement gap
   
• between rich and poor students;
   
• $1 billion for Reading First and Early Reading First to help schools meet the goal of ensuring that all students can read fluently by third grade;
   
• $2.9 billion for State grants for improving teacher quality;
   
• $7.5 billion for State Grants for Special Education, an increase of $1.2 billion over FY 2001;
   
• $23.2 billion for the National Institutes of Health to support biomedical research to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability;
   
• full funding for the Consolidated Health Centers to provide quality health care to millions of uninsured and underserved Americans;
   
• additional resources for Drug Abuse Treatment services to help narrow the treatment gap between those in need of treatment and those with access to it; and
   
• full funding for Global HIV/AIDS activities to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in developing countries, including a further U.S. contribution to the global trust fund to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

While I am supportive of the overall bill, I have strong concerns that this bill creates a serious fiscal problem for 2002 by underfunding the Pell Grant program, which provides critical financial assistance to low-income students seeking higher education. The bill mandates a Pell Grant maximum award of $4,000, but provides only enough funding to pay for a maximum award of $3,600, creating a shortfall of nearly $1.3 billion. The Congress disregarded my requests to provide resources for the Pell Grant program commensurate with the maximum award. My Administration will ask the Congress to correct this shortfall in the FY 2003 Budget. I am committed to maintaining a strong Pell Grant program that ensures qualified students have access to college, and budgeting responsibly for its full costs.

I am pleased that the final version of the bill retains the prohibition against research in which human embryos are destroyed, and reinforces my determination on August 9, 2001, to support federally funded stem cell research in an ethical manner.

I am also pleased that the final version of the bill retains current law regarding funding for needle exchange programs.

The first proviso of section 207 of the Act purports to make certain transfers between appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services subject to approval by the congressional appropriations committees. Under the principles enunciated by the U.S. Supreme Court in INS v. Chadha, the Congress cannot by law make transfers of appropriations subject to the approval of committees of the Congress. At the same time, the intention of the Congress that the executive branch have flexibility to transfer funds among appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services is plain from the language of the Act. Accordingly, the executive branch shall treat the portion of the proviso of section 207 that purports to provide for congressional committee approval of transfers as having no force and severable from the remainder of the proviso of section 207 and the Act.

Also, section 217, addressing the Acting Director of NIH, and section 622, amending the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997, shall be implemented in a manner consistent with the Appointments Clause of the Constitution.

Several provisions of the Act purport to make funding available for particular projects "in the amounts specified in the statement of the managers on the conference report accompanying this Act." Although specifications of projects and amounts in a statement of managers cannot satisfy the constitutional requirements of bicameral approval and presentment to the President needed to give them the force of law, my Administration will treat these specifications in a manner reflecting the comity between the executive and legislative branches on such matters.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 10, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 16, 2002

President Signs Investor & Capital Markets Fee Relief Act
Statement by the President
[2002-04] --  38 WCPD 77 (January 21, 2002)

This legislation will relieve the fifty percent of American households that now own stock, either directly or in pension or mutual funds, from the burden of these fees, while ensuring that the SEC has sufficient funding to continue to carry out its important mission of protecting investors through vigorous enforcement of securities laws.

I applaud the Congress for acting in an overwhelming bipartisan manner in sending this legislation to my desk."

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 27, 2002

President Signs Campaign Finance Reform Act
Statement by the President
[2002-05] --  38 WCPD 517 (April 1, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 2356, the "Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002." I believe that this legislation, although far from perfect, will improve the current financing system for Federal campaigns.

The bill reforms our system of financing campaigns in several important ways. First, it will prevent unions and corporations from making unregulated, "soft" money contri-butions -- a legislative step for which I repeatedly have called.

Often, these groups take political action without the consent of their members or shareholders, so that the influence of these groups on elections does not necessarily comport with the actual views of the individuals who comprise these organizations. This prohibition will help to right that imbalance.

Second, this law will raise the decades-old limits on giving imposed on individuals who wish to support the candidate of their choice, thereby advancing my stated principle that election reform should strengthen the role of individual citizens in the political process.

Third, this legislation creates new disclosure requirements and compels speedier compliance with existing ones, which will promote the free and swift flow of information to the public regarding the activities of groups and individuals in the political process.

I long have believed that complete and immediate disclosure of the source of campaign contributions is the best way to reform campaign finance.

These provisions of the bill will go a long way toward fixing some of the most pressing problems in campaign finance today. They will result in an election finance system that encourages greater individual participation, and provides the public more accurate and timely information, than does the present system. All of the American electorate will benefit from these measures to strengthen our democracy.

However, the bill does have flaws. Certain provisions present serious constitutional concerns. In particular, H.R. 2356 goes farther than I originally proposed by preventing all individuals, not just unions and corporations, from making donations to political parties in connection with Federal elections.

I believe individual freedom to participate in elections should be expanded, not diminished; and when individual freedoms are restricted, questions arise under the First Amendment.

I also have reservations about the constitutionality of the broad ban on issue advertising, which restrains the speech of a wide variety of groups on issues of public import in the months closest to an election. I expect that the courts will resolve these legitimate legal questions as appropriate under the law.

As a policy matter, I would have preferred a bill that included a provision to protect union members and shareholders from involuntary political activities undertaken by their leadership.

Individuals have a right not to have their money spent in support of candidates or causes with which they disagree, and those rights should be better protected by law. I hope that in the future the Congress and I can work together to remedy this defect of the current financing structure.

This legislation is the culmination of more than 6 years of debate among a vast array of legislators, citizens, and groups. Accordingly, it does not represent the full ideals of any one point of view.

But it does represent progress in this often-contentious area of public policy debate. Taken as a whole, this bill improves the current system of financing for Federal campaigns, and therefore I have signed it into law.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 27, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 13, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-06] --  38 WCPD 810 (May 20, 2002)
 

I am today signing into law H.R. 2646, the "Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002." This Act will provide a safety net for America's farmers, who feed America and much of the world. The Act also will expand nutrition programs and improve the conservation and effective use of our natural resources.

A few provisions of the Act raise constitutional concerns.

The method of appointment of the board of trustees of the fellowship program prescribed in section 4404 of the Act is inconsistent with the requirements of the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. I am prepared to work with the Congress to enact legislation to cure this constitutional defect before the effective date of the program.

Sections 6027 and 6028 of the Act establish and continue multi-member regional authorities to implement development programs. Serious doubts arise concerning the constitutionality of these regional authorities because the members are likely Federal officers for purposes of the Appointments Clause, but many of the members are not appointed in the manner required by that Clause. Again, I am prepared to work with the Congress to enact legislation that will cure this constitutional shortcoming by establishing the role of the members as advisory only, or by providing for appointment of all the members in accordance with the Appointments Clause.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 13, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 15, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-07] --  38 WCPD 822 (May 20, 2002)
 

I have today signed into law H.R. 3525, the "Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002." The legislation strengthens the ability of the U.S. Government to control the country's borders, a top priority of my Administration. The Act will improve our ability to screen aliens seeking to enter our country, facilitate the sharing of border-related information among U.S. agencies, and improve efforts to keep track of foreign students and foreign exchange visitors in the United States.

Section 2(4)(G) of the Act defines as a Federal law enforcement agency the "Coastal Security Service." Because no such agency exists, and the principal agency with coastal security functions is the U.S. Coast Guard, the executive branch shall construe this provision as referring to the Coast Guard.

Several sections of the Act raise constitutional concerns.

Sections 2(6), 201(c)(2), and 202(a)(3) purport to require the President to act through a specified assistant to the President or in coordination or consultation with specified officers of the United States, agencies, or congressional committees. The President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch and take care that the laws be faithfully executed cannot be made by law subject to requirements to exercise those constitutional authorities through a particular member of the President's staff or in coordination or consultation with specified officers or elements of the Government. Accordingly, the executive branch shall treat the purported requirements as precatory.

Section 203 requires the President, in appointing the nine members of the Commission on Interoperable Data Sharing, to appoint eight of them from a list of nominees provided by the congressional leadership acting jointly. Laws that provide for appointment in the Government of individuals to exercise significant governmental authority must provide for such appointment by one of the means specified in the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, which includes appointment by the President with Senate consent or by the President alone, but does not include appointment by the President from a pool of persons selected by the congressional leadership. Accordingly, to give effect to section 203 insofar as is constitutionally permissible, the executive branch shall construe the Commission's functions as advisory only. Also, the executive branch shall construe the Commission's responsibility to make recommendations to the Congress in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to submit for congres-sional consideration such measures as the President shall judge necessary and expedient.

The executive branch shall construe section 404(a), relating to U.S.-Canadian joint border inspection operations under an international agreement, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to conduct the foreign affairs of the Nation and to supervise the unitary executive branch.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 14, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 14, 2002

President Signs Export-Import Bank Act
[2002-08] --  38 WCPD 1014 (June 17, 2002)
 

I have today signed into law S. 1372, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2002. This legislation will ensure the continued effective operation of the Export-Import Bank, which helps advance U.S. trade policy, facilitate the sale of U.S. goods and services abroad, and create jobs here at home.

The executive branch shall carry out section 7(b) of the bill, which relates to certain small businesses, in a manner consistent with the requirements of equal protection under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

Subsections 10(a) and 10(b)(2) of the bill purport to require the Secretary of the Treasury to negotiate with foreign countries and international organizations to achieve particular purposes and to require the Secretary to submit a report to congressional committees on the contents of negotiations and certain related executive deliberations. These provisions interfere with the President's constitutional authority to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, supervise the unitary executive branch, and withhold information the disclosure of which could impair foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the executive, or the performance of the executive's constitutional duties. Accordingly, the executive branch shall construe these provisions as precatory rather than mandatory.

The executive branch shall construe the reference to the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948," added to section 2(b)(1)(B) of the Export-Import Bank Act by section 15 of the bill, as only providing examples of types of human rights that the President may wish to consider in making a determination under section 2(b)(1)(B) and not as giving the Universal Declaration the force of U.S. law.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 14, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 25, 2002

Statement by the President
Enactment of Implementing Legislation for International Terrorism Conventions
[2002-09] --  38 WCPD 1093 (July 1, 2002)
 

Earlier today I signed into law the implementing legislation for two very important United Nations international conventions against terrorism: the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. I thank the Congress, especially the Judiciary committees, for its hard work in passing this legislation, which will strengthen our campaign against global terrorism. The Senate gave its advice and consent to ratification of these Conventions last December. Now that this legislation has been enacted, the United States will deposit its instruments of ratification at the United Nations and become a party to these two Conventions.

These two Conventions strengthen international efforts to defeat terrorism of global reach. They underscore -- along with ten other international terrorism conventions -- the broad moral consensus that violence against innocent civilians is a criminal act and must be punished. These Conventions also require parties to them to take practical steps to bring terrorists and their supporters to justice. The Terrorist Bombings Convention creates a new and important mechanism for nations to cooperate in investigating and prosecuting terrorist crimes. The International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism strengthens our continuing efforts to cut off the flow of funds to terrorist groups.

In Canada this week, I will be discussing with leaders from other industrialized nations ways we can ensure that all countries take stronger legal measures against terrorism. In particular, I urge all countries to join us in becoming party to these Conventions and fully adhering to U.N. Security Council Resolutions to stop terrorism, particularly U.N. Security Council Resolution 1373, which denies safe haven to terrorists and prohibits terrorist financing, recruitment, and access to weapons and other support. I will continue to work with other leaders around the world to build a consensus that terrorism, whatever the excuse, is unacceptable. Working together, America and the other freedom-loving nations of the world are moving towards a day when our children can live free from the fear of terrorism and free to achieve their dreams.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 28, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-10] --  38 WCPD 1112 (July 8, 2002)
 

I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 327, the "Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002." This legislation will help achieve an important objective of my Administration to reduce the cost and burden on small businesses of government paperwork and increase the resources available to small businesses to create jobs and economic growth.

Section 3 of the bill creates a new section 3520 in title 44 of the United States Code to create an interagency task force on information collection and dissemination to help the heads of departments and agencies reduce the government burden on small businesses. Section 3520 purports to require task force publication of differences in views among executive officers and transmittal of recommendations to congressional committees. The executive branch shall construe section 3520 in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch, to protect the confidentiality of executive deliberations, and to recommend to the consideration of the Congress such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 28, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 30, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-11] --  38 WCPD 1286 (August 5, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 3763, "An Act to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities laws, and for other purposes." The Act adopts tough new provisions to deter and punish corporate and accounting fraud and corruption, ensure justice for wrongdoers, and protect the interests of workers and shareholders.

Several provisions of the Act require careful construction by the executive branch as it faithfully executes the Act.

The legislative purpose of sections 302, 401, and 906 of the Act, relating to certification and accuracy of reports, is to strengthen the existing corporate reporting system under section 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, the executive branch shall construe this Act as not affecting the authority relating to national security set forth in section 13(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

To ensure that no infringement on the constitutional right to petition the Government for redress of grievances occurs in the enforcement of section 1512(c) of title 18 of the U.S. Code, enacted by section 1102 of the Act, which among other things prohibits corruptly influencing any official proceeding, the executive branch shall construe the term "corruptly" in section 1512(c)(2) as requiring proof of a criminal state of mind on the part of the defendant.

Given that the legislative purpose of section 1514A of title 18 of the U.S. Code, enacted by section 806 of the Act, is to protect against company retaliation for lawful cooperation with investigations and not to define the scope of investigative authority or to grant new investigative authority, the executive branch shall construe section 1514A(a)(1)(B) as referring to investigations authorized by the rules of the Senate or the House of Representatives and conducted for a proper legislative purpose.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
July 30, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 23, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-12] --  38 WCPD 1427 (September 2, 2002)
 

I have signed into law H.R. 2068, a bill "to revise, codify, and enact without substantive change certain general and permanent laws, related to public buildings, property, and works, as title 40, United States Code, 'Public Buildings, Property, and Works'." This measure is the latest in a series that is intended to enact all titles of the United States Code into positive law.

In approving this bill, I note that section 312(b)(2), concerning cert in transfers of funds for equipment purchases, and section 3305(a)(3), concerning the use of land as a site for a public building, state that the executive branch may take action only after receiving the approval of certain committees of Congress. The constitutional requirement of bicameralism and presentment is infringed whenever a single house, committee, or agent of Congress attempts to direct the execution of the laws or to promulgate rules or standards intended to bind the actions of executive or administrative officials that have not been approved by both houses and presented to the President. INS v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919, 958 59 (1983). The executive branch will therefore interpret these and similar provisions to require advance notification only, since any other interpretation would contradict the Supreme Court's ruling in INS v. Chadha.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 23, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 18, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-13] --  38 WCPD 1576 (September 23, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 5012, an Act to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act, authorizing a construction project to improve, among other things, pedestrian, vehicular, and bicycle access to the Kennedy Center.

As added by H.R. 5012, however, section 12(b)(5) purports to make the Secretary of Transportation's (Secretary) entry into contracts "[s]ubject to the approval of the Board." Because the membership of the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center (Board) by law includes Members of Congress, the Board cannot constitutionally exercise executive power, such as the power to approve the exercise of contracting authority by the head of an executive department. The exercise of such power by Members of Congress would violate the separation of powers embodied in our Constitution.

It is not evident that the Congress would have withheld contracting authority from the Secretary absent the invalid Board approval requirement. Therefore the executive branch shall treat the Board approval requirement as severable from the remainder of section 12(b)(5), leaving fully operative the contracting authority granted to the Secretary. As a matter of comity, the Secretary shall consult the Board as appropriate in relation to the Secretary's exercise of the authority to enter into contracts under section 12(b)(5).

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
September 18, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 30, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-14] --  38 WCPD 1658 (October 7, 2002)
 

I have today signed into law H.R. 1646, the "Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003." This Act authorizes appropriations, and provides important new authorities, for diplomatic and related activities of the U.S. Government. Many provisions in the Act will strengthen our ability to advance American interests around the globe, including nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and to meet our international commitments, including those to the United Nations. Regrettably, the Act contains a number of provisions that impermissibly interfere with the constitutional functions of the presidency in foreign affairs, including provisions that purport to establish foreign policy that are of significant concern.

The executive branch shall construe as advisory the provisions of the Act, including sections 408, 616, 621, 633, and 1343(b), that purport to direct or burden the conduct of negotiations by the executive branch with foreign governments, international organizations, or other entities abroad or which purport to direct executive branch officials to use the U.S. voice and vote in international organizations to achieve specified foreign policy objectives. Such provisions, if construed as mandatory rather than advisory, would impermissibly interfere with the President's constitutional authorities to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, participate in international negotiations, and supervise the unitary executive branch.

The executive branch shall also construe provisions in the Act that mandate submission of information to the Congress or the public, such as sections 204, 215, 603, 613(b), 615 and 1602, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to withhold information the disclosure of which could impair the foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties. The Secretary of State will, of course, continue as a matter of comity to keep the Congress appropriately informed of the Nation's foreign affairs activities.

Several provisions of the Act, including sections 650, 1205(d)(5), and 1501(7) call for executive branch officials to submit to the Congress recommendations for legislation. The executive branch shall implement these provisions in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive branch and to recommend to the Congress such measures as the President judges necessary and expedient.

Section 214, concerning Jerusalem, impermissibly interferes with the President's constitutional authority to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs and to supervise the unitary executive branch. Moreover, the purported direction in section 214 would, if construed as mandatory rather than advisory, impermissibly interfere with the President's constitutional authority to formulate the position of the United States, speak for the Nation in international affairs, and determine the terms on which recognition is given to foreign states. U.S. policy regarding Jerusalem has not changed.

The executive branch shall implement sections 325 and 687 in a manner consistent with the equal protection requirements of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

Section 505 of the Act excludes U.S. Government employees abroad assigned to duty as correspondents for the Voice of America (VOA) from the statutory responsibilities of the Secretary of State for security of certain U.S. Government personnel abroad and of chiefs of U.S. missions for direction of such personnel. Pursuant to the constitutional authority of the President to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs and to supervise the unitary executive branch, the Secretary of State may provide such direction as may be necessary with respect to the security and conduct of U.S. Government employees abroad assigned to duty as VOA correspondents.

Section 604 purports to require the imposition of certain sanctions on the Palestinian Liberation Organization or Palestinian Authority based on the determinations that the President makes or fails to make in the report provided for in section 603. Although a waiver authority is also provided, I note that some of these sanctions, in particular with respect to visas and the status of representational offices, bear on the President's power with respect to the timing and nature of diplomatic communications. Accordingly, I shall construe these requirements in a manner consistent with my constitutional responsibilities for the conduct of foreign affairs.

Section 645 of the Act purports to require the President to implement a law through a particular subordinate officer in the Department of Commerce. The executive branch shall implement this provision in a manner consistent with the President's authority to supervise the unitary executive branch, including the authority to direct which officers in the executive branch shall assist the President in faithfully executing the law.

Section 686 makes seven additional plaintiffs with judgments against Iran eligible for payments under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000. While U.S. victims of international terrorism are deserving of compensation in accordance with the law, the continued piecemeal legislative approach that addresses some victims and not others is neither equitable nor practicable. The Congress should develop a compre-hensive proposal that provides compensation for all victims, following the principles my Administration outlined in June of this year. Such a proposal should not draw upon blocked assets to fund victim compensation, so as to preserve the prerogatives of the President in the area of foreign affairs.

Sections 321 and 322, which provide certain retirement benefits to discrete groups of Federal employees, undermine fundamental principles underlying Federal retirement systems. These sections introduce serious inequities in the operation of those systems, and set undesirable precedents. My Administration will submit to the Congress appropriate legislation to repeal section 321 and to adopt remedial legislation in lieu of section 322 that would not undermine the integrity, equity, and sound funding principles of our Federal retirement systems.

Section 1206 could be misconstrued to imply a change in the "one China" policy of the United States when, in fact, that U.S. policy remains unchanged. To the extent that this section could be read to purport to change United States policy, it impermissibly interferes with the President's constitutional authority to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs.

Section 1406 of the Act requires that actions to remove items from the munitions list be subject to reprogramming notifications to committees of Congress. By its plain terms, this provision does not subject such actions to any committee approval requirements, which would be impermissible under the constitutional separation of powers, and accordingly, the executive branch shall so implement it.

My approval of the Act does not constitute my adoption of the various statements of policy in the Act as U.S. foreign policy. Given the Constitution's commitment to the presidency of the authority to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, the executive branch shall construe such policy statements as advisory, giving them the due weight that comity between the legislative and executive branches should require, to the extent consistent with U.S. foreign policy.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
September 30, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 30, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-15] --  38 WCPD 1660 (October 7, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.J. Res. 111, a short-term continuing resolution for FY 2003. The resolution provides appropriations for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government through October 4, 2002. It ensures that Government operations continue with-out interruption at their current operating level, creates no new programs, and contains no increases in spending.

Section 117 of the continuing resolution purports to prohibit all executive branch agencies from spending any funds made available under the continuing resolution "in violation of section 501 of title 44, United States Code." That section would require executive branch agencies to procure printing from the Government Printing Office, a legislative branch entity. The longstanding position of the executive branch, memorialized in a May 1996 opinion by the Department of Justice, is that this language violates the constitutional principles of separation of powers and therefore is not binding on the executive branch. [See Memorandum from Walter Dellinger, Assistant Attorney General, to Emily C. Hewitt, General Counsel, General Services Administration, May 31, 1996.]

My Administration will continue to work with the Congress to ensure that sound fiscal principles are adhered to as we complete action on the FY 2003 appropriations bills.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 11, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-16] --  38 WCPD 1745 (October 14, 2002)
 

I have today signed into law S. 1175, the "Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act of 2002." In 1863, union forces under the command of Major General Ulysses S. Grant and confederate forces under the command of Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton fought for control of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a strategic location on the lower Mississippi River. The Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to add the confederate commander's headquarters to the Park, which has included the union commander's headquarters for many decades. The Act will enable the Department of the Interior to preserve property for the education of Americans today, and in generations to come.

The second sentence of section 3(b) of the Act reads: "Upon the acquisition of the property referenced in this subsection, the Secretary add it to Vicksburg National Military Park and shall modify the boundaries of the park to reflect its inclusion." It is plain in reading the sentence that a word is missing between the words "Secretary" and "add."

In accordance with section 106 of title 1 of the United States Code, enrolled bill S. 1175 was presented to me bearing the signatures of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate, which attests that both Houses passed the bill. In accordance with the principles enunciated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Marshall Field & Co. v. Clark in 1892, I take the bill presented as being duly enrolled and shall not turn to the journals of either House, the reports of congressional committees, or other documents printed by the authority of Congress in an effort to determine whether an error in the enrollment of S. 1175 has occurred.

Recognizing that the second half of the sentence in issue provides that the Secretary "shall" modify park boundaries to reflect inclusion of the property in the Park, the most reasonable construction of the first half of the sentence is that, after the Secretary of the Interior acquires the property, addition of the property to the Park by the Secretary is mandatory. Accordingly, the executive branch shall implement the second sentence of section 3(b) of the Act in the same way it would implement the Act if the word "shall" appeared in that sentence between the words "Secretary" and "add." This construction is faithful to the legislative intent as evidenced by the content of the statute itself.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 11, 2002.
 

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 16, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-17] --  38 WCPD 1779 (October 21, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.J. Res. 114, a resolution "To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq." By passing H.J. Res. 114, the Congress has demonstrated that the United States speaks with one voice on the threat to international peace and security posed by Iraq. It has also clearly communicated to the international community, to the United Nations Security Council, and, above all, to Iraq's tyrannical regime a powerful and important message: the days of Iraq flouting the will of the world, brutalizing its own people, and terrorizing its neighbors must -- and will -- end. Iraq will either comply with all U.N. resolutions, rid itself of weapons of mass destruction, and in its support for terrorists, or it will be compelled to do so. I hope that Iraq will choose compliance and peace, and I believe passage of this resolution makes that choice more likely.

The debate over this resolution in the Congress was in the finest traditions of American democracy. There is no social or political force greater than a free people united in a common and compelling objective. It is for that reason that I sought an additional resolution of support from the Congress to use force against Iraq, should force become necessary. While I appreciate receiving that support, my request for it did not, and my signing this resolution does not, constitute any change in the long-standing positions of the executive branch on either the President's constitutional authority to use force to deter, prevent, or respond to aggression or other threats to U.S. interests or on the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution. On the important question of the threat posed by Iraq, however, the views and goals of the Congress, as expressed in H.J. Res. 114 and previous congressional resolutions and enactments, and those of the President are the same.

Throughout the past months, I have had extensive consultations with the Congress, and I look forward to con-tinuing close consultation in the months ahead. In addition, in accordance with section 4 of H.J. Res. 114, I intend to submit written reports to the Congress on matters relevant to this resolution every 60 days. To the extent possible, I intend to consolidate information in these reports with the information concerning Iraq submitted to the Congress pursuant to previous, related resolutions.

The United States is committed to a world in which the people of all nations can live in freedom, peace, and security. Enactment of H.J. Res. 114 is an important step on the road toward such a world.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 16, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 21, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-18] --  38 WCPD 1819 (October 28, 2002)
 

I have today signed into law H.R. 5531, the "Sudan Peace Act." This Act demonstrates the clear resolve of the United States to promote a lasting, just peace; human rights; and freedom from persecution for the people of Sudan. The Act is designed to help address the evils inflicted on the people of Sudan by their government -- including senseless suffering, use of emergency food relief as a weapon of war, and the practice of slavery -- and to press the parties, and in particular the Sudanese Government, to complete in good faith the negotiations to end the war.

Section 6(b) of the Act purports to direct or burden the conduct of negotiations by the executive branch with foreign governments, international financial institutions, and the United Nations Security Council and purports to establish U.S. foreign policy objectives. The executive branch shall construe these provisions as advisory because such provisions, if construed as mandatory, would impermissibly interfere with the President's exercise of his constitutional authorities to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, participate in international negotiations, and supervise the unitary executive branch.

Several provisions of the Act purport to require executive branch reports to congressional committees concerning the contents of U.S. diplomatic advocacy, plans for U.S. diplomatic activities to achieve particular foreign policy objectives, and information on particular activities abroad. The executive branch shall construe these provisions in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to withhold information, the disclosure of which could impair the foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties. The Secretary of State will, of course, continue as a matter of comity to keep the Congress appropriately informed of the Nation's foreign affairs activities.

A provision of the Act defines a particular entity as the "Government of Sudan" for purposes of implementing the Act. The executive branch shall construe the Act in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority for the United States to recognize foreign states and to determine what constitutes the governments of such foreign states.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 21, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 23, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-19] --  38 WCPD 1834 (October 28, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 5010, the "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2003," which provides $354.8 billion for national security programs administered by the Department of Defense.

I appreciate the bipartisan effort that has gone into producing this Act. It abides by an aggregate FY 2003 funding level that I support of $759 billion, which is consistent with the House-passed Budget Resolution. My Administration appreciates that the Congress has completed the FY 2003 Defense and Military Construction appropriations bills.

I am disappointed that the Act does not fund the $10 billion I requested to support the war on terrorism. I am also concerned that the Act cuts $2.7 billion from my request for operations and maintenance activities at the very time our Armed Forces are engaged in a battle against global terrorism. Without these funds, we may be forced to reduce other important programs to finance the war on terrorism.

Sections 8007 and 8111 of the Act prohibit the use of funds to initiate a special access program or to initiate a new start program, unless the congressional defense committees receive advance notice of such initiation. The U.S. Supreme Court has stated that the President's authority to classify and control access to information bearing on national security flows from the Constitution and does not depend upon a legislative grant of authority. Although the advance notice contemplated by sections 8007 and 8111 can be provided in most situations as a matter of comity, situations may arise, especially in wartime, in which the President must act promptly under his constitutional grants of executive power and authority as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces while protecting certain extraordinarily sensitive national security information. The executive branch shall construe sections 8007 and 8111 in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President.

Section 8066 of the Act provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds available to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2003 may be used to transfer defense articles or services, other than intelligence services, to another nation or an international organization for international peacekeeping, peace-enforcement, or humanitarian assistance operations, until 15 days after the executive branch notifies six committees of Congress of the planned transfer. The provision does not affect transfers using funds available to the Department of Defense if the recipient is other than a nation or an international organization or if the transfer is of intelligence services, such as provision of or accommodation procurements for imagery intelligence, geospatial information, or cryptological support. The provision also does not affect transfers of defense articles or defense services using funds contained in the Act that are available to the Central Intelligence Agency rather than the Department of Defense. To the extent that protection of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed for international peacekeeping, peace-enforcement, or humanitarian assistance operations might require action of a kind covered by section 8066 sooner than 15 days after notification, the executive branch shall construe section 8066 in a manner consistent with my constitutional duty as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

A proviso in the Act's appropriation for "Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide" prohibits implementation of, and purports to prohibit planning for, consolidation of certain offices within the Department of Defense. Similarly, section 8121 of the Act purports to specify the content of future Department of Defense budgetary and programming plans. The executive branch shall construe these provisions relating to planning in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to require the opinions of the heads of departments and to recommend for congressional consideration such measures as the President shall judge necessary and expedient.

Section 8094 of the Act provides that, in implementing a healthcare interagency partnership under that section, Native Hawaiians shall have the status of Native Americans who are eligible for the healthcare services provided by the Indian Health Service. The executive branch shall implement section 8094 in a manner consistent with the requirement to afford equal protection of the laws under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

Section 8116 of the Act makes certain appropriated funds available for transportation, food, lodging, supplies, fees, and training materials for members of the Armed Forces and their immediate family members while participating in chaplain-led programs, such as retreats and conferences, that assist them in building and maintaining a strong family structure. In implementing this provision, the executive branch shall accord the fullest respect to the fundamental constitutional right of free exercise of religion, subject to the constitutional limitation on establishment of religion and any other applicable law.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 23, 2002.
 

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 23, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-20] --  38 WCPD 1834 (October 28, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 5011, the "Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2003," which provides $10.5 billion for Department of Defense military construction and family housing programs. The Act ensures the Nation's military construction priorities are met and provides the resources and infrastructure for our fighting forces at home and abroad. My Administration is committed to improving military housing and the quality of life of our uniformed defenders and their families, and this bill clearly reflects that commitment.

Sections 107, 110, and 113 of the Act provide for notice to the Congress of relocation of activities between military installations, initiation of a new installation abroad, or U.S. military exercises involving $100,000 in construction costs. The U.S. Supreme Court has stated that the President's authority to classify and control access to information bearing on national security flows from the Constitution and does not depend upon a legislative grant of authority. Although the notice can be provided in most situations as a matter of comity, situations may arise, especially in wartime, in which the President must act promptly under his constitutional grants of executive power and authority as Commander in Chief while protecting sensitive national security information. The executive branch shall construe these sections in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority.

Section 119 provides for the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the Congress with details of proposed actions to encourage certain cooperating nations to assume a greater share of the common defense burden. The executive branch shall construe this provision in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to withhold information, the disclosure of which could impair foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties. The Secretary of Defense will, of course, continue as a matter of comity to keep the Congress appropriately informed of the matters addressed by section 119.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 23, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 23, 2002

Statement by the President
[2002-21] --  38 WCPD 1839 (October 28, 2002)
 

I have today signed into law H.R. 2121, the "Russian Democracy Act of 2002." This Act seeks to promote democracy, the rule of law, and an independent media in the Russian Federation.

Section 3(b) of the Act purports to establish U.S. policy towards Russia. My approval of the Act does not constitute my adoption of the statements of policy in section 3(b) as U.S. foreign policy. Given the Constitution's commitment to the presidency of the authority to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, the executive branch shall construe such policy statements as advisory, giving them the due weight that comity between the legislative and executive branches should require, to the extent consistent with U.S. foreign policy.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 23, 2002.

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 28, 2002

President's Statement on H.R. 5651, the "Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002"
[2002-22] --  38 WCPD 1874 (November 4, 2002)
 

Today I have signed into law H.R. 5651, the "Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002." The Act protects patients from inappropriate reuse of medical devices, strengthens the inspection regime for medical device manufacturing facilities, modernizes Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medical device operations, and establishes a program under which the users of the FDA's medical device review services pay for those services.

Section 201(a) of the Act enacts section 704(g)(10) of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, which purports to make the operation of the "accredited persons" inspection provisions for medical device establishments dependent upon certain determinations by the Comptroller General, a legislative agent, of amounts obligated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for particular purposes. The executive branch shall construe this provision in accordance with the principles set forth in Bowsher v. Synar, 478 U.S. 714 (1986).

Several provisions of the Act require executive branch officials to submit recommendations to the Congress. The executive branch shall construe such provisions in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to submit for the consideration of the Congress such measures as the President judges necessary and expedient.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 26, 2002

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 29, 2002

President Signs "Help America Vote Act of 2002"
Statement by the President
[2002-23] --  38 WCPD 1888 (November 4, 2002)
 

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GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 2, 2002.


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Statement on Signing the E-Government Act of 2002
December 17, 2002
[2002-32] --  38 WCPD 2174 (December 23, 2002)


Today I have signed into law H.R. 2458, the "E-Government Act of 2002." This legislation builds upon my Administration's expanding E-Government initiative by ensuring strong leadership of the information technology activities of Federal agencies, a comprehensive framework for information security standards and programs, and uniform safeguards to protect the confidentiality of information provided by the public for statistical purposes. The Act will also assist in expanding the use of the Internet and computer resources in order to deliver Government services, consistent with the reform principles I outlined on July 10, 2002, for a citizen-centered, results-oriented, and market-based Government.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 19, 2002.


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