    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [December 30, 2005]
    [Pages 1903-1904]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Departments of Labor, Health and Human
    Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
    December 30, 2005

        Today, I have signed into law H.R. 3010, the ``Departments of Labor,
    Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
    Appropriations Act, 2006.'' This Act appropriates funds for key domestic
    programs, including programs to protect America's workers, help educate
    America's youth, and guard Americans against potential bioterrorism or
    epidemics.
        The executive branch shall construe certain provisions of the Act
    that purport to require congressional committee approval for the
    execution of a law as calling solely for notification, as any other
    construction would be inconsistent with the constitutional principles
    enunciated by the Supreme Court of the United States in INS v. Chadha.
    These provisions include sections 103, 208, and language under the
    heading ``Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Fund.''
        The executive branch shall construe provisions in the Act that
    purport to mandate or regulate submission of information to the Congress
    in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to
    withhold information that could impair foreign relations, national
    security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the
    performance of the Executive's constitutional duties. Such provisions
    include language under the heading ``Department of Health and Human
    Services, Office of the Secretary, General Departmental Management.''
        Certain provisions of the Act relate to race, ethnicity, or gender.
    The executive branch shall construe such provisions in a manner
    consistent with the requirement that the Federal Government afford equal
    protection of the laws under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth
    Amendment to the Constitution.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     December 30, 2005.

    Note: H.R. 3010, approved December 30, was assigned Public Law No. 109-
    149.

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