For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 8, 2003
Statement by President on H.R. 1
Statement by the President
Today, I have signed into law H.R. 1, the "Medicare Prescription
Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003." The Act helps
achieve a more modern Medicare system that includes prescription drug
coverage and choices for seniors.
Sections 1012 and 1014 of the Act create a commission and a working
group, both with most of their members designated by Members of
Congress or the Comptroller General, a legislative agent. Sections
1012(h)(3) and 1014(j)(3) purport to give the commission and the
working group a right to secure directly from executive departments and
agencies information they seek to perform their duties. The executive
branch shall construe these provisions in a manner consistent with the
constitutional authorities of the President to supervise the unitary
executive branch and to withhold information the disclosure of which
could impair the deliberative processes of the Executive or the
performance of the Executive's constitutional duties.
Section 802 of the Act calls for the President to submit to the
Congress proposals for legislation in the event that a Medicare funding
warning is issued under section 801(a)(2). Many other provisions in
the Act, including sections 101(b), 109(d)(2), 410A(e), 434(f),
507(c)(3), 645(a)(2), 649(g), 651(d)(2), 911(f), and 1014(o), also call
for executive branch officials to submit to the Congress proposals for
legislation. The executive branch shall construe 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.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 8, 2003.
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