[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
[December 20, 2006]
[Pages 2218-2219]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006
December 20, 2006

    Today I have signed into law H.R. 6111, the ``Tax Relief and Health 
Care Act of 2006.'' The Act prevents tax increases that would have taken 
effect in the absence of the Act, facilitates effective use of health 
savings accounts, makes available natural resources of the outer 
continental shelf, and strengthens American laws in support of free 
trade.
    The executive branch shall construe provisions of the Act, including 
section 406(c)(2) in Division A and section 203(b) in Division B, that 
call for executive branch officials to submit legislative 
recommendations to the Congress, in a manner consistent with the 
constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary 
executive branch and to recommend for congressional consideration such 
measures as the President shall judge necessary and expedient.
    The executive branch shall construe as advisory provisions of the 
Act that purport to require concurrence of State officials as a 
precondition to execution of the laws, including section 415(b) of the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 as amended by section 
207 in Division C and section 311(d) in Division C, as is consistent 
with the Constitution's vesting in the President of the executive power 
and the duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

[[Page 2219]]

    The executive branch shall construe provisions of the Act, including 
section 4005(b) in Division D and section 213A(f) of the Caribbean Basin 
Economic Recovery Act as amended by section 5002 in Division D, that 
purport to make consultation with committees of Congress a precondition 
to execution of the law, to call for but not mandate such consultation, 
as is consistent with the Constitution's provisions concerning the 
separate powers of the Congress to legislate and the President to 
execute the laws.

                                                          George W. Bush

 The White House,

 December 20, 2006.

Note: H.R. 6111, approved December 20, was assigned Public Law No. 109-
432.