    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [November 26, 2001]
    [Pages 1447-1448]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and
    Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002
    November 26, 2001

        Today I have signed into law H.R. 2620, the ``Departments of
    Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent
    Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002.''
        I appreciate the bipartisan effort that has gone into producing this
    Act. The Act abides by the agreed upon aggregate funding level for
    Fiscal Year 2002 of $686 billion and supports several of my
    Administration's key initiatives with:

         $955 million for the Veterans Affairs Duty to Assist
                initiative to improve performance in claims processing and
                assist veterans with their claims;
         $160 million for the National Science Foundation Math and
                Science Partnerships initiative, which provides funds for
                States to join with institutions of higher education in
                strengthening math and science education in grades K-12; and

    [[Page 1448]]

         $50 million for the Housing and Urban Development Down
                Payment Assistance initiative that assists low-income
                families with the down payment on their first home.

        Several additional initiatives I have proposed were worthy of
    funding but are not part of this bill: the Community Technology Centers
    and Improving Access programs in HUD, the Silver Scholarships and
    Veterans Mission for Youth programs under the Corporation for National
    and Community Service, and the VA/DOD Medical Care Choice initiative.
        The Silver Scholarship Program would have provided Silver
    Scholarships to 10,000 older Americans who volunteer 500 hours of
    service tutoring and mentoring students in after-school programs. Each
    $1,000 scholarship could be deposited in an education savings account
    for use by seniors' children, grandchildren, or another child. The
    Veterans Mission for Youth program would have provided matching grants
    to community organizations that connect veterans and retired military
    personnel with America's youth through mentoring, tutoring, after-
    school, and other programs.
        The VA/DoD Medical Care Choice initiative would ensure that all
    military retirees annually choose either the Department of Defense or
    the Department of Veterans Affairs as their health care provider. This
    would enhance quality and continuity of care and prevent duplication of
    services and costs.
        Several provisions in the Act purport to require congressional
    approval before executive branch execution of aspects of the bill. My
    Administration will interpret such provisions to require notification
    only, since any other interpretation would contradict the Supreme Court
    ruling in INS v. Chadha.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     November 26, 2001.

     Note: H.R. 2620, approved November 26, was assigned Public Law No. 107-
    73.