    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [February 20, 2003]
    [Pages 195-196]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003
    February 20, 2003

        Today I signed into law H.J. Res. 2, an Omnibus appropriations bill
    funding the remaining 11 appropriations bills for FY 2003. The funds
    provided in this resolution will provide important and long overdue
    resources for our Nation's priorities, including fighting the war on
    terrorism and educating our most vulnerable children.

    [[Page 196]]

        This bill provides over $397 billion in discretionary budget
    authority, including $10 billion in reserve funding for the Department
    of Defense, and is largely consistent with the agreed upon overall
    funding level. My original budget request, made a year ago, asked for
    the War on Terror reserve. I had separately agreed to endorse new funds
    for election reform, a bill that was passed months after my budget was
    submitted.
        Unfortunately, the Congress chose to circumvent the spending limit
    for FY 2003 by borrowing $2.2 billion in funding from FY 2004. This
    action must be corrected by adjusting both the 2004 budget allocations
    and appropriations, and holding advance appropriations constant with the
    level enacted last year. I will ask the Leadership to ensure this
    happens.
        This bill allocates over $53 billion in total Education funding. The
    Congress provided increases for many of my high-priority programs,
    including programs for reading, disadvantaged students, special
    education, and Pell Grants.
        The bill also includes $3.3 billion in unrequested drought and other
    assistance, which is only minimally offset by real reductions in
    existing farm spending. Ninety-five percent of purported savings are
    scheduled to come several years from now, after the expiration of
    today's farm bill, and may prove illusory.
        Most troublesome, H.J. Res. 2 falls nearly $1 billion short of my
    request for State and local law enforcement and emergency personnel, and
    in particular underfunds terrorism preparedness for first responders. I
    requested $3.5 billion for the First Responders Initiative. The bill,
    however, provides only $1.3 billion for this purpose. Meanwhile the bill
    provides $2.2 billion for existing State and local grant programs, which
    are not directly related to higher-priority terrorism preparedness and
    prevention efforts. This is unsatisfactory, and my Administration will
    use every appropriate tool available to ensure that these funds are
    directed to the highest priority homeland security needs.
        This belated agreement to last year's appropriations process is not
    perfect, but it underscores the need to move quickly on this year's
    priorities outlined in my 2004 budget request. I look forward to working
    with the Congress to continue funding the war on terror, strengthening
    our economy, and protecting the homeland.

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: H.J. Res. 2, approved February 20, was assigned Public Law No.
    108-7. An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this statement.