[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[August 6, 1992]
[Page 1318]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Executive Branch Revised Standards of Conduct
August 6, 1992

    In the first Executive order of my Presidency, I established a 
Presidential Commission on Federal Ethics Law Reform to examine the 
ethics laws and regulations that govern the Federal work force. The 
Commission recommended that the Office of Government Ethics consolidate 
all executive branch standards of conduct regulations into a single set 
of regulations. By Executive Order 12674, issued April 12, 1989, I 
directed the Office of Government Ethics to develop a single 
comprehensive and understandable set of ethics regulations that would 
apply to all employees in the executive branch.
    Tomorrow that enormous task will be completed. A single set of 
ethical standards will be published in the Federal Register and will 
replace over 100 different and often conflicting agency regulations. 
These new standards will be set forth in one place so that the public 
can examine them, so that those who do business with the Federal 
Government can easily understand them, and so that all executive branch 
employees will have a clear understanding of the rules governing them. 
The final rule addresses a broad range of ethical concerns including 
gifts from outside sources, financial interests, and circumstances 
presenting an appearance of impropriety. It also provides guidance to 
employees who are involved in activities outside their Government jobs 
or who are seeking other employment.
    In the coming months, ethics officials in the departments and 
agencies throughout the executive branch will begin to brief the Federal 
work force on the new standards, another enormous endeavor. I want to 
reiterate my personal commitment to see that the standards set forth in 
these new regulations will be vigorously and conscientiously observed 
throughout the executive branch.
    I am very grateful to the Office of Government Ethics and all the 
ethics officials in the Government for their work in developing these 
new standards.