[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 120 (Monday, July 25, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PRESIDENTIAL ALLOWANCE MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2016--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE 
          PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 114-155)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following veto 
message from the President of the United States:

To the House of Representatives:
  I am returning herewith without my approval H.R. 1777, the 
``Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2016,'' which would amend 
the Former Presidents Act of 1958.
  I agree with H.R. 1777's goal of reforming the pensions and 
allowances provided to former Presidents so as to reduce unnecessary 
costs to taxpayers. But if implemented as drafted, the bill would have 
unintended consequences. It would impose onerous and unreasonable 
burdens on the offices of former Presidents, including by requiring the 
General Services Administration to immediately terminate salaries and 
benefits of office employees and to remove furnishings and equipment 
from offices. It would withdraw the General Services Administration's 
ability to administer leases and negatively impact operations, with 
unanticipated implications for the protection and security of former 
Presidents.
  My Administration will work with the authors of the bill and other 
leaders in the Congress, in consultation with the offices of former 
Presidents, to explore the best ways to achieve these goals going 
forward. If the Congress returns the bill having appropriately 
addressed these concerns, I will sign it. For now, I must veto the 
bill.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
                                        The White House, July 22, 2016.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The objections of the President will be 
spread at large upon the Journal, and the veto message and the bill 
will be printed as a House document.
  Without objection, further consideration of the veto message and the 
bill, H.R. 1777, is postponed until the legislative day of September 
23, 2016.
  There was no objection.

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