[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.