News About Signing Statements
Statement from the President on H.R. 7032
On September 30, 2024, the White House released a statement on the signing of H.R. 7032, the “Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act.”
This is the 14th signing statement issued by President Biden. It raises issues of constitutional interpretation. The signing statement is available here on this website and on the White House website.
Statement from President Joe Biden on the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act
On July 13, 2024, the White House released a statement on the signing of S. 138, the "Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act."
This is the 13th signing statement issued by President Biden. It raises no constitutional objections, but does assert presidential authority to recognize foreign states and the territorial bounds of such states. The signing statement is available here on this website and on the White House website.
Statement from President Joe Biden on the Signing of the Recruit and Retain Act
On May 24, 2024, the White House released a statement on the signing of S. 546, the "Recruit and Retain Act."
This is the 12th 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 from President Joe Biden After Signing the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act
On May 16, 2024, the White House released a statement after the signing of H.R. 3935, the "FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024."
This is the 11th 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 from President Joe Biden on the Bipartisan Government Funding Bill
On March 23, 2024, the White House released a signing statement for H.R. 2882, the "Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024."
This is the tenth 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.
As things stand on January 1, 2024:
|
|
Biden |
Trump |
Obama |
Bush |
|
Affected Provisions |
57 |
716 |
122 |
>1100 |
|
Number
of Acts |
9 |
66 |
37 |
161 |
|
Signing Statement Documents Issued |
9 |
77 |
37 |
160 |
|
Months
in Office |
36 |
48 |
96 |
96 |
See the FAQs page for how these counts were compiled.
Statement by the President on H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024
On December 22, 2023, the White House released a signing statement for H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.
This is the ninth 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 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.
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