    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [February 5, 2003]
    [Pages 128-129]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting the Norway-United States Agreement
    on Social Security
    February 5, 2003

    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 United States
    of America and the Kingdom of Norway on Social Security, with a related
    administrative agreement, both signed at Oslo on November 30, 2001. This
    revised Agreement is intended to modify certain provisions of the
    original United States and Norwegian Agreement, which was signed in
    Washington on January 13, 1983, and, upon its entry into force, will
    replace the 1983 Agreement.
        The revised United States-Norwegian Agreement is similar in
    objective to the

    [[Page 129]]

    other social security agreements already in force with Austria, Belgium,
    Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Korea,
    Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and
    the United Kingdom. Such bilateral agreements provide for limited
    coordination between the United States and foreign social 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 revised United States-
    Norwegian Agreement contains all provisions mandated by section 233 and
    other provisions, which 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, along with a paragraph-by-paragraph explanation of the
    provisions of the principal agreement and the administrative 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 United States 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-Norwegian Social Security Agreement and
    related documents.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     February 5, 2003.