    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [March 7, 1991]
    [Pages 223-224]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting the Austria-United States Social
    Security Agreement
    March 7, 1991

    To the Congress of the United States:
        Pursuant to section 233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended
    by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 (Public Law 95-216; 42 U.S.C.
    433(e)(1)), I transmit herewith the Agreement between the United States
    of America and the Republic of Austria on Social Security, which
    consists of two separate instruments--a principal agreement and an
    administrative arrangement. The Agreement was signed at Vienna on July
    13, 1990.
        The United States-Austria Agreement is similar in objective to the
    social security agreements already in force with Belgium, Canada,
    France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
    Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Such bilateral agreements
    provide for limited coordination between the United States and

    [[Page 224]]

    foreign social security systems to eliminate dual social security
    coverage and taxation, and to help prevent the loss of benefit
    protection that can occur when workers divide their careers between two
    countries.
        I also transmit for the information of the Congress a comprehensive
    report prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services, which
    explains the provisions of the Agreement and provides data on the number
    of persons affected by the Agreement and the effect on social security
    financing as required by the same provision of the Social Security Act.
    I note that the Department of State and the Department of Health and
    Human Services have recommended the Agreement and related documents to
    me.
        I commend the United States-Austria Social Security Agreement and
    related documents.

                                                                 George Bush

    The White House,
    March 7, 1991.