News About Signing Statements

Statement by the President on H.R. 4004, the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act  

On August 7, 2023, the White House released a signing statement for H.R. 4004, the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act.

This is eighth signing statement issued by President Biden. It raises constitutional objections. The signing statement is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Statement by the President on S. 619, the COVID-⁠19 Origin Act of 2023 

On March 20, 2023, the White House released a signing statement for S. 619, the COVID-⁠19 Origin Act of 2023 .

This is seventh signing statement issued by President Biden. It is rhetorical and raises no constitutional objections. The signing statement is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Statement by the President on H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023

On December 23, 2022, the White House released a signing statement for HR 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

This is sixth signing statement issued by President Biden. It raises constitutional objections. The signing statement is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Statement on the Death of Former Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta and Signing the William T. Coleman, Jr. and Norman Y. Mineta Department of Transportation Headquarters Act 

On May 6, 2022, the White House released a signing statement for S. 400, the William T. Coleman, Jr. and Norman Y. Mineta Department of Transportation Headquarters Act.

This is fifth signing statement issued by President Biden. It raises no constitutional objections. The signing statement is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Statement on signing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 

On December 27, 2021, the White House released a signing statement for S. 1605, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.

This is third signing statement issued by President Biden and the first to raise constitutional objections. The signing statement is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Statement on signing the K-12 Cybersecurity Act

On October 8, 2021, the White House released a statement on S. 1917, the K-12 Cybersecurity Act.

This is second signing statement issued by President Biden and is available here on this website and on the White House website. It is ceremonial and raises no constitutional objections or interpretations.

Statement by President Joe Biden on the Continuing Resolution

On September 30, 2021, the White House released a statement on H.R. 5305, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act.

This is the first signing statement issued by President Biden and is available here on this website and on the White House website. It is ceremonial and raises no constitutional objections or interpretations.



As things stood on January 19, 2021, the last day of Trump's presidency:

 

Trump

Barack Obama

George W. Bush

Affected Provisions

716

122

>1100

Number of Acts

66

37

161

Signing Statement Documents Issued

70

37

160

Months in Office

48

96

96

Trump issued signing statements affecting 716 provisions of law in 48 months (his only term in office), averaging 15 per month. By contrast, Obama averaged 1.3 per month, and Bush averaged 11.5 per month. Thus, Trump issued 12 times as many signing statements as Obama and 1.3 times more than Bush.

See FAQs page for how these counts were compiled.

Signing Statement for the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020 

On December 31, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 3989, the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020.

This is the 70th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act

On December 31, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 914, the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020.

This is the 69th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Unusual Statement Issued December 27, 2020

On December 27, 2020, the same day that Trump signed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the White House released a document that may or may not be a signing statement.

The statement makes reference to the "the Omnibus and Covid package." It states that, while Trump will sign the bill, he will also "send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill." Trump cites 2 U.S.C. § 683 (the Impoundment Control Act of 1974) as authority for this action. (The United States President does not have a line-item veto.)

The statement also contains claims that Congress has agreed to focus on and start an investigation into "very substantial voter fraud which took place in the November 3 Presidential election." It also make derogatory references to "Big Tech" and refers to the coronavirus as "the China Virus."

It is difficult to say whether this is a signing statement or merely an expression of anger. The Government Printing Office has denominated the documents as "Statement on the President's Intention to Sign the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021" when publishing it in the Compilation of Presidential Documents.

If this document is a signing statement, it is the 68th issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act

On December 23, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 1014, the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act.

This is the 67th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020

On December 23, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 2981, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020.

This is the 66th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act

On December 18, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 1982, the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act.

This is the 65th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the COMPACT Act 

On December 5, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for H.R. 8247, the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment of 2020 (the COMPACT Act).

This is the 64th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act

On December 4, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for H.R. 835, the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019.

This is the 63rd signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act

On October 30, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 3051, the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act.

This is the 62nd signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act of 2019

On October 21, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 209, the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act of 2019.

This is the 61st signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for S. 811, the PROSWIFT Act

On October 21, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 811, the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act, or “PROSWIFT Act.”

This is the 60th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for S. 832

On October 20, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 832, a bill to nullify the Supplemental Treaty between the United States and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon.

This is the 59th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the Hong Kong Autonomy Act 

On July 14, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for H.R. 7440, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.

This is the 58th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020

On June 17, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for S. 3744, the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 .

This is the 57th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020

On June 5, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020.

This is the 56th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

On March 27, 2020, the White House released a signing statement for HR 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act). This is the 55th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

This signing statement has been noted in the press. A few samples:

New York Times - "Trump Suggests He Can Gag Inspector General for Stimulus Bailout Program"
 
Washington Post - "Trump takes immediate step to try to curb new inspector general’s autonomy, as battle over stimulus oversight begins"

USA Today - "Trump objects to oversight provisions of coronavirus law, setting stage for new front with Democrats"

New Signing Statement Issued March 25, 2020

On March 25, 2020, the White House released a new signing statement for HR 4334, the “Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020.” This is the 54th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

New Signing Statement Issued March 23, 2020

On March 23, 2020, the White House released a new signing statement for S. 893, the “Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020.” This is the 53rd signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement Issued March 18, 2020

On March 18, 2020, the White House released a new signing statement for  H.R. 6201, the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act.” This is the 52nd signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.



As things stand on February 18, 2020:

 

Trump

Barack Obama

George W. Bush

Affected Provisions

675

122

>1100

Number of Acts

47

37

161

Signing Statement Documents Issued

51

37

160

Months in Office

36.5

96

96

If Trump continues at this rate, he is on course to issue signing statements affecting about 890 provisions of law by the end of 48 months (one term) in office. By contrast, Obama averaged 61 per term, and Bush averaged 550. Thus, at present, Trump is on track to issue 14 times as many signing statements as Obama and 1.5 times more (or, over 50% more) than Bush.

See FAQs page for how these counts were compiled.

Five New Signing Statements Issued on December 19 and 20, 2019

On December 19, 2019, the White House released a signing statement for H.R. 5363, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act (or the FUTURE Act). The signing statement was the 47th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website. 

On December 20, 2019, the White House released four new signing statements.

The first was for both S. 1790, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.”  It was the 48th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

The second was for both S. 1790 and H.R. 1158, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. This was the 49th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website. 

The third signing statement issued on December 20, 2019, was for H.R. 1158, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. This was the 50th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

The fourth was for H.R. 1865, the "Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020."
This was the 51st signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement Issued on November 27, 2019

On November 27, 2019, the White House released two signing statements.

The first was for  S. 1838, the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019.”  It was the 45th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

The second was for both S. 1838 and S. 2710, a bill to prohibit the commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force. This was the 46th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website. 

Signing Statement Issued for H.R 3151, the Taxpayer First Act

On July 1, 2019, the White House released a signing statement H.R. 3151, the “Taxpayer First Act.” 

This is the 44th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement Issued for S. 47

On March 12, 2019, the White House released a signing statement for John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47).

This is the 43rd signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Signing Statement Issued for  H.J. Res. 31, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019

On February 15, 2019, the White House released a signing statement for H.J. Res. 31, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019.

This is the 42nd signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

Two New Signing Statements

On January 14, 2019, the White House released two new signing statements.

The first was for S. 512, the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act. This is the 40th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

The second signing statement was issued for H.R. 7318, "An Act to amend the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 to ensure that the Public Buildings Reform Board has adequate time to carry out the responsibilities of the Board, and for other purposes.  It is available here on this website and on the White House website. This is the 41st signing statement issued by Trump.

New Signing Statement - S. 1862, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act

On January 9, 2019, the White House released a signing statement for S. 1862, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.

This is the 39th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.

First Signing Statement of 2019

On January 8, 2019, the White House released a new signing statement. It was for S. 3191, the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018.

This is the 38th signing statement issued by Trump and is available here on this website and on the White House website.


End of Year Tally - 2018

During his 23 months in office so far, Trump has issued 37 signing statements affecting 331 specified provisions of law and making 30 mentions of unspecified provisions in 35 Congressional enactments, for a total of at least 361 objections.

By contrast, during his entire eight years in office, President Obama issued a total of 37 signing statements affecting 114 specified provisions and making eight mentions of unspecified provisions of law in 37 Congressional enactments, for a total of at least 122 objections. 

In sum, in only two years Trump has issued signing statements affecting about three times as many laws as President Obama did in eight years.

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