[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[October 6, 1992]
[Page 1762]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993
October 6, 1992

    I have signed into law H.R. 5518, the ``Department of Transportation 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993.'' This Act includes 
funding necessary to maintain and improve our transportation system and 
to support transportation safety.
    I am very disappointed that the Congress cut Federal-aid highway 
funding $1.3 billion below what I requested. This reduced highways 
funding will result in 65,000 fewer highway jobs being supported in the 
coming year. The reduced funding level also could lead to deterioration 
of the Nation's highway infrastructure. This would slow economic growth 
and job creation by increasing the transportation costs of goods in 
interstate commerce. The Congress could have funded Federal-aid highways 
at the requested level by not funding low priority programs and 
earmarked projects. Furthermore, the flexibility I proposed for the 
States to allocate funds according to their own priorities is not 
provided.
    The bill contains an unnecessary and costly auto labeling 
requirement that may conflict with our international obligations on 
origin and labeling. In implementing this new requirement, the 
Department of Transportation will make every effort to provide accurate 
and meaningful information to consumers while minimizing costs.
    The bill purports to require the Secretary of State to inform the 
Government of Panama within three months of the ``dissatisfaction of the 
Government of the United States concerning inadequate compliance by 
Panama with the enforcement provisions of Annex V of the International 
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.'' While I am 
concerned that this convention be properly enforced, decisions of 
whether and when to communicate with foreign governments are the sole 
province of the President. I will, therefore, treat this provision only 
as an indication of congressional concern in this area.
    I am disappointed at the undue intrusion into the management of the 
Department of Transportation contained in this bill. This intrusion 
includes earmarking funds for projects that should be awarded based on 
established, objective criteria.
    Nevertheless, the amount of funding provided by H.R. 5518 is 
consistent with my budget request, and thus allows progress toward a 
freeze in domestic discretionary budget authority. Because the bill 
provides funding for the continuance of important transportation 
programs within this level, I have signed it.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
October 6, 1992.

                    Note: H.R. 5518, approved October 6, was assigned 
                        Public Law No. 102-388.