[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[March 19, 1992]
[Pages 472-473]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in 
National Environmental and Native American Public Policy Act of 1992

March 19, 1992
    Today I am pleased to sign into law S. 2184, the ``Morris K. Udall 
Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and Native American 
Public Policy Act of 1992.''
    S. 2184 is a tribute to Mo Udall's long and admirable service to the 
Nation. He was a thoughtful and creative Member of Congress for 30 
years. I respect him greatly and count him among my friends. This bill 
honors Mo by creating a foundation that will support programs involving 
the environment and issues related to Native Americans and Alaska 
Natives.
    Regrettably, I must note a serious deficiency in the bill. S. 2184 
purports to set qualifications, including requirements as to political 
party affiliation, for the trustees who will administer the foundation 
created by the bill. Under the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, 
article II, section 2, clause 2, congressional participation in such

[[Page 473]]

appointments may be exercised only through the Senate's advice and 
consent with respect to Presidential nominees. Accordingly, I will treat 
these provisions as precatory.
    One other point deserves mention. S. 2184 purports to ``repeal'' S. 
1176, passed in the last session of the Congress and presented to me in 
December. Because the bill came to me during an adjournment of the 
Congress and I withheld my signature, S. 1176 never became law. 
Therefore, the section of S. 2184 purporting to repeal S. 1176 can have 
no effect.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
March 19, 1992.

                    Note: S. 2184, approved March 19, was assigned 
                        Public Law No. 102-259.