    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [March 12, 2002]
    [Pages 407-408]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting the Australia-United States

    Social Security Agreement
    March 12, 2002

    To the Congress of the United States:
        Pursuant to section 233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended
    by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 (Public Law 95-216, 42 U.S.C.
    433(e)(1)), I transmit herewith the Agreement Between the Government of
    the United States of America and the Government of Australia on Social
    Security, which consists of two separate instruments: a principal
    agreement and an administrative arrangement along with a paragraph-by-
    paragraph explanation of each provision. The Agreement was signed at
    Canberra on September 27, 2001.
        The United States-Australia Agreement is similar in objective to the
    social security agreements already in force with Austria, Belgium,
    Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Korea,
    Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
    Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Such bilateral agreements provide
    for limited coordination between the United States and foreign social

    [[Page 408]]

    security systems to eliminate dual social security coverage and
    taxation, and to help prevent the lost benefit protection that can occur
    when workers divide their careers between two countries. The United
    States-Australia Agreement contains all provisions mandated by section
    233 and other provisions that I deem appropriate to carry out the
    purposes of section 233, pursuant to section 233(c)(4).
        I also transmit for the information of the Congress a report
    prepared by the Social Security Administration explaining the key points
    of the Agreement. Annexed to this report is the report required by
    section 233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, a report on the effect of
    the Agreement on income and expenditures of the U.S. Social Security
    program and the number of individuals affected by the Agreement. The
    Department of State and the Social Security Administration have
    recommended the Agreement and related documents to me.
        I commend the United States-Australia Social Security Agreement and
    related documents.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     March 12, 2002.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    March 14.