For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 28, 2001
President Signs Defense Authorization Act
Statement by the President
I have today signed into law S. 1438, the "National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002." The Act authorizes
the funding necessary to defend the United States and its interests
around the globe. In particular, it provides the resources needed to
continue the war against global terrorism, accelerate programs for
defense against biological or chemical attacks, pursue an effective
missile defense, properly support members of the Armed Forces and their
families, and begin to transform our Armed Forces to meet the military
requirements of the 21st century.
The Act provides important improvements in the quality of life for
the members of our Armed Forces, who have dedicated their lives to the
defense of their fellow citizens. It provides for a
substantial and well-deserved increase in basic pay, improved
educational opportunities as an incentive to reenlist, and more
resources to improve military housing. The legislation also
addresses important needs of military families, such as improved job
training and education opportunities for military spouses and access
for home-schooled children of military families to facilities and
programs of Department of Defense dependent schools.
The Act will assist greatly in the rebuilding and reshaping of the
Armed Forces to meet future challenges. In particular, it
provides procurement authority for programs crucial to the projection
of American military power in support of U.S. interests abroad, such as
carrier-based strike aircraft, air superiority fighter aircraft,
large-capacity cargo aircraft, and a fast attack
submarine. The Act also authorizes funds to move forward
with our program for an effective defense against ballistic missiles.
The legislation reflects my Administration's important initiative
to establish a process for realignment and closure of unneeded military
facilities. Such realignments and closures will allow the
Government to use more effectively the taxpayer sources devoted to the
national defense. As the Act requires, military value will
be the primary consideration in recommending realignments and
closures. Regrettably, the Act defers the start of the base
closure and realignment process for several years, rather than
providing for its immediate commencement to permit efficient
restructuring promptly.
Section 1116 of the Act authorizes Federal agency employees to
retain and make personal use of promotional items such as frequent
flyer miles, upgrades, or access to carrier clubs or facilities
received as a result of certain official travel. Agency
regulations will ensure that, in connection with imple-mentation of
section 1116, employees fully observe applicable principles of ethics
in Government and regulations that prevent unneeded or inefficient
official travel.
The Act contains several provisions intended to improve the ability
of members of the Armed Forces to exercise one of the most important
rights that any citizen has -- the right to vote. Section
1605 of the Act requires State Governors, in certain circumstances, to
provide reports to the Secretary of Defense concerning the Secretary's recommendations on State voting
laws, including what recommendations the Governor has made or will make
to the State legislature on the Secretary's
recommendations. Section 1605 shall be implemented in a
manner consistent with proper regard for the role of the States, and
their legislatures and Governors, in our Federal system.
Several provisions of the Act, including sections 525(c), 546, 705,
and 3152 call for executive branch officials to submit to the Congress
proposals for legislation. These provisions shall be
implemented in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional
authority to supervise the unitary executive branch and to recommend to
the Congress such measures as the President judges necessary and
expedient.
Section 1404 vests in the Secretary of Defense authority to appoint
a chief operating officer for the Armed Forces Retirement Home, but
purports to limit the qualifications of the pool of persons from whom
the Secretary may select the appointee in a manner that rules out a
large portion of those persons best qualified by experience and
knowledge to fill the office. The Secretary shall implement
section 1404 in a manner consistent with the Appointments Clause of the
Constitution.
Under section 1002 of the Act, the Congress has stated that it
incorporates a classified annex into the statute. That annex
contains authorizations of appropriations for specified classified
programs. My Administration discourages enactment of secret
law as part of annual defense authorization acts and instead encourages
appropriate use of classified annexes to committee reports and the
joint statement of managers that accompanies the final legislation.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 28, 2001.
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