[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[October 28, 1992]
[Page 2058]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 2058]]


Statement on Signing the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992
October 28, 1992

    Today I am signing into law H.R. 6133, the ``Land Remote Sensing 
Policy Act of 1992.''
    The Act will carry out my proposals for the future of the Landsat 
satellite program. It will ensure that continuity of Landsat-type data 
is maintained for the foreseeable future. That data will improve our 
understanding of the environment, strengthen our ability to manage 
natural resources, and assist with other activities of scientific, 
economic, and national security importance.
    The Act will also encourage future commercial opportunities in 
remote sensing by:
    --supporting investments in new remote sensing technologies;
    --removing unnecessary restrictions on the dissemination of 
        privately gathered data;
    --streamlining the licensing process for private remote sensing 
        systems; and
    --encouraging growth of the market for remote sensing data by 
        pricing federally provided data at the cost of fulfilling user 
        requests, but no higher.
    Finally, I note that section 203(b) of the Act, regarding review of 
certain agency actions under the Act, cannot be understood to supersede 
section 554 of title 5, United States Code, which exempts from review 
such matters as the conduct of military or foreign affairs functions.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
October 28, 1992.

                    Note: H.R. 6133, approved October 28, was assigned 
                        Public Law No. 102-555.