[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 41 (Monday, October 16, 2000)]
[Pages 2453-2454]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Presidential Transition Act of 2000

October 12, 2000

    Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 4931, the ``Presidential 
Transition Act of 2000.'' This Act amends the Presidential Transition 
Act of 1963, which was enacted to promote the orderly transfer of power 
when general elections result in a change in the Presidency. Before 
1963, there was no formal provision for such transfer of power, nor were 
there any Federal funds available to pay for the expenses of the 
transition. The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 authorized the use 
of Federal funds for transition activities and charged the General 
Services Administration (GSA) with providing, upon

[[Page 2454]]

request, office space and a variety of services to the President-elect.
    This Act will further improve the process by which the United States 
changes Presidential Administrations. It authorizes the GSA to develop 
and deliver orientation activities for key prospective Presidential 
appointees. To ensure coordination between the parties involved in this 
process, GSA should consult with the Office of Personnel Management and 
the White House Office of Presidential Personnel in the development of 
these programs. In addition, this Act authorizes the GSA to consult with 
Presidential candidates prior to the general election, so that they can 
develop a plan for computer and communications systems that will support 
the transition between the election and the inauguration.
    This Act also requires the GSA, in consultation with the National 
Archives and Records Administration, to develop a transition directory. 
The directory will draw upon the existing body of information that 
describes the organization and inter-relationships of the executive 
branch, as well as the authorities and functions of the various 
departments and agencies. It will serve as a valuable ``one-stop 
shopping'' guide to Presidential appointees as they begin to carry out 
their various responsibilities. The Office of Personnel Management and 
the White House Office of Presidential Personnel should also be 
consulted in the development of this directory.
    In approving this measure, I note that section 3 of the Act 
instructs the Office of Government Ethics to conduct a one-time study 
and submit to two Congressional committees ``a report on improvements to 
the financial disclosure process for Presidential nominees,'' which 
``shall include recommendations and legislative proposals.'' There is 
good reason to believe that the financial disclosure process can be 
improved through streamlining and elimination of duplication without 
harming the positive intent of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. The 
Recommendations Clause of the Constitution (U.S. Const. Art. II, Sec. 
3), however, protects the President's power to decline to offer any 
recommendation to the Congress. Accordingly, to avoid any infringement 
on the President's constitutionally protected policy making 
prerogatives, I will construe section 3 of this Act not to extend to the 
submission of proposals or recommendations that the President finds it 
unnecessary or inexpedient for the Administration to present.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 October 12, 2000.

Note: H.R. 4931, approved October 12, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
293. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
October 13. An original was not available for verification of the 
content of this statement.