    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 6 (Monday, February 13, 2006)]
    [Pages 215-216]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Signing the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

    February 8, 2006

        Today, I have signed into law S. 1932, the ``Deficit Reduction Act
    of 2005.'' The Act reduces unnecessary spending of taxpayer dollars,
    reflecting a commitment to fiscal responsibility.
        The executive branch shall construe section 1936(d)(2) of the Social
    Security Act as enacted by section 6034 of the Act, which purports to
    make consultation with a legislative agent a precondition to execution
    of the law, to call for but not mandate such consultation, as is
    consistent with the Constitution's provisions concerning the separate
    powers of the Congress to legislate and the President to execute the
    laws.
        Sections 5006(b) and 5008(c) of the Act, and section 401A(a)(2)(C)
    of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as enacted by section 8003 of the
    Act, call for executive branch officials to submit legislative
    recommendations

    [[Page 216]]

    to the Congress. The executive branch shall construe such provisions in
    a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President
    to supervise the unitary executive branch and to recommend for
    congressional consideration such measures as the President shall judge
    necessary and expedient.
                                                    George W. Bush
     The White House,
     February 8, 2006.

    Note: An original was not available for the verification of the content
    of this statement.