[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 44 (Monday, November 6, 2000)]
[Pages 2721-2722]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the National Transportation Safety Board Amendments 
Act of 2000

November 1, 2000

    Today I am pleased to sign into law S. 2412, the ``National 
Transportation Safety Board Amendments Act of 2000.'' The National 
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent agency charged with 
determining the probable cause of transportation accidents and promoting 
transportation safety. This Act will enhance transportation safety by 
authorizing appropriations for the NTSB to investigate accidents, 
conduct safety studies, evaluate the effectiveness of other 
transportation accident prevention programs, and coordinate Federal 
assistance for families of victims of catastrophic transportation 
accidents.
    The Act will further advance transportation safety by prohibiting 
the disclosure of information from cockpit video recorders, or

[[Page 2722]]

information from recorders installed on other modes of transportation. 
It also provides the NTSB with additional tools to carry out its 
mission, including strengthening the Board's financial management and 
authorizing the NTSB to enter into agreements with foreign governments 
to provide technical assistance and accident investigative services. It 
is my understanding that, prior to entering into agreements with foreign 
governments, the NTSB will consult with me to avoid any interference 
with my sole constitutional authority to conduct diplomatic 
negotiations; and that this provision in no way derogates from the Case-
Zablocki Act (Title 1, Section 112b U.S.C.), which requires prior 
consultation with the Secretary of State.
    The Act also includes a provision which authorizes the NTSB to 
establish an overtime pay schedule which is distinct from the rest of 
the Government. I am disappointed that the Congress has chosen not to 
address overtime reform in a comprehensive manner, as proposed by my 
Administration, to reform overtime pay for all employees who work long 
hours in response to emergency situations. We hope to continue to work 
with the Congress to provide a fair and equitable overtime pay structure 
for all such Federal employees. In the meantime, the NTSB should develop 
plans to implement the overtime pay provision in consultation with the 
Office of Personnel Management, and the NTSB should absorb the costs of 
implementing this provision within its appropriated levels.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 November 1, 2000.

Note: S. 2412, approved November 1, was assigned Public Law No. 106-424.