[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
[October 1, 2003]
[Page 1222]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations 
Act, 2004
October 1, 2003

    Today, I have signed into law H.R. 2555, the ``Department of 
Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2004.'' This is the first regular 
appropriations act for the Department of Homeland Security.
    The executive branch shall construe as calling solely for 
notification the provisions of the Act that purport to require 
congressional committee approval for the execution of a law. Any other 
construction would be inconsistent with the principles enunciated by the 
Supreme Court of the United States in 1983 in INS v. Chadha. Such 
provisions include the purported approval requirements in the 
appropriations for expenses for the development of the United States 
Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology project; customs and 
border protection automated systems; immigration and customs enforcement 
automated systems; operations, maintenance, and procurement of marine 
vessels, aircraft, and other related equipment of the air and marine 
program; expenses of the United States Secret Service; and also in 
sections 504, 511, and 516. To the extent that section 519 of the Act 
purports to allow an agent of the legislative branch to prevent 
implementation of the law unless the legislative agent reports to the 
Congress that the executive branch has met certain conditions, the 
executive branch shall construe such section as advisory, in accordance 
with the Chadha principles.

                                                          George W. Bush

 The White House,

 October 1, 2003.

Note: H.R. 2555, approved October 1, was assigned Public Law No. 108-90.