For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 13, 2001
President Signs Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
Statement by the President
I have signed into law H.R. 2311, the "Energy and Water Development
Appropriations Act, 2002."
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. It
provides funding for several important programs with significant
national benefits including:
$ key research projects designed to develop
new energy technologies and improve the efficiency of existing energy
technologies, such as for solar and renewable energy production, as
called for in the National Energy Policy report;
$ nonproliferation programs that seek to
prevent nuclear materials and other weapons of mass destruction from
falling into the hands of terrorists and rogue states;
$ stockpile stewardship, which is critical
to maintaining the safety, reliability, and performance of our nuclear
weapons stockpile; and
$ water resources development and management
projects, and programs for commercial navigation, flood damage
reduction, and environmental restoration and enhancement.
Section 303 of the bill purports to require congressional approval
before executive branch execution of aspects of the bill. I
will interpret such provisions to require notification only, since any
other interpretation would contradict the Supreme Court ruling in INS
v. Chadha. Provisions of H.R. 2311 that purport to remove my authority
to oversee the activities of the Army Corps of Engineers will be
construed consistent with my constitutional authority to supervise the
unitary executive branch.
My Administration appreciates that the Congress has worked
expeditiously during this difficult and trying time in our Nation's
history to consider the FY 2002 appropriations bills. Now,
through a renewed sense of bipartisanship, the Congress and the
Administration must work together to ensure the timely enactment of the
remaining bills.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
November 12, 2001.
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