    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 17, 2003]
    [Page 1738]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting the Executive Order on
    Appointments During National Emergency
    December 17, 2003

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Consistent with section 301 of the National Emergencies Act (50
    U.S.C. 1631), I hereby report that I have taken additional steps with
    respect to the national emergency I declared in Proclamation 7463 of
    September 14, 2001, by invoking and making available to the Secretary of
    Defense the emergency appointments authority of section 603 of title 10
    of the United States Code, consistent with the terms of that statute and
    of Executive Order 12396 of December 9, 1982.
        I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued, which is
    effective immediately.
            Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the
    Senate. The Executive order of December 17 is listed in Appendix D at
    the end of this volume.