For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 9, 2004
President's Statement on H.R. 2443, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004
Today I have signed into law H.R. 2443, the "Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation Act of 2004." The Act authorizes
appropriations for the United States Coast Guard, facilitates
navigation and shipping, and strengthens the security of maritime
transportation.
To the extent that provisions of the Act, including sections 217,
708(c)(2), and 803(c)(11), call for submission of legislative
recommendations to the Congress, the executive branch shall construe
such 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 shall judge necessary and expedient. Accordingly, the
affected departments and agencies shall ensure that any reports or
recommendations submitted to the Congress are subjected to appropriate
executive branch review and approval before submission.
To ensure consistency with the Appointments Clause of the
Constitution, the executive branch shall construe the phrase "if
acceptable to the President and the Senate" as used in section 220 of
the Act to require nomination by the President and the advise and
consent of the Senate for the appointments addressed by that section.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 9, 2004.
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