[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 7 (Monday, February 17, 2003)]
[Page 195]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Designation of Officers of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs To Act as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

February 12, 2003

Memorandum for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Subject: Designation of Officers of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to Act as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

    By the authority vested in me as President under the Constitution 
and laws of the United States of America and pursuant to the Federal 
Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., I hereby order 
that:
    Section 1. Order of Succession.
    During any period when the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
(Secretary), the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Deputy 
Secretary), and the officers designated by Executive Order 13247 of 
December 18, 2001, to perform the functions and duties of the office of 
Secretary have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the 
functions and duties of the office of Secretary, the following officers 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, in the order listed, shall 
perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary, if they are 
eligible to act as Secretary under the provisions of the Federal 
Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, until such time as at least one of the 
officers mentioned above is able to perform the functions and duties of 
the office of Secretary:
     Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 8 Director, Veterans 
      Health Administration;
     VISN 7 Director, Veterans Health Administration;
     Veterans Benefits Administration Southern Area Director; and
     North Florida/South Georgia Healthcare System Director.
    Sec. 2. Exceptions.
 (a)         No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 
            1 in an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act 
            as Secretary pursuant to this memorandum.
 (b)         Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the 
            President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by the 
            Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., 
            to depart from this memorandum in designating an acting 
            Secretary.
    Sec. 3. Publication.
    You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the 
Federal Register.
                                                George W. Bush