    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [October 12, 2006]
    [Page 1847]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the National Heritage Areas Act of 2006
    October 12, 2006

        Today, I have signed into law S. 203, the ``National Heritage Areas
    Act of 2006.'' The Act establishes national heritage areas and reduces
    the royalty rate on certain minerals.
        A number of provisions of the Act purport to give to management
    entities or local coordinating entities, composed of individuals who are
    not officers of the United States appointed in accordance with the
    Appointments Clause of the Constitution, significant governmental
    authority, such as authority to make grants from Federal appropriated
    funds to implement management plans for heritage areas. As is consistent
    with the Appointments Clause and with requirements in the Act concerning
    approval by the Secretary of the Interior of the management plans, the
    executive branch shall construe the provisions to require exercise by
    the Secretary of the Interior of the significant governmental authority
    given by the provisions, specifically including the exercise by the
    Secretary of final authority over any disbursement of Federal
    appropriated funds by a management entity or local coordinating entity.

                                                              George W. Bush

    The White House,

    October 12, 2006.

    Note: This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on October 13. S. 203, approved October 12, was assigned Public Law No.
    109-338.