    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [December 31, 2007]
    [Page 1596]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007
    December 31, 2007

        Today, I have signed into law S. 2271, the ``Sudan Accountability
    and Divestment Act of 2007.'' I share the deep concern of the Congress
    over the continued violence in Darfur perpetrated by the Government of
    Sudan and rebel groups. My Administration will continue its efforts to
    bring about significant improvements in the conditions in Sudan through
    sanctions against the Government of Sudan and high-level diplomatic
    engagement and by supporting the deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur.
        This Act purports to authorize State and local governments to divest
    from companies doing business in named sectors in Sudan and thus risks
    being interpreted as insulating from Federal oversight State and local
    divestment actions that could interfere with implementation of national
    foreign policy. However, as the Constitution vests the exclusive
    authority to conduct foreign relations with the Federal Government, the
    executive branch shall construe and enforce this legislation in a manner
    that does not conflict with that authority.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     December 31, 2007.

    Note: S. 2271, approved December 31, was assigned Public Law No. 110-
    174.