For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 17, 2002
President Signs E-Government Act
Statement by the President
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.
Title II of this Act authorizes agencies to award
"share-in-savings" contracts under which contractors share in the
savings achieved by agencies through the provision of technologies that
improve or accelerate their work. The executive branch shall ensure,
consistent with applicable law, that these contracts are operated
according to sound fiscal policy and limit authorized waivers for
funding of potential termination costs to appropriate circumstances, so
as to minimize the financial risk to the Government.
Title III of this Act is the Federal Information Security
Management Act of 2002. It is very similar to title X of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002, which also bears the name Federal Information
Security Management Act of 2002 and which I signed into law on November
25, 2002. I am signing into law the E-Government Act after the
enactment of the Homeland Security Act, and there is no indication that
the Congress intended the E-Government Act to provide interim
provisions that would apply only until the Homeland Security Act took
effect. Thus, notwithstanding the delayed effective dates applicable
to the Homeland Security Act, the executive branch will construe the
E-Government Act as permanently superseding the Homeland Security Act
in those instances where both Acts prescribe different amendments to
the same provisions of the United States Code.
Finally, the executive branch shall construe and implement the Act
in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authorities
to supervise the unitary executive branch and to protect sensitive
national security, law enforcement, and foreign relations information.
In particular, consistent with my constitutional authorities and
section 301(c) of this Act, the executive branch shall construe the Act
in a manner that preserves the authorities of the Secretary of Defense,
the Director of Central Intelligence, and other agency heads with
regard to the operation, control, and management of national security
systems.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 17, 2002.
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