    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [May 7, 2008]
    [Pages 653-654]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting the Czech Republic-United States
    Social Security Agreement
    May 7, 2008

    To the Congress of the United States:
        Pursuant to section 233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended
    by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 (Public Law 95-216, 42 U.S.C.
    433(e)(1)), I transmit herewith the Agreement Between the United States
    of America and the Czech Republic on Social Security, which consists of
    two separate instruments: a principal agreement and an administrative
    arrangement. The Agreement was signed in Prague on September 7, 2007.
        The United States-Czech Republic Agreement is similar in objective
    to the social security agreements already in force with Australia,
    Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
    Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway,
    Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Such
    bilateral agreements provide for limited coordination between the United
    States and foreign social security systems to eliminate dual social
    security coverage and taxation, and to help prevent the lost benefit
    protection that can occur when workers divide their careers between two
    countries. The United States-Czech Republic Agreement contains all
    provisions mandated by section 233 and other provisions that I deem
    appropriate to carry out the purposes of section 233, pursuant to
    section 233(c)(4).
        I also transmit for the information of the Congress a report
    prepared by the Social Security Administration explaining the key points
    of the Agreement, along with a paragraph-by-paragraph explanation of the
    provisions of the principal agreement and the related administrative
    arrangement. Annexed to this report is the report required by section
    233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, which describes the effect of the
    Agreement on income and expenditures of the U.S. Social Security program
    and the number of individuals affected by the Agreement. The Department
    of State and the Social Security Administration have recommended the
    Agreement and related documents to me.
        I commend to the Congress the United States-Czech Republic Social
    Security Agreement and related documents.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     May 7, 2008.

    [[Page 654]]