    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [October 14, 2008]
    [Pages 1308-1309]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008
    October 14, 2008

        Today I have signed into law H.R. 928, the ``Inspector General
    Reform Act of 2008.'' The Act amends various authorities related to
    Federal Inspectors General.
        Section 6 of the bill gives Inspectors General the right to obtain
    legal advice from lawyers working for an Inspector General. It is
    important that Inspectors General have timely and accurate legal advice.
    It is also important that agencies have structures through which to
    reach a single, final authoritative determination for the agency of what
    the law is. This determination is subject to the authority of the
    Attorney General with respect to legal questions within, and the
    President's authority to supervise, the executive branch and, of course,
    the courts in specific cases or controversies. To this end, the ``rule
    of construction'' in section 6 ensures that, within

    [[Page 1309]]

    each agency, the determinations of the law remain ultimately the
    responsibility of the chief legal officer and the head of the agency.
        Section 8 of the bill includes provisions that purport to direct or
    regulate the content of the President's budget submissions, including
    provisions that purport to direct the President to include the comments
    of Inspectors General with respect to those submissions. The President's
    budget submissions are recommendations for enactment of legislation
    appropriating funds. The executive branch shall construe section 8 of
    the bill in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional
    authority to recommend for congressional consideration such measures as
    the President shall judge necessary and expedient.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     October 14, 2008.

    Note: H.R. 928, signed October 14, was assigned Public Law No. 110-409.