Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / Nov. 30 1799
relatives fought the Japanese. They were the wife, Andrea, and his mother, Maebell Steele. A
sworn enemy of the United States of Amer- tape was not available for verification of the con-
ica. And here it is, 60 years later, that the tent of these remarks.
son of a Navy bomber pilot who fought in
Japan was sitting down with the Prime Min-
Statement on Signing the Military
ister of our former enemy, talking of peace.
So what happened? What historical lesson Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs
can we draw from that? Well, the lesson is, Appropriations Act, 2006
is that Japan adopted a Japanese-style de- November 30, 2005
mocracy. See, democracies are peaceful soci-
eties. History has proven democracy yields Today, I have signed into law H.R. 2528,
the peace. And what you’re seeing unfolding the ‘‘Military Quality of Life and Veterans
in the hard work we’re doing today is laying Affairs Appropriations Act, 2006.’’ This Act
the foundation for peace. Someday an Amer- appropriates funds for construction to sup-
ican President and a United States Senator port the operations of the United States
is going to look back at this generation’s call Armed Forces and for military family hous-
and say, ‘‘Thank goodness they stood true to ing. The Act also provides funds to support
the values America believes in—freedom; the medical care and other needs of our Na-
freedom to worship; human rights and tion’s veterans.
human dignity—and helped spread that to The Constitution requires bicameral pas-
parts of the world.’’ Someday an American sage, and presentment to the President, of
President is going to be sitting down, talking all congressional actions governing other
to a leader from an Islamic country, working branches, as the Supreme Court of the
on keeping the peace. We’re laying the foun- United States recognized in INS v. Chadha
dation of peace for generations to come. (1983), and thus prohibits conditioning exec-
And I look forward to working with United utive branch action on the approval of con-
States Senator Michael Steele to lay that gressional committees. Many provisions of
foundation of peace for generations to come. the Act conflict with this requirement and
Michael’s mother is named Maebell. Mine therefore shall be construed as calling solely
was named Barbara. [Laughter] She says she for notification, including the following: ‘‘De-
made their home, growing up, rich in char- partment of Defense Base Closure Account
acter. That’s what she said. She worked in 2005,’’ ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs, In-
a Laundromat for 45 years. She understood formation Technology Systems,’’ ‘‘Depart-
the true definition of wealth and richness. ment of Veterans Affairs, Construction,
She said she made her home rich in char- Major Projects,’’ and sections 128, 129, 130,
acter, rich in turning hope into action. That’s 201, 211, 216, 225, 226, 227, and 229.
the kind of fellow you want in the United Several provisions of the Act require no-
States Senate representing you, somebody tice to the Congress, including sections 107,
raised in that kind of way, somebody who 110, 113, and 118, which require notice of
was taught character matters more than any- the relocation of activities between military
thing else. Character is the basis for leader- installations, initiation of a new installation
ship. abroad, U.S. military exercises involving
Michael Steele is a man who loves his fam- $100,000 in construction costs, and the initi-
ily, loves his country, and loves his God. Mi- ation of certain types of programs. As the
chael Steele will make a United States Sen- Supreme Court of the United States has
ator that will bring pride to the great State made clear, the President’s authority to clas-
of Maryland. And I’m proud to stand with sify and control access to information bearing
him.
on national security flows from the Constitu-
Thank you all for coming. May God bless
tion and does not depend upon a legislative
you.
grant of authority. Although notice can be
NOTE: The President spoke at 11:49 a.m. in the provided in most situations as a matter of
North Club Area Lounge at M&T Bank Stadium. comity, situations may arise, especially in
In his remarks, he referred to Lt. Gov. Steele’s wartime, in which the President must act
VerDate Aug 31 2005 11:22 Dec 06, 2005 Jkt 208250 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P48DET4.002 P48DET4
1800 Nov. 30 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005
promptly under his constitutional grants of Statement on Signing the
executive power and authority as Com- Transportation, Treasury, Housing
mander in Chief while protecting sensitive and Urban Development, the
national security information. The executive Judiciary, the District of Columbia,
branch shall construe these sections to re- and Independent Agencies
quire notice at a time and in a manner con- Appropriations Act, 2006
sistent with the President’s constitutional au-
thority. November 30, 2005
The Constitution commits to the President
Today, I have signed into law H.R. 3058,
the primary responsibility for conducting the
the ‘‘Transportation, Treasury, and Housing
foreign relations of the United States, includ-
and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the
ing the exclusive responsibility for formu-
District of Columbia, and Independent
lating the position of the United States in
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006.’’ This Act
international fora and conducting negotia-
appropriates funds for fiscal year 2006 to
tions with foreign nations. Section 118, which
these departments and agencies, and for
purports, through a reporting requirement,
other purposes.
to direct the power of the Department of
The executive branch shall construe as
Defense to conduct the foreign relations of
calling solely for notification those provisions
the United States, shall be construed as advi-
of the Act that are inconsistent with the re-
sory, consistent with the Constitution’s grant
quirements of bicameral passage and pre-
of such power to the President.
sentment set forth in the Constitution, as
Section 126 of the Act purports to require
construed by the Supreme Court of the
Department of Defense officials to respond
United States in 1983 in INS v. Chadha.
in writing within 21 days to any question or Such provisions include: sections 183, 201,
inquiry from certain legislative subcommit- 205, 211, 212, 217, 218, 603, 608, 710, 711,
tees. The executive branch shall construe this 720, 838, and 841, and provisions under the
section in a manner consistent with the Presi- headings ‘‘Department of Transportation,
dent’s constitutional authority to supervise Office of the Secretary, Salaries and Ex-
the unitary executive branch and to withhold penses,’’ ‘‘Department of Transportation, Of-
information the disclosure of which could im- fice of the Secretary, Working Capital Fund,’’
pair foreign relations, the national security, ‘‘Federal Transit Administration, Administra-
the deliberative processes of the Executive, tive Expenses,’’ ‘‘Department of the Treas-
or the performance of the Executive’s con- ury, Departmental Offices, Salaries and Ex-
stitutional duties. penses,’’ ‘‘Internal Revenue Service, Busi-
ness Systems Modernization,’’ ‘‘High Inten-
sity Drug Trafficking Area Program,’’ ‘‘Gen-
George W. Bush
eral Services Administration, Federal Build-
ings Fund,’’ and ‘‘National Archive and
The White House, Records Administration, Electronic Records
November 30, 2005. Archives.’’
The executive branch shall construe the
provisions of the Act in a manner consistent
with the President’s authority to supervise
the unitary executive branch and take care
that the laws be faithfully executed, including
the authority to direct which officers in the
executive branch shall assist the President in
NOTE: H.R. 2528, approved November 30, was faithfully executing the law. Specific provi-
assigned Public Law No. 109–114. An original was sions that raise this concern include language
not available for verification of the content of this under the heading ‘‘Office of Management
statement. and Budget, Salaries and Expenses’’ relating
VerDate Aug 31 2005 11:15 Dec 06, 2005 Jkt 208250 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P48DET4.002 P48DET4