[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6945-S6946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LETTER DECLARING THE TEMPORARY TRANSFER OF POWER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT 
                      OF THE UNITED STATES--PM 103

  Under the authority of the order of the Senate of January 3, 2001, 
the Secretary of the Senate, on June 29, 2002, during the adjournment 
of the Senate, received the following message from the President of the 
United States, together with accompanying papers; which was ordered to 
lie on the table:
  Pursuant to the provisions of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution 
of the United States, the President of the

[[Page S6946]]

United States, on June 29, 2002, transmitted the following message to 
the President pro tempore of the Senate [Mr. Byrd].


                                              The White House,

                                        Washington, June 29, 2002.
     Hon. Robert C. Byrd,
     President pro tempore of the Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: As my staff has previously communicated 
     to you, I will undergo this morning a routine medical 
     procedure requiring sedation. In view of present 
     circumstances, I have determined to transfer temporarily my 
     Constitutional powers and duties to the Vice President during 
     the brief period of the procedure and recovery.
       Accordingly, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 
     of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the United States 
     Constitution, this letter shall constitute my written 
     declaration that I am unable to discharge the Constitutional 
     powers and duties of the office of President of the United 
     States. Pursuant to Section 3, the Vice President shall 
     discharge those powers and duties as Acting President until I 
     transmit to you a written declaration that I am able to 
     resume the discharge of those powers and duties.
           Sincerely,
George W. Bush.  

                          ____________________