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Department’s efforts to reauthorize our Na- President Bush. We just had a very tion’s aviation programs. Our Nation is out- lengthy and interesting discussion, which is growing our aviation capacity. More people what you would expect friends to do. I con- are flying every year, and so we must mod- sider the Prime Minister a friend; I consider ernize our airports and our air traffic control. a friend as well. We also face the challenges of reducing We talked about foreign policy issues, congestion in our surface and maritime trans- issues of peace. I thank the people of Croatia portation systems. To accomplish these tasks, for their support in Afghanistan of the young America needs creative thinking and innova- democracy. I also believe it’s in the world’s tive solutions, and I believe Mary Peters will interest that Croatia join NATO as well as provide them. the . And to that end, when As Mary works to build a better transpor- I go to Riga, I will make the case that Croatia tation system, she will be a careful steward should be admitted. It seems like a reason- of the people’s money. She brings to her new able date would be 2008. position a reputation for fiscal discipline and We talked about bilateral relations. We integrity. As head of the Federal Highway talked about investments, investment oppor- Administration, Mary introduced better fiscal tunities in Croatia. We talked about the need oversight and accountability. She improved to enhance trade and commerce. The Prime management for the largest transportation Minister has invited me to come. I’ve heard projects. She worked closely with her depart- unbelievably great things about your country, ment’s inspector general to eliminate waste, Mr. Prime Minister. I hear it’s one of the fraud, and abuse. She’s going to carry this most beautiful places on the face of the kind of diligence into her new job. Earth. I’d love to come sometime. I’ve got She understands the importance of a mod- to clear it first with my wife. [Laughter] ern infrastructure and good management. But nevertheless, all in all, it’s been a very And I’m pleased she has agreed to serve her good meeting. And I welcome you here, and country once again. As she takes on this im- thank you for coming. portant position, she has my full trust and Prime Minister Sanader. Thank you, Mr. my confidence. Mary, I look forward to work- President. I’ve been touched by the warmth ing with you as the new Secretary of Trans- of this reception during this visit and of the portation. Congratulations. interest and understanding you have shown It’s now my honor to witness the swearing- in Croatia and the challenges facing Europe in of Mary Peters. today. NOTE: The President spoke at 1:16 p.m. at the About the only question we disagreed was Department of Transportation. In his remarks, he whether Croatia or the United States had the referred to Terryl ‘‘Terry’’ Peters, Sr., husband most beautiful coastline. of Secretary of Transportation Peters; and former President Bush. That’s right. [Laughter] Secretary of Transportation James H. Burnley IV. Prime Minister Sanader. I will let you The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary and Mrs. Bush judge for yourselves when you Peters. visit Croatia, where you certainly will be most welcome, Mr. President. The President and I, we discussed a range Remarks Following Discussions With of issues of bilateral concerns, especially of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader of the preparations of my country to join EU Croatia and NATO. And I expressed my gratitude October 17, 2006 to the President for his constant support for Croatia on its way. President Bush. It’s been my honor to I also—we discussed a range of issues of— welcome the Prime Minister of Croatia here. regarding our region of southeastern Europe: Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. final status of Kosovo; Georgia; Ukraine; Prime Minister Sanader. Thank you very Moldova. We are very active. Croatia is not much. forgetting that we are in the region

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where we still need a strong U.S. and Euro- Statement on Signing the John pean cooperation. We believe strongly in Warner National Defense transatlantic partnership. There is no alter- Authorization Act for Fiscal Year native to this. I think that President Bush 2007 and the United States of America, along with October 17, 2006 the EU, have still to be very, very closely cooperating in a couple of issues in Europe. Today, I have signed into law H.R. 5122, the ‘‘John Warner National Defense Author- So thank you very much, Mr. President, ization Act for Fiscal Year 2007’’ (the ‘‘Act’’). for warm reception and very fruitful discus- The Act authorizes funding for the defense sion. of the United States and its interests abroad, President Bush. Thank you, sir. I appre- for military construction, for national secu- ciate it. Good job. Thank you. rity-related energy programs, and for mari- time security-related transportation pro- grams. NOTE: The President spoke at 3:16 p.m. in the Several provisions of the Act call for execu- Oval Office at the White House. tive branch officials to submit to the Con- gress recommendations for legislation, or purport to regulate the manner in which the Statement on Signing the Northern President formulates recommendations to the Congress for legislation. These provisions California Coastal Wild Heritage include sections 516(h), 575(g), 603(b), Wilderness Act 705(d), 719(b), 721(e), 741(e), 813, 1008, 1016(d), 1035(b)(3), 1047(b), and 1102 of the October 17, 2006 Act, section 118(b)(4) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 1031 of Today, I have signed into law H.R. 233, the Act, section 2773b of title 10 as amended the ‘‘Northern California Coastal Wild Herit- by section 1053 of the Act, and section 403 age Wilderness Act.’’ The Act strengthens of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense protection of certain lands in California. Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Pub- lic Law 108–375) as amended by section 403 Section 4(i)(2) of the Act purports to give of the Act. The executive branch shall con- binding legal effect to guidelines in an ap- strue these provisions in a manner consistent pendix to a report issued by a congressional with the President’s constitutional authority committee, which was not incorporated into to supervise the unitary executive branch and the Act and for which presentment was not to recommend for the consideration of the made. Consistent with the bicameral ap- Congress such measures as the President proval and presentment requirements of the deems necessary and expedient. Constitution for the making of a law, the ex- The executive branch shall construe sec- ecutive branch shall, in carrying out the Act, tions 914 and 1512 of the Act, which purport take appropriate account of the guidelines as to make consultation with specified Mem- bers of Congress a precondition to the execu- a matter of comity between the executive and tion of the law, as calling for but not man- legislative branches. dating such consultation, as is consistent with the Constitution’s provisions concerning the George W. Bush separate powers of the Congress to legislate and the President to execute the laws. The White House, A number of provisions in the Act call for October 17, 2006. the executive branch to furnish information to the Congress or other entities on various subjects. These provisions include sections NOTE: H.R. 233, approved October 17, was as- 219, 313, 360, 1211, 1212, 1213, 1227, 1402, signed Public Law No. 109–362. and 3116 of the Act, section 427 of title 10,

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