    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 31 (Monday, August 6, 2001)]
    [Pages 1121-1123]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on Signing an Executive Order on Energy Efficiency and an
    Exchange With Reporters

    July 31, 2001

        The President. Thank you all for coming. Mr. Secretary, Larry
    Lindsey, thank you for being here today. I'm signing an Executive order
    fulfilling a promise that I made that our Federal agencies must lead the
    way for energy conservation.
        One of the ways that our Nation wastes energy is through what they
    call vampire devices. These will be a battery charger, cell phone
    chargers, computer systems that we--we really think we're not using
    energy when plugged in but, in fact, are. And so we've set what we call
    a 1-watt standard throughout the Federal Government, that we expect our
    agencies to be ridding themselves of the vampires and using energy
    conservation devices.
        The Secretary of Energy has agreed to lead this project, and I'm so
    thankful for it. The Federal Government can be good stewards of our
    resources, and we fully intend to be.
        There's an energy bill working its way through Congress which will
    encourage new technologies that will help save energy, that will call
    for research and development to make sure that we're wise about how we
    use the scarce resources we have in America. But it's also a bill that
    recognizes that, while on the one hand we must conserve, we also must
    find additional sources of energy, such as natural gas. And that's why I
    think it is very important for Congress to pass a balanced energy plan,
    one that includes the capacity to drill for, explore for, and find
    natural gas throughout our entire country, including Alaska. And I'm
    confident we can do so in an environmentally friendly way.
        I urge the Members of the House of Representatives to support the
    energy bill that will include allowing for there to be a small amount of
    exploration in ANWR, that will yield a lot of energy on behalf of the
    people of America.
        And so it's now my honor to sign this Executive order and look
    forward to working with the Secretary, to show the Nation--to show the
    Nation how best to use technologies to conserve energy.
        Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

    [At this point, the President signed the Executive order.]

        I'd be glad to answer a few questions. Gregory [David Gregory, NBC
    News], you look like you have something on your mind. [Laughter]

    Patients' Bill of Rights

        Q. Mr. President, do you have a deal on a Patients' Bill of Rights
    bill now with Congressman Norwood? Can you tell us what the outlines of
    that might be?
        The President. Well, Congressman Norwood came into my office and he
    said, ``Mr.

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    President, would you like to talk about the possibility of reaching an
    agreement on a Patients' Bill of Rights?'' I said, ``You bet.'' After
    all, in a speech I gave early in my administration, I not only outlined
    the principles of a bill that would be unacceptable, I more importantly
    said I would like to see a piece of legislation that protects consumers
    and doesn't reward lawyers.
        So he brought some ideas right here in the Oval Office. He felt like
    he needed to go back and discuss them with some of the bill sponsors,
    Senators, and other Members of the House of Representatives. I'm hopeful
    that he will shake the hand of accommodation that I put out for him, and
    I believe there's room for compromise, and I'm more than willing to try
    to do so with him.
        We don't have a specific deal yet, David, to answer your question,
    but we're making good progress.
        Q. What are you offering that you think will be acceptable?
        The President. I'm offering to sign a bill and not veto it. And
    that's pretty powerful incentive for someone to try to come up with an
    agreement. I will not sign a bill that I think will end up tossing
    people out of health insurance. And if we have too much litigation, if
    we encourage lawsuits, costly lawsuits, it could drive up the health
    care for people; it will drive people off the health care rolls; and it
    will make it very difficult for small-business people to afford health
    care; and I'm deeply concerned about that.

    National Commission on Federal Election Reform Report

        Q. Mr. President, today you received the election reforms report
    from President Carter and President Ford. If those reforms had been in
    place already, for the last election, do you think you'd be sitting in
    this room today?
        The President. It would have been a landslide. [Laughter] Who knows?
    But I do appreciate the report. I most appreciate that President Carter,
    himself, delivered the report to me. Former Congressman Michel, on
    behalf of President Ford, was here. I walked right out of the Oval
    Office, having gotten briefed, and stood in front of the American
    people, and said, ``This is a very good report.''
        And there is a lot of positive things in it, including making sure
    that America's networks don't prejudge elections by calling them too
    early. And there are a lot of other reforms in there that make sense. I
    urge Congress to take a good, close look at them.
        I think it's very important to note that one of the principles
    involved in the Carter-Ford report was that the elections really are
    local; that the Federal Government should enable and help local
    jurisdictions develop practices that make sure every vote matters,
    practices that make sure that our voting rolls and registers are up to
    date--you know, that people aren't registered three or four times across
    a State, that people who are eligible to vote are those who are the ones
    who should be voting.
        But I was impressed by the report. I thought it had a lot of very
    serious recommendations. And I hope Congress takes it seriously.
        Yes, Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Trade Promotion Authority

        Q. Mr. President, House Republican leaders say that they don't have
    enough votes for fast track, so they're going to have to delay action
    until September. Why is it proving so hard to get fast track?
        The President. Some people in America don't believe in free trade.
    Some folks believe that a protectionist policy would be best for our
    country's economy and the workers. I strongly disagree.
        I think trade offers promise for people who want to find work. Trade
    is important to enhance the growth of small businesses. Trade is
    important in our own hemisphere. Trade has been important to make sure
    we've got good relations with Mexico. After all, we want our neighbors
    to do well; it's a neighborly way to think. And if Mexico and Canada do
    well, America will do well, as well. So trade is important. Trade is an
    important--it's also an important part of making sure the world is more
    free.
        But there are some who resist trade because they don't see its
    benefits. And my job, and the job of those of us who strongly see the
    benefits and know the benefits of free trade will continue to work hard
    until we get

    [[Page 1123]]

    a piece of legislation that enables the President of the United States
    to make sure that America is involved in the world, that we don't miss
    out on opportunities for the working people of America to find jobs,
    that we don't miss out on the opportunities for our farmers and ranchers
    to find markets to feed people. We're the best in the world at growing
    crops.
        And we need to make sure that our farmers and ranchers have the
    capacity to sell their product in overseas markets. It's to the benefit
    of our economy. It's a benefit to the people who take risk in America. I
    believe we'll get a trade promotion authority bill out. Whether or not
    we get it done before August is, obviously, you know, up in the air. But
    I believe when it's all said and done, that Congress will realize the
    benefits of free trade for the people of America.

    Situation in the Middle East

        Q. What is your view of the kind of targeted attack the Israelis
    carried out on Hamas today? And do you plan to step up your involvement
    in the Middle East?
        The President. I spoke to King Abdullah of Jordan this morning. I
    was very much involved, continue to remain actively involved in the
    process. And step one, in order to get to Mitchell, is to break the
    cycle of violence.
        As I told the King, His Majesty, all of us--all of us--have got to
    work together to convince both parties to stop the cycle. And,
    obviously, we've got a lot of work to do. But it is important to get to
    Mitchell. But the first step in getting into Mitchell is for there to be
    significantly reduced violence, and that's not the case right now. And
    so all the world must continue to say to both sides, break the cycle of
    violence, and then we can get into the Mitchell process.
        Obviously, I'm--I wish the levels of violence were lower than they
    are today. A couple of weeks ago it looked like we had made progress,
    and then the violence spiked. That means the United States will continue
    to stay actively involved and urging there to be calm and urging both
    parties to resist the temptation to resort to violence.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:53 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to the Report by the Sharm al-Sheikh
    Fact-Finding Committee which was chaired by former Senator George J.
    Mitchell. The President also referred to ANWR, the Arctic National
    Wildlife Refuge.