[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 38 (Monday, September 24, 2001)]
[Pages 1336-1337]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing Legislation To Create the Brown v. Board of 
Education 50th Anniversary Commission

September 18, 2001

    Today I have signed into law H.R. 2133, to create the ``Brown v. 
Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission.'' The Commission will 
advise the Secretary of Education on activities to help celebrate one of 
the most important decisions ever issued by the U.S. Supreme Court--the 
decision that recognized the constitutional right to freedom from racial 
discrimination in our public schools. Establishing a commission to help 
celebrate the decision is particularly appropriate as we work to secure 
passage by the Congress of my Administration's educational initiatives, 
so that we leave no child behind.
    Consistent with the requirements of the Appointments Clause of the 
Constitution, I welcome the participation, in an advisory capacity on 
the commission, of representatives of the Judiciary; the Brown 
Foundation for

[[Page 1337]]

Education Equity, Excellence, and Research; the NAACP Legal Defense and 
Education Fund; and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic 
Site in the activities of the commission. While the Constitution does 
not permit them to participate in the performance of executive 
functions, their advice will be crucial to the effective functioning of 
the commission. As I exercise my constitutional power of appointment to 
name 11 members of the commission, under the Appointments Clause and the 
enabling legislation, I welcome, as a matter of comity, the suggestions 
of the congressional leadership for those positions.
    I look forward to the national celebration in 2004 of the 50th 
anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of 
Education.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 September 18, 2001.

Note: H.R. 2133, approved September 18, was assigned Public Law No. 107-
41. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
September 19.