[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
[December 17, 2002]
[Pages 2200-2201]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the E-Government Act of 2002
December 17, 2002

    Today I have signed into law H.R. 2458, the ``E-Government Act of 
2002.'' This legislation builds upon my Administration's expanding E-
Government initiative by ensuring strong leadership of the information 
technology activities of Federal agencies, a comprehensive framework for 
information security standards and programs, and uniform safeguards to 
protect the confidentiality of information provided by the public for 
statistical purposes. The Act will also assist in expanding the use of 
the Internet and computer resources in order to deliver Government 
services, consistent with the reform principles I outlined on July 10, 
2002, for a citizen-centered, results-oriented, and market-based 
Government.
    Title II of this Act authorizes agencies to award ``share-in-
savings'' contracts under which contractors share in the savings 
achieved by agencies through the provision of technologies that improve 
or accelerate their work. The executive branch shall ensure, consistent 
with applicable law, that these contracts are operated according to 
sound fiscal policy and limit authorized waivers for funding of 
potential termination costs to appropriate circumstances, so as to 
minimize the financial risk to the Government.
    Title III of this Act is the Federal Information Security Management 
Act of 2002. It is very similar to title X of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002, which also bears the

[[Page 2201]]

name Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 and which I 
signed into law on November 25, 2002. I am signing into law the E-
Government Act after the enactment of the Homeland Security Act, and 
there is no indication that the Congress intended the E-Government Act 
to provide interim provisions that would apply only until the Homeland 
Security Act took effect. Thus, notwithstanding the delayed effective 
dates applicable to the Homeland Security Act, the executive branch will 
construe the E-Government Act as permanently superseding the Homeland 
Security Act in those instances where both Acts prescribe different 
amendments to the same provisions of the United States Code.
    Finally, the executive branch shall construe and implement the Act 
in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authorities 
to supervise the unitary executive branch and to protect sensitive 
national security, law enforcement, and foreign relations information. 
In particular, consistent with my constitutional authorities and section 
301(c) of this Act, the executive branch shall construe the Act in a 
manner that preserves the authorities of the Secretary of Defense, the 
Director of Central Intelligence, and other agency heads with regard to 
the operation, control, and management of national security systems.

                                                          George W. Bush

 The White House,

 December 17, 2002.

Note: H.R. 2458, approved December 17, was assigned Public Law No. 107-
347. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
version of this statement.