    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [April 30, 2003]
    [Pages 400-401]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end
    the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003
    April 30, 2003

        Today I have signed into law S. 151, the ``Prosecutorial Remedies
    and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003,''
    also known as the PROTECT Act. This important legislation gives law
    enforcement authorities valuable new tools to deter, detect,
    investigate, prosecute, and punish crimes against America's children. In
    particular, the Act builds upon my Administration's ongoing efforts to
    expand and improve the AMBER Alert program to combat child abduction,
    strengthens laws against child pornography, and addresses deficiencies
    in Federal sentencing policies and practices.
        The executive branch shall construe section 108(d)(3) of the Act,
    which calls for the Attorney General to submit recommendations to the
    Congress, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional
    authority to submit for the

    [[Page 401]]

    consideration of the Congress such measures as the President judges
    necessary and expedient.
        Section 401(l)(2) of the Act calls for a report to certain
    committees of the Congress by the Attorney General concerning
    prosecutorial actions, including the basis on which the Solicitor
    General decides, in particular cases involving departures from
    sentencing guidelines, whether or not to authorize an appeal. Were this
    provision to take effect, the executive branch would implement it in a
    manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to
    withhold information the disclosure of which could impair the
    deliberative processes of the Executive or the performance of the
    Executive's constitutional duties.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     April 30, 2003.

    Note: S. 151, approved April 30, was assigned Public Law No. 108-21.