    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 8, 2003]
    [Page 1698]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and
    Modernization Act of 2003
    December 8, 2003

        Today, I have signed into law H.R. 1, the ``Medicare Prescription
    Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.'' The Act helps
    achieve a more modern Medicare system that includes prescription drug
    coverage and choices for seniors.
        Sections 1012 and 1014 of the Act create a commission and a working
    group, both with most of their members designated by Members of Congress
    or the Comptroller General, a legislative agent. Sections 1012(h)(3) and
    1014(j)(3) purport to give the commission and the working group a right
    to secure directly from executive departments and agencies information
    they seek to perform their duties. The executive branch shall construe
    these provisions in a manner consistent with the constitutional
    authorities of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch
    and to withhold information the disclosure of which could impair the
    deliberative processes of the Executive or the performance of the
    Executive's constitutional duties.
        Section 802 of the Act calls for the President to submit to the
    Congress proposals for legislation in the event that a Medicare funding
    warning is issued under section 801(a)(2). Many other provisions in the
    Act, including sections 101(b), 109(d)(2), 410A(e), 434(f), 507(c)(3),
    645(a)(2), 649(g), 651(d)(2), 911(f), and 1014(o), also call for
    executive branch officials to submit to the Congress proposals for
    legislation. The executive branch shall construe these provisions in a
    manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to
    supervise the unitary executive branch and to recommend for the
    consideration of the Congress such measures as the President judges
    necessary and expedient.

                                                              George W. Bush

    The White House,

    December 8, 2003.

    Note: H.R. 1, approved December 8, was assigned Public Law No. 108-173.