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Week Ending Friday, October 5, 2001
Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Bipartisan Agreement on Fiscal
Year 2002 Discretionary Appropriations Levels
October 2, 2001
Dear __________ :
I support the bipartisan agreement to set FY 2002 discretionary
appropriations levels at a total of $686 billion. If the Congress
presents appropriations bills to me that comply with this aggregate
spending level, and are otherwise acceptable, I will sign them.
Within this total, I understand that defense activities will be
funded at the amended budget level. In addition, I understand that an
appropriations bill for education will include $4 billion above my
budget request and will be accommodated within the total discretionary
level. I also understand that the agreement includes $2.2 billion in
contingent emergency appropriations, within the $686 billion agreement.
These emergency funds would be available only to the extent that they
are necessary to fund unexpected costs that may arise as a consequence
of urgent requirements beyond the program funding levels provided in the
regular appropriations bills.
This agreement does not compromise my discretion to consider the
policy and program content of legislation before agreeing to sign it.
However, passage of appropriations measures within the agreed total will
mean that there will be no disagreement between the Congress and my
Administration over aggregate funding levels.
This agreement is the result of extensive discussions to produce an
acceptable bipartisan solution to facilitate the orderly enactment of
appropriations measures. This agreement and the aggregate spending level
are the result of a strong bipartisan effort at this critical time for
our Nation, and I expect that all parties will now proceed expeditiously
and in full compliance with the agreement.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush
Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
House of Representatives; Richard A. Gephardt, House minority leader;
C.W. Bill Young, chairman, and David R. Obey, ranking member, House
Committee on Appropriations; Thomas A. Daschle, Senate majority leader;
Trent Lott, Senate minority leader; and Robert C. Byrd, chairman, and
Ted Stevens, ranking member, Senate Committee on Appropriations. An
original was not available for verification of the content of this
letter.
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Week Ending Friday, October 5, 2001
Executive Order 13227--President's Commission on Excellence in Special
Education
October 2, 2001
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
[[Page 1408]]
Section 1. Policy. The education of all children, regardless of
background or disability, while chiefly a State and local
responsibility, must always be a national priority. One of the most
important goals of my Administration is to support States and local
communities in creating and maintaining a system of public education
where no child is left behind. Unfortunately, among those at greatest
risk of being left behind are children with disabilities. The
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a landmark statute
that asserts the rights of all children with disabilities to a free,
appropriate public education. My Administration strongly supports the
principles embodied in the IDEA and the goal of providing special
education and related services to children with disabilities so that
they can meet high academic standards and participate fully in American
society. It is imperative that special education operate as an integral
part of a system that expects high achievement of all children, rather
than as a means of avoiding accountability for children who are more
challenging to educate or who have fallen behind.
Sec. 2. Establishment. There is established a President's Commission
on Excellence in Special Education (the ``Commission''). The Commission
shall be composed of not more than 19 members to be appointed by the
President from the public and private sectors, as well as up to 5 ex
officio members from the Departments of Education and Health and Human
Services. The members may include current and former Federal, State, and
local government officials, recognized special education experts,
special and general education finance experts, education researchers,
educational practitioners, parents of children or young adults with
disabilities, persons with disabilities, and others with special
experience and expertise in the education of children with disabilities.
The President shall designate a Chairperson from among the members of
the Commission. The Secretary of Education shall select an Executive
Director for the Commission.
Sec. 3. Duties and Commission Report. (a) The Commission shall
collect information and study issues related to Federal, State, and
local special education programs with the goal of recommending policies
for improving the educational performance of students with disabilities.
In furtherance of its duties, the Commission shall invite experts and
members of the public to provide information and guidance.
(b) Not later than April 30, 2002, the Commission shall prepare and
submit a report to the President outlining its findings and
recommendations. The report shall include, but need not be limited to:
(1) An examination of available research and information on the
effectiveness and cost of special education and the appropriate role of
the Federal Government in special education programming and funding. The
examination shall include an analysis of the factors that have
contributed to the growth in costs of special education since the
enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (a
predecessor of IDEA);
(2) Recommendations regarding how Federal resources can best be used
to improve educational results for students with disabilities;
(3) A recommended special education research agenda;
(4) An analysis of the impact of providing appropriate early
intervention in reading instruction on the referral and identification
of children for special education;
(5) An analysis of the effect of special education funding on
decisions to serve, place, or refer children for special education
services and recommendations for alternative funding formulae that might
distribute funds to achieve better results and eliminate any current
incentives that undermine the goals of ensuring that children with
disabilities receive a high-quality education;
(6) An analysis of, and recommendations regarding, how the Federal
Government can help States and local education agencies provide a high-
quality education to students with disabilities, including the
recruitment and retention of qualified personnel and the inclusion of
children with disabilities in performance and accountability systems;
(7) An analysis of the impact of Federal and State statutory,
regulatory, and administrative requirements on the cost and
effectiveness of special education services, and how these requirements
support or hinder
[[Page 1409]]
the educational achievement of students with disabilities;
(8) An assessment of how differences in local educational agency
size, location, demographics, and wealth, and in State law and practice
affect which children are referred to special education, and the cost of
special education; and
(9) A review of the experiences of State and local governments in
financing special education, and an analysis of whether changes to the
Federal ``supplement not supplant'' and ``maintenance of effort''
requirements are appropriate.
Sec. 4. Administration, Compensation, and Termination.
(a) The Department of Education shall, to the extent permitted by
law, provide administrative support and funding for the Commission. In
addition, appropriate Federal agencies may designate staff to assist
with the work of the Commission. To the extent permitted by law, Federal
Government employees may be detailed to the Commission without
reimbursement to the Federal agency.
(b) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation but,
while engaged in the work of the Commission, members appointed from
among private citizens of the United States shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by
law for persons serving intermittently in the government service (5
U.S.C. 5701-5707), to the extent funds are available for such purposes.
(c) The functions of the President under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act that are applicable to the Commission, except that of
reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Department of
Education in accordance with the guidelines that have been issued by the
Administrator of General Services.
(d) The Chairperson may from time to time prescribe such rules,
procedures, and policies relating to the activities of the Commission as
are not inconsistent with law or with the provisions of this order.
(e) The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting its
final report, unless extended by the President.
George W. Bush
The White House,
October 2, 2001.
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:05 a.m., October 4,
2001]
Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press
Secretary on October 3, and it was published in the Federal Register on
October 5.
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Week Ending Friday, October 5, 2001
Remarks Following Discussions With Business Leaders and an Exchange With
Reporters in New York City
October 3, 2001
The President. It's an honor to be back in New York City. I want to
thank the mayor and the Governor for welcoming us back. I'm pleased that
Secretary Don Evans and Larry Lindsey from the White House staff are
traveling with me, and I want to thank the business leaders from not
only New York but others who have come from around the country to
discuss the state of the Nation.
And we've had a very frank discussion about the state of our
economy. I think there's no question we all agree that the events of
September 11th shocked our economy, just like it shocked the conscience
of our Nation. But like those terrorists, they can't affect our soul;
they can't affect the greatness of America. We all believe that the
underpinnings are there for economic recovery.
And we all must do our part, and the Federal Government has a role
to play. Today Secretary Paul O'Neill testified at Congress, saying that
the administration believes that we ought to have 60 to 75 billion
dollars more of stimulus to encourage consumer confidence, to enhance
business investment, as well as to take care of displaced workers.
I have shared that with the business leaders here. They understand
that there is a role for the Federal Government, a strong and
[[Page 1410]]
active role. And I assured them it's a role that we intend to play.
I know there are people hurting in America; there are people who
have lost their jobs. But as I assured these leaders, that our
Government will do everything we can to get our economy growing, to make
it as strong as possible. I am saddened by the sight of the World Trade
Center, again, once again. But through my tears I do see a much better
future for the country.
This is a great nation. It's an entrepreneurial nation. It's a
nation that has got such generous and kind people. The leadership, the
business leadership here has contributed $150 million to the funds, the
variety of funds here in the New York City area, to help people, the
victims. It speaks volumes about what America is about.
And I want to thank everybody for coming. I'm now going to ask Ken
Chenault to say a few words.
Ken.
[At this point, Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and chief executive
officer, American Express Company, made brief remarks.]
The President. Thank you, Ken.
Betsy.
[Betsy Holden, chief executive, Kraft Foods, made brief remarks]
The President. I appreciate that. Thanks.
I'd be glad to take a few questions.
National Economy
Q. What form might this stimulus take? Are we looking at tax cuts
for individuals, corporations?
The President. You bet. I know we need to provide more tax relief to
individuals to boost consumer confidence. We've just finished passing
out $40 billion of rebate checks; they were completed by October 1st of
this year. There is going to be tax relief started next year as a part
of the package that the Congress and I agreed to. We believe there ought
to be more, to make sure that the consumer has got money to spend, money
to spend in the short term.
Secondly, there needs to be business relief, as well, to encourage
investment.
And finally, there needs to be a displaced worker package. We've got
to recognize that as a result of September 11th, folks have been laid
off, and we need to make sure they're able to survive until this economy
gets going again.
And I've got to tell you, I had a great conversation with the
leadership of the Congress yesterday. We're coming together on a plan
that I believe needs to get passed as quickly as possible.
Budget Surplus
Q. Mr. President, is this going to eat up the rest of the surplus
for the year, and does it matter?
The President. Well, as I said in Chicago during the campaign, when
asked about should the Government ever deficit spend, I said only under
these circumstances should Government deficit spend: if there is a
national emergency, if there is a recession, or if there's a war. And
you know, we've now got a reason to do what it takes to not only provide
security at home, to do what it takes to win the war on terrorism, but
we've also got to do what it takes to make sure this economy gets
growing, so people can find work.
And we've got the basis for growth. We're an entrepreneurial nation.
There's a lot of small-business growth in America. By and large, the
banking system is very solid. The energy prices are reasonable. And now
we've just got to be aggressive and make sure we do what we need to do
at the Federal level to provide a kick-start to give people reasons to
be confident. And we will do that.
This isn't a Republican idea or Democrat idea; it's an American
idea. And it's the right time for us to come together to get it done.
Yes, ma'am.
National Economy
Q. Mr. President, should the country brace itself for a recession? I
mean, one of your advisers said yesterday that he can forecast it being
likely that two negative quarters of growth are----
The President. We'll leave all that talk up to the statisticians.
You're asking me about statistics, and we've got people who count
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