    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 21 (Monday, May 28, 2001)]
    [Page 804]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Signing the Animal Disease Risk Assessment, Prevention, and
    Control Act of 2001

    May 24, 2001

        Today I am signing into law S. 700, the ``Animal Disease Risk
    Assessment, Prevention, and Control Act of 2001.'' The Act is intended
    to assist the Department of Agriculture in its continuing efforts to
    protect against introduction into the United States of two unrelated
    animal diseases occurring abroad--bovine spongiform encephalopathy and
    foot-and-mouth disease. Preventing such diseases from entering the
    United States is a high priority, and the Department of Agriculture, in
    cooperation with other Federal agencies, has put strong measures in
    place designed to accomplish that goal.
        Section 3 of the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to
    submit to certain committees and subcommittees of the Congress a
    preliminary report concerning any immediate needs for additional
    legislative authority or appropriations and a final report with
    recommendations for legislation that will improve efforts to assess,
    prevent, or control transmission of certain diseases. Section 3 will be
    interpreted in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of
    the President to recommend to the consideration of the Congress such
    measures as the President shall judge necessary and expedient.
                                                    George W. Bush
     The White House,
     May 24, 2001.

    Note: S. 700, approved May 24, was assigned Public Law No. 107-9. This
    statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on May 25.