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would build in later years. Such cost increases would threaten our
efforts against terrorism or force deep cuts in discretionary spending
or Federal employment to stay within budget. Neither outcome is
acceptable. Therefore, I have determined that a total pay increase of
3.1 percent would be appropriate for GS employees in January 2003.
Because 5 U.S.C. 5303 already mandates an across-the-board GS pay
increase of 3.1 percent in January 2003, GS locality-based comparability
payments under 5 U.S.C. 5304 must remain at current levels. While my
Administration remains committed to the principle of adjusting civilian
Federal pay rates in keeping with changes in local labor market rates,
our national situation precludes granting larger pay increases to GS
employees at this time.
Accordingly, I have determined that:
(1) Under the authority of section 5303(a) of title 5, United States
Code, the pay rates for each statutory pay system will be increased by
3.1 percent, effective on the first day of the first applicable pay
period beginning on or after January 1, 2003; and
(2) Under the authority of section 5304a of title 5, United States
Code, locality-based comparability payments in the percentages set forth
in the attached table will remain in effect in 2003.
[[Page 2109]]
Finally, the law requires that I include in this report an
assessment of the impact of my decision on the Government's ability to
recruit and retain well-qualified employees. I do not believe this
decision will materially affect our ability to continue to attract and
retain a quality Federal workforce. Inflation, as measured by the
Consumer Price Index, is at 2.1 percent, well below the 3.1 percent
across-the-board pay increase already mandated by current law, and
Federal quit rates are at an all-time low of 2.1 percent per year, well
below the overall average quit rate in private enterprise. Should the
need arise, the Government has many compensation tools, such as
recruitment bonuses, retention allowances, and special salary rates, to
maintain the high-quality workforce that serves our Nation so very well.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush
Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the
Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
November 29. This item was not received in time for publication in the
appropriate issue.
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Week Ending Friday, December 6, 2002
The President's Radio Address
November 30, 2002
Good morning. This week, all across America, we gather with the
people we love to give thanks for the blessings in our lives. Each
family has its own traditions, yet we are united as a nation in setting
aside a day of gratitude. We are grateful for the freedoms we enjoy,
grateful for the loved ones who give meaning to our lives, and grateful
for the many gifts of this prosperous land. On Thanksgiving we
acknowledge that all of these things, and life itself, come not from the
hand of man, but from Almighty God.
The blessings we have received take on special meaning in this time
of challenge for our country. Over the last year, millions of Americans
have found renewed appreciation for our liberty and for the men and
women who serve in its defense. We have held our family and our friends
closer, spending more time together, and letting them know we love them.
Taking time to count our own blessings reminds us that many people
struggle every day--men, women, and children facing hunger,
homelessness, illness, addiction, or despair. These are not strangers.
They are fellow Americans needing comfort, love, and compassion. I ask
all Americans to consider how you can give someone in need a reason to
be thankful in this holiday season and throughout the year.
It's easy to get started and to have an immediate impact.
Volunteering your time at a soup kitchen, teaching a child to read,
visiting a patient in the hospital, or taking a meal to an elderly
neighbor or a shut-in are all simple acts of compassion that can
brighten someone's life. Every act of love and generosity, however small
it may seem, is significant. Every time you reach out to a neighbor in
need, you touch a life, you improve your community, and you strengthen
our nation.
Earlier this year, I created the USA Freedom Corps office in the
White House to harness the power of millions of acts of charity,
compassion, and love to make America a better place. I hope you'll
consider joining the armies of compassion and dedicating time and energy
and service to others. I'm so proud of the millions of Americans who
have answered the call to service, enriching the lives of others with
acts of kindness. It is a testament to the good heart and the giving
spirit of the American people.
There's no better time than this season of Thanksgiving to renew our
commitment to helping those in need. The USA Freedom Corps Web site--
usafreedomcorps.gov--is a wonderful place to get started. This resource
offers valuable information about service opportunities in your
hometown, across America, and around the world. You can also get
information by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.
Take the time to find out how you can help your fellow Americans and
make this holiday season a season of service.
Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for listening.
Note: The address was recorded at 3:15 p.m. on November 26 in the
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November
[[Page 2110]]
30. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
Secretary on November 29 but was embargoed for release until the
broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
language transcript of this address.
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Week Ending Friday, December 6, 2002
Memorandum on Designation of Officers of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency To Act as Director of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency
November 26, 2002
Memorandum for the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Subject: Designation of Officers of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency to Act as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
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 both the Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (Director) and the Deputy Director of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (Deputy Director) have died, resigned, or
otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the
office of Director, the following officers of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, in the order listed, shall perform the functions and
duties of the office of Director, if they are eligible to act as
Director under the provisions of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of
1998, until such time as the Director or Deputy Director is able to
perform the functions and duties of the office of Director:
Administrator of the United States Fire Administration;
Administrator of the Federal Insurance and Mitigation
Administration;
Assistant Director, Administration and Resource Planning
Directorate; and
Regional Director, Region IV.
Section 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 Director pursuant to this memorandum.
(b) Not withstanding 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. 3345-3349d,
to depart from this order in designating an acting Director.
Section 3. Termination.
This memorandum shall terminate immediately upon the transfer of the
authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to the Department of Homeland Security.
Section 4. Publication.
The Director is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum
in the Federal Register.
George W. Bush
Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
on December 2.
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Week Ending Friday, December 6, 2002
Memorandum on Imposition and Waiver of Sanctions Under Section 604 of
the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003
November 29, 2002
Presidential Determination No. 2003-04
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Subject: Imposition and Waiver of Sanctions Under Section 604 of the
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003
Pursuant to the authority contained in section 604 of the Foreign
Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (``the Act'') (Public Law
107-228), and pursuant to section 603 of that Act, regarding
noncompliance by the PLO and the Palestinian Authority with certain
commitments, I hereby impose the sanction set out in section 604(a)(2),
``Downgrade in Status of the PLO Office in the United States.'' This
sanction is imposed for a period of 180 days from the date hereof or
until such time as the next report required by section 603 of the Act is
transmitted to the Congress, whichever is later. You are authorized and
directed to transmit to the appropriate
[[Page 2111]]
congressional committees the initial report described in section 603 of
the Act.
Furthermore, I hereby determine that it is in the national security
interest of the United States to waive that sanction, pursuant to
section 604 of the Act. This waiver shall be effective for a period of
180 days from the date hereof or until such time as the next report
required by section 603 of the Act is transmitted to the Congress,
whichever is later.
You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this
determination to the Congress and to publish it in the Federal Register.
George W. Bush
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., December 4,
2002]
Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
on December 2, and it was published in the Federal Register on December
5.
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Week Ending Friday, December 6, 2002
Remarks on Signing the North American Wetlands Conservation
Reauthorization Act
December 2, 2002
The President. Please be seated. Thank you. Glad you're here.
Welcome to the White House.
Today we're taking important action to conserve North America's
wetlands, which will help keep our water clean and help provide habitat
for hundreds of species of wildlife. Through this legislation, the
Federal Government will continue its partnership with landowners,
conservation groups, and States to save and improve millions of acres of
wetlands. The North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act
shows our concern for the environment and our respect for future
generations of Americans.
I appreciate two members of my Cabinet who are here today. I'm
honored the Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, is with us, the
Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman; thank you both for coming.
I appreciate the Ambassador, Ambassador Kergin from Canada, for
being here as well. Mr. Ambassador, glad you're here. Thanks for coming.
I want to thank Bob Smith, Senator from New Hampshire, for being
here and for his work on this bill. I want to thank Wayne Gilchrest from
Maryland--he's got a big interest in wetlands as well as the Chesapeake
Bay--for coming here. I appreciate so very much Robert Underwood,
ranking member from Guam, for coming. I'm sorry that Jim Hansen is not
with us today. He was the chairman of the House Committee on Resources,
who helped write and sponsor and get this legislation passed through the
Congress.
I appreciate Steve Williams, who is the director of the Fish and
Wildlife Service, for coming today. Where are you, Steve? There you are.
Thanks for coming.
And I want to thank the president of Ducks Unlimited, John Tomke;
thanks for coming, John. I'm glad you all are here. And I want to thank
you all for coming as well.
With this signature today, the North American Wetlands Conservation
Act will be reauthorized for 5 years. The law authorizes Federal money
to match donations from sportsmen, State wildlife agencies,
conservationists, and landowners. Since 1991, more than $462 million in
Federal grants have helped to encourage $1.3 billion in contributions
from others.
Together these funds have restored streams and rivers, reestablished
native plants and trees, acquired land that is home to more than a third
of America's threatened and endangered species. Because about 75 percent
of the wetlands are held privately, we need to encourage cooperation
with our landowners. This legislation shows that when Government and
landowners and conservationists and others work together, we can make
dramatic progress in preserving the beauty and the quality of our
environment.
I want to thank the Congress for supporting this legislation. And I
ask the Members of the Congress and the two Cabinet members who are here
today to join me as I sign this important piece of legislation.
[At this point, the President signed the bill.]
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