    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [October 12, 2006]
    [Pages 1846-1847]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Rio Grande Natural Area Act
    October 12, 2006

        Today, I have signed into law S. 56, the ``Rio Grande Natural Area
    Act.'' The Act establishes the Rio Grande Natural Area in Colorado to
    help protect natural resources on Federal and non-Federal lands.
        The Act establishes a commission to perform specified functions
    relating to the Natural Area. The Commission consists of nine
    individuals appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, of whom one must represent the Colorado State Director
    of the Bureau of Land Management, one must be a specified Federal
    employee, three must be appointed on the recommendation of the Governor
    of Colorado to represent various Colorado
    governmental entities, and four must be knowledgeable, experienced local
    citizens to represent the general public. Thus, the Act limits the
    qualifications of the pool of persons from whom the Secretary may select
    appointees to the Commission in a manner that rules out a large portion
    of those persons best qualified by experience and knowledge to fill the
    positions, which the Appointments Clause of the Constitution does not
    permit if the appointees exercise significant governmental authority. To
    faithfully execute the Act to the maximum extent consistent with the
    Appointments Clause, the executive branch shall construe the provisions
    of the Act specifying functions for the Commission as specifying
    functions that are advisory only.

                                                              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. 56, approved October 12, was assigned Public Law No.
    109-337.

    [[Page 1847]]