[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14506-14507]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                THE PRESIDENTIAL SIGNING STATEMENTS ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on May 8, 2008, I 
introduced H.R. 5993, the Presidential Signing Statements Act. This 
bill would promote congressional and public awareness and understanding 
of presidential signing statements.
  The history of presidential signing statements dates back to the 19th 
century; however, a September 17, 2007, Congressional Research Service 
report noted that U.S. Presidents have increasingly employed the 
statements to assert constitutional and legal objections to 
congressional enactments. In doing so, a President sometimes 
communicates their intent to disregard certain provisions of bills that 
have been signed into law.
  It is for this reason that I have introduced the Presidential Signing 
Statements Act. Just as the American people have access to the text of 
bills that are signed into law, they should have easy and prompt access 
to the content of presidential signing statements that may affect how 
those laws will be executed. To enable a more complete public 
understanding of our Nation's laws, the Congress should also be able to 
call for the executive explanation and justification for a presidential 
signing statement.
  According to CRS, President Clinton issued 381 signing statements 
while in office; 70 of these statements raised legal or constitutional 
objections. President George W. Bush has issued 157 signing statements; 
122 of these statements have contained some type of constitutional 
challenge or objection. Because it's reasonable to assume that future 
Presidents will continue this practice, Congress should act now to pass 
legislation to ensure proper understanding and disclosure of these 
signing statements.
  The American Bar Association recently examined the issue of 
presidential signing statements and appointed the Task Force on 
Presidential Signing Statements and the Separation of Powers Doctrine. 
That task force issued a report urging Congress to ``enact legislation 
requiring the President to promptly submit to Congress an official copy 
of all signing statements he issues . . . to submit to Congress a 
report setting forth in full the reasons and legal basis for the 
statement.'' The ABA also recommended

[[Page 14507]]

that ``such submissions be available in a publicly accessible 
database.''
  Mr. Speaker, the bill that I have introduced would require the 
President to transmit copies of the signing statements to congressional 
leadership within 3 days of issuance; require signing statements to be 
published in the Federal Register; third, require executive staff to 
testify on the meaning and justification for presidential signing 
statements at the request of the House or the Senate Judiciary 
Committee; and, fourth, provide that no moneys may be authorized or 
expended to implement any law accompanied by a signing statement if any 
provision of the law is violated.
  Mr. Speaker, because it's important that we preserve the provision of 
power in our government and public understanding of our Nation's laws, 
I hope many of my colleagues will consider cosponsoring this 
legislation, H.R. 5993.
  And, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to ask God to continue to bless 
our men and women in uniform and ask God to continue to bless the 
families, and may God continue to bless America.

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