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time ago and posted at a different forum. These are just examples though. Don't know why that link seems to have been "cleansed". 1. Clinton.
From the 2000 Presidential Documents Online via GPO Access
Monday, November 27, 2000
Volume 36--Number 47
Pages 2899-2929
Week Ending Friday, November 24, 2000
Statement on Signing the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000
November 22, 2000
Today I am pleased to sign into law S. 2712, the ``Reports
Consolidation Act of 2000.'' This Act, which passed with bipartisan
support, provides permanent authority for Federal agencies to
consolidate certain financial and performance reports into a single,
comprehensive annual report.
This Act builds on the success of a pilot program started in 1994
and represents an important step in the maturity of financial management
reporting by the Federal Government. An agency can now combine its
audited financial statements, as required by the Chief Financial
Officers Act, and its performance reports, required by the Government
Performance and Results Act.
These new consolidated reports will give the American people a more
comprehensive and useful picture of the many important services we
provide to the Nation.
William J. Clinton
The White House,
November 22, 2000.
Note: At the time of publication, S. 2712, approved November 22, had not
been received by the Office of the Federal Register in time for
assignment of a public law number.
2. Clinton
From the 2000 Presidential Documents Online via GPO Access
Monday, December 25, 2000
Volume 36--Number 51
Pages 3101-3161
Week Ending Friday, December 22, 2000
Statement on Signing the Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, the
Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001
December 21, 2000
Today I am signing into law H.R. 4942, the Departments of Commerce,
Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2001. I commend the Congress for approving a bill that provides critical
funding for enforcing our Nation's laws, protecting our precious natural
resources, promoting international peace, and supporting our diplomatic
operations.
Many portions of the Act are considerably improved compared to the
previous House
<[Page 3154>]
and Senate versions. I appreciate and commend the Congress for the many
changes that have been made, including providing additional funding to
finance the Lands Legacy program; to improve the health of our Nation's
ocean fisheries; to help close the digital divide between our more and
less affluent citizens; to improve trade compliance; to prosecute local
firearms violations; to toughen our Nation's stance against cybercrime
and terrorism; to provide additional law enforcement assistance to
Native Americans; to fund peace-keeping requirements; and to improve
worldwide embassy security.
I applaud the Congress for providing over $430 million for the
Department of Commerce's components of the Lands Legacy Initiative. This
funding will help protect marine sanctuaries; support the new
Northwestern Hawaiian Coral Reef Reserve and restore other coral reefs;
expand estuarine research reserves; and promote recovery of Pacific
coastal salmon runs through grants to western States and Tribes. The Act
fully funds activities for the Pacific Salmon Agreement with Canada at
$60 million and for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's (NOAA) work on Columbia River Basin salmon populations.
Acceptable funding is also provided for a new climate observation
initiative, a new education program with Minority Serving Institutions,
and two smaller programs: Global Observations to Benefit the Environment
and the Global Disaster Information Network.
The Act takes an important step toward closing the digital divide by
providing the requested tripling of funding for the Technology
Opportunities Program. This program will provide grants to promote
innovative applications of information technology in under-served
communities.
I am pleased that over $1.0 billion is provided for the COPS II/21st
Century Policing initiative, the successor to the highly effective
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which will enable
local police departments to begin a five-year plan to hire up to 50,000
additional community police officers, hire new community prosecutors,
and expand community-based prevention efforts. While the appropriated
funding level is still below my original request, it is $444 million
above the FY 2000 level, and will enable the COPS II program to fund
almost 6,000 new officers in FY 2001.
The Act provides almost $100 million for the Department of Justice's
counterterrorism and cybercrime initiatives. This funding level will
allow for improved efforts to meet the growing challenges of terrorism
and cybercrime, including State and local first-responder training,
staff support for the Joint Terrorism Task Forces and enhanced
technology and intelligence-gathering along the northern border. The
Department of Justice's components of the Gun Enforcement Initiative are
funded at $103 million. This appropriation will support over 600
Federal, State and local gun prosecutors, and increase research on smart
gun technologies. The Indian Country Law Enforcement initiative is
funded at $111 million. This funding, which is $19 million above the FY
2000 level, will allow the Department of Justice to assist tribes in
hiring and equipping law enforcement personnel, constructing detention
and court facilities, and developing alternative sentencing programs for
alcohol and substance abusers.
I am pleased that the Act provides $4.7 billion for the regular
operations of the Department of State, including diplomatic and consular
programs; information technology investments; and, building leases,
maintenance and repair. These funds will pay for support costs critical
to maintaining the Department's network of overseas posts and the
conduct of foreign affairs worldwide. The funded increases include
expanded efforts to promote trade compliance and enhance labor and
environmental monitoring. Funding for embassy security and construction
also includes requested support for projects of the Agency for
International Development. The Act also provides full funding for the
Administration's pilot program to allow unclassified communication and
sharing of information for all U.S. Government agencies operating at an
overseas post, as recommended by the Overseas Presence Advisory Panel.
The Act also provides $846 million for Contributions to
International Peacekeeping Activities. Funding at this level will allow
the United States to continue to support vital UN peacekeeping
operations, including ongoing
<[Page 3155>]
missions in Kosovo, East Timor, Ethiopia/Eritrea and Sierra Leone.
I am also pleased that the Act provides $17 million for the
Departments of Commerce and State and the United States Trade
Representative to help ensure U.S. companies and workers receive the
full benefits from the WTO and other bilateral agreements signed by the
United States. This funding will help to put experts overseas to deal
with compliance issues that continue to hinder fair access to markets,
double staff focused on China and Japan, and strengthen antidumping/
countervailing duty investigation capabilities.
I am pleased that H.R. 4577, the Consolidated Appropriations bill,
modifies immigration provisions included in this Act, and that the
modified legislation will ease immigration restrictions on an estimated
700,000 immigrant families living in the United States. The provisions
will extend section 245(i) until April 30, 2001, as opposed to January
14, 1998, under current law, to allow aliens (and their spouses and
children) who apply for an adjustment of status or a labor certification
to remain in the United States until such petition is approved.
Additionally, the provisions will create a new, temporary non-immigrant
visa for spouses and children of spouses of legal permanent residents
and U.S. citizens seeking to enter the United States to await approval
of legal permanent resident status for themselves (the ``V'' visa). The
provisions will also allow certain individuals who were not granted
amnesty under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 who are
currently seeking such relief through the courts to apply for permanent
residency. While I am disappointed that the legislation fails to
eliminate the disparate treatment under our immigration laws sought for
Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, Haitians, and Liberians and does
not provide any relief for deserving individuals affected by changes in
the 1996 immigration law, it is the best compromise that could be
reached after several rounds of intense negotiations.
I am also pleased that the Consolidated Appropriations bill, once
signed, will eliminate an objectionable provision in the Commerce/
Justice/State Act that purports to protect citizens from the
unauthorized sale or display of social security numbers but would not,
in fact, provide privacy safeguards that are adequate.
Although the funding levels in this Act are acceptable, I am
troubled that several issues could not be resolved despite my
Administration's best efforts during the final negotiations on the Act.
Notably, the Act does not include new hate crimes protections, and fails
to extend the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund. I strongly urge the
next Congress to reconsider these actions in future legislation.
In addition, this bill greatly restricts low-power FM radio
broadcast. Low power radio stations are an important tool in fostering
diversity on the airwaves through community-based programming. I am
deeply disappointed that Congress chose to restrict the voice of our
nation's churches, schools, civic organizations and community groups. I
commend the FCC for giving a voice to the voiceless and I urge the
Commission to go forward in licensing as many stations as possible
consistent with the limitations imposed by Congress.
I also oppose language in the Act related to the Kyoto Protocol. The
language is inappropriate because the Administration has no intent of
implementing the Protocol prior to congressional ratification. The Act
includes an additional number of provisions regarding the conduct of
foreign affairs that raise serious constitutional concerns. My
Administration's objections to these and other language provisions have
been made clear in previous statements of Administration policy. I
direct the agencies to construe these provisions to be consistent with
the President's constitutional prerogatives and responsibilities and
where such a construction is not possible, to treat them as not
interfering with those prerogatives and responsibilities.
Finally, section 629 of the Act amends the Interstate Horseracing
Act of 1978 to include within the definition of the term ``interstate
off-track wager,'' pari-mutuel wagers on horseraces that are placed or
transmitted from individuals in one State via the telephone or other
electronic media and accepted by an off-track betting system in the same
or another State. The Department of Justice,
<[Page 3156>]
however, does not view this provision as codifying the legality of
common pool wagering and interstate account wagering even where such
wagering is legal in the various States involved for horseracing, nor
does the Department view the provision as repealing or amending existing
criminal statutes that may be applicable to such activity, in
particular, sections 1084, 1952, and 1955 of Title 18, United States
Code.
Several essential modifications to this bill are contained in H.R.
4577, the Consolidated Appropriations bill. I am signing H.R. 4942 into
law today because I believe the Act, as modified by H.R. 4577, will meet
the overall needs and priorities of the American people. I urge the next
Congress and my successor to continue to promote the needs of the
American citizenry by pursuing resolution to the troublesome issues I
have highlighted above.
William J. Clinton
The White House,
December 21, 2000.
Note: H.R. 4942, approved December 21, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
553. An original was not available for verification of the content of
this statement.
3. Clinton
From the 2000 Presidential Documents Online via GPO Access
Monday, October 23, 2000
Volume 36--Number 42
Pages 2463-2527
Week Ending Friday, October 20, 2000
Statement on Signing the Fourth Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year
2001
October 20, 2000
Today I am signing a measure that will grant Congress still one more
in a series of extensions it needs to finish its work. Unfortunately,
Congress has shown little urgency toward completing its work, even
though we are now 3 weeks into the new fiscal year, and some of our most
essential priorities, especially in the area of education, have yet to
be addressed.
As of today, Congress has failed to make a commitment to reducing
class size and repairing our crumbling schools--two priorities crucial
for our Nation's students. I urge Congress to approve our proposed tax
credits to help local communities with new school construction. In
addition, Congress should invest in accountability to turn around or
shut down failing schools and open them under new management, in
improving teacher quality, and in expanding after-school efforts that
help children learn in a safe environment.
Congress must get to work to address these and other key priorities.
The measure I am signing today ends in 5 days. Congress should complete
its work by Wednesday, when this stopgap funding measure expires. If
Congress fails to complete its work by then, I will only grant
additional extensions one day at a time. Congress needs to stay in town
and complete its business without additional delay.
<[Page 2524>]
Note: At the time of publication, H.J. Res. 114, approved October 20,
had not been received by the Office of the Federal Register in time for
assignment of a public law number.
1 Bush
From the 2006 Presidential Documents Online via GPO Access
Pages 23 72
Week Ending Friday, January 13, 2006
Statement on Signing the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization
Act of 2005
January 10, 2006
Today, I have signed into law H.R. 972, the ``Trafficking Victims
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005.'' This Act enhances our ability
to combat trafficking in persons by extending and improving
prosecutorial and diplomatic tools, and also adds new protections for
victims.
Section 104(e)(2) purports to require the Secretary of State, prior
to voting for a new or reauthorized peacekeeping mission under the
auspices of a multilateral organization (or, in an emergency, as far in
advance as is practicable), to submit to the Congress a specific report.
The executive branch shall construe this reporting requirement in a
manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority as
Commander in Chief and the President's constitutional authority to
conduct the Nation's foreign affairs.
George W. Bush
The White House,
January 10, 2006.
Note: H.R. 972, approved January 10, was assigned Public Law No. 109-
164.
2. Bush
From the 2006 Presidential Documents Online via GPO Access
Pages 23 72
Week Ending Friday, January 13, 2006
Statement on Signing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2006
January 6, 2006
Today, I have signed into law H.R. 1815, the ``National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.'' The Act authorizes funding for
the defense of the United States and its interests abroad, for military
construction, and for national security-related energy programs.
Several provisions of the Act, including sections 352, 360, 403,
562, 818, and 2822, call for executive branch officials to submit to the
Congress proposals for legislation, including budget proposals for
enactment of appropriations, or purport to regulate or require
disclosure of the manner in which the President formulates
recommendations to the Congress 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 for the consideration of the Congress such
measures as the President judges necessary and expedient. Also, the
executive branch shall construe section 1206(d) of the Act, which
purports to regulate formulation by executive branch officials of
proposed programs for the President to direct, in a manner consistent
with the President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary
executive branch and to require the opinions of heads of executive
departments. In addition, the executive branch shall construe section
1513(d) of the Act, which purports to make consultation with specified
Members of Congress a precondition to the execution of the law, as
calling for but not mandating such consultation, as is consistent with
the Constitution's provisions concerning the separate powers of the
Congress to legislate and the President to execute the laws.
A number of provisions of the Act, including sections 905, 932,
1004, 1212, 1224, 1227, and 1304, call for the executive branch to
furnish information to the Congress on various subjects. The executive
branch shall construe such provisions in a manner consistent with the
President's constitutional authority to withhold information the
disclosure of which could impair foreign relations, national security,
the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the
Executive's constitutional duties.
Section 1222 of the Act refers to a joint explanatory statement of a
committee of conference on a bill as if the statement had the force of
law. The executive branch shall construe the provision in a manner
consistent with the bicameral passage and presentment requirements of
the Constitution for the making of a law.
The provisions in Title XIV in Division A of the Act are identical,
except for a punctuation change in section 1405(b)(1)(B) and revisions
in section 1406, to the corresponding provisions in Title X of Division
A of the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to
Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act,
2006 (H.R. 2863 of the 109th Congress) (Public Law 109-148). The
statement I issued upon signing H.R. 2863 into law on December 30, 2005,
is incorporated herein by reference insofar as that statement referred
to Title X of Division A of that Act.
George W. Bush
The White House,
January 6, 2006.
Note: H.R. 1815, approved January 6, was assigned Public Law No. 109-
163. This item was not received in time for publication in the
appropriate issue.
<[Page 24>]
3. Bush
From the 2006 Presidential Documents Online via GPO Access
Pages 397 452
Week Ending Friday, March 10, 2006
Statement on Signing the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act
of 2005
March 9, 2006
Today, I have signed into law H.R. 3199, the ``USA PATRIOT
Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005,'' and then S. 2271, the
``USA PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments Act of 2006.'' The
bills will help us continue to fight terrorism effectively and to combat
the use of the illegal drug methamphetamine that is ruining too many
lives.
The executive branch shall construe the provisions of H.R. 3199 that
call for furnishing information to entities outside the executive
branch, such as sections 106A and 119, in a manner consistent with the
President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive
branch and to withhold information the disclosure of which could impair
foreign relations, national security, the deliberative processes of the
Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties.
The executive branch shall construe section 756(e)(2) of H.R. 3199,
which calls for an executive branch official to submit to the Congress
recommendations for legislative action, in a manner consistent with the
President's constitutional authority to supervise
<[Page 426>]
the unitary executive branch and to recommend for the consideration of
the Congress such measures as he judges necessary and expedient.
George W. Bush
The White House,
March 9, 2006. |
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