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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWTF? The White House has issued TWO statements on the sanctions bill (full text of both)
Not sure which is considered the official signing statement, so I[m posting the =m in chronological order based on their appearance on the Statements & Releases page at WhiteHouse.gov:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/08/02/statement-president-donald-j-trump-signing-hr-3364
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
August 02, 2017
Statement by President Donald J. Trump on the Signing of H.R. 3364
Today, I have signed into law H.R. 3364, the "Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act." While I favor tough measures to punish and deter aggressive and destabilizing behavior by Iran, North Korea, and Russia, this legislation is significantly flawed.
In its haste to pass this legislation, the Congress included a number of clearly unconstitutional provisions. For instance, although I share the policy views of sections 253 and 257, those provisions purport to displace the President's exclusive constitutional authority to recognize foreign governments, including their territorial bounds, in conflict with the Supreme Court's recent decision in Zivotofsky v. Kerry.
Additionally, section 216 seeks to grant the Congress the ability to change the law outside the constitutionally required process. The bill prescribes a review period that precludes the President from taking certain actions. Certain provisions in section 216, however, conflict with the Supreme Court's decision in INS v. Chadha, because they purport to allow the Congress to extend the review period through procedures that do not satisfy the requirements for changing the law under Article I, section 7 of the Constitution. I nevertheless expect to honor the bill's extended waiting periods to ensure that the Congress will have a full opportunity to avail itself of the bill's review procedures.
Further, certain provisions, such as sections 254 and 257, purport to direct my subordinates in the executive branch to undertake certain diplomatic initiatives, in contravention of the President's exclusive constitutional authority to determine the time, scope, and objectives of international negotiations. And other provisions, such as sections 104, 107, 222, 224, 227, 228, and 234, would require me to deny certain individuals entry into the United States, without an exception for the President's responsibility to receive ambassadors under Article II, section 3 of the Constitution. My Administration will give careful and respectful consideration to the preferences expressed by the Congress in these various provisions and will implement them in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations.
Finally, my Administration particularly expects the Congress to refrain from using this flawed bill to hinder our important work with European allies to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, and from using it to hinder our efforts to address any unintended consequences it may have for American businesses, our friends, or our allies.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE
August 2, 2017.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/08/02/statement-president-donald-j-trump-signing-countering-americas
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
August 02, 2017
Statement by President Donald J. Trump on Signing the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
Today, I signed into law the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which enacts new sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia. I favor tough measures to punish and deter bad behavior by the rogue regimes in Tehran and Pyongyang. I also support making clear that America will not tolerate interference in our democratic process, and that we will side with our allies and friends against Russian subversion and destabilization.
That is why, since taking office, I have enacted tough new sanctions on Iran and North Korea, and shored up existing sanctions on Russia.
Since this bill was first introduced, I have expressed my concerns to Congress about the many ways it improperly encroaches on Executive power, disadvantages American companies, and hurts the interests of our European allies.
My Administration has attempted to work with Congress to make this bill better. We have made progress and improved the language to give the Treasury Department greater flexibility in granting routine licenses to American businesses, people, and companies. The improved language also reflects feedback from our European allies who have been steadfast partners on Russia sanctions regarding the energy sanctions provided for in the legislation. The new language also ensures our agencies can delay sanctions on the intelligence and defense sectors, because those sanctions could negatively affect American companies and those of our allies.
Still, the bill remains seriously flawed particularly because it encroaches on the executive branchs authority to negotiate. Congress could not even negotiate a healthcare bill after seven years of talking. By limiting the Executives flexibility, this bill makes it harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American people, and will drive China, Russia, and North Korea much closer together. The Framers of our Constitution put foreign affairs in the hands of the President. This bill will prove the wisdom of that choice.
Yet despite its problems, I am signing this bill for the sake of national unity. It represents the will of the American people to see Russia take steps to improve relations with the United States. We hope there will be cooperation between our two countries on major global issues so that these sanctions will no longer be necessary.
Further, the bill sends a clear message to Iran and North Korea that the American people will not tolerate their dangerous and destabilizing behavior. America will continue to work closely with our friends and allies to check those countries malignant activities.
I built a truly great company worth many billions of dollars. That is a big part of the reason I was elected. As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)highplainsdem
(49,081 posts)spanone
(135,917 posts)AJT
(5,240 posts)Motley13
(3,867 posts)"I built a truly great company worth many billions of dollars. That is a big part of the reason I was elected. As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress."
Pachamama
(16,887 posts)Oh great Czar and master Putin....
I am not worthy of your friendship....I hope you can forgive me for signing these forced sanctions that the evil democrats and dis-loyal Republicans made me sign....
I know I have promised to do a lot of things for you as re-payment and thanks for all the money and the nice gig I have right now that I wouldn't have without your help and assistance. It has been allowing me and my family to enjoy vast amounts of privilege, connections and wealth coming to us and our family business. Of course one drawback is having to be living in a dump in the swamp of DC amongst all those non-white people, but the good news is that I have access to Air Force One and can go at any time to my golf club and other properties that are far nicer, paid for by the American Taxpayer. Your generosity is not forgotten. I am so honored to call you my friend and mentor.
I really really had no choice to sign this terrible bill....if I had not signed it, the Fake News and the Witch Hunt would have gone nuclear on me...besides, they had a veto-proof majority on it, so there was no way to prevent it. I will continue to try hard to work on "adoptions" and have this Magnitsky idiocy rescinded so that you and other great Russian Billionaires can continue to funnel and launder your money through the US and my properties and other ways that have allowed you to hide the money. Don't worry, I am sure in your brilliance, you will come up with something I can do that will please you and maybe even some cool distraction that allows me to use my authority as Commander in Chief. I actually wanted to meanwhile thank you for sending home all those American Diplomats from Russia. They are probably all leftovers from Obama and so it also helps me in my effort to reduce and dismantle the State Department. I did however have your buddy Rex announce that we will no longer include democracy as part of our official mission. Isn't that great? We thought this would please you...
I really wish that I could violate human rights like you do. I gave a great speech to police and law enforcement though this week....told them it shouldn't matter if they slam the heads of people they arrest. I so wish in US we had Gulags like you do and no due process. It would make things so much easier for me to get things done.
With much love to Russia and you my great master....
xoxo
Comrade Trumpsky
highplainsdem
(49,081 posts)Pachamama
(16,887 posts)He said "COMRADES" "PROTECT" in capital letters after each other
Subliminal messaging?
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)That's all he cares about
highplainsdem
(49,081 posts)highplainsdem
(49,081 posts)demmiblue
(36,909 posts)That is a indeed!
Gothmog
(145,754 posts)Why?
highplainsdem
(49,081 posts)The sanctions bill has now appeared on the Signed Legislation page, but it doesn't have a link to either statement.
NastyRiffraff
(12,448 posts)with extensive vocabulary and usage help from someone else (Jared?) Except for the last paragraph which is Trump's alone.
The first is clearly written by lawyers, vetted by Kelly.
highplainsdem
(49,081 posts)But the report is that the second statement is now being called a "press release" by the WH.
janx
(24,128 posts)"That is why, since taking office, I have enacted tough new sanctions on Iran and North Korea, and shored up existing sanctions on Russia"
Yeah. Sure.
These are feeble attempts at muscle flexing on Trump's part. He seems to have no concept on the separation of powers in the U.S. government. People probably had to
tellhim that he had no choice but to sign the bill.
Both statements will go down in history, no doubt.
maxrandb
(15,373 posts)when a reporter asks him; "your statement says that Section 216 of the bill seeks to grant Congress the ability to change the law outside the constitutionally required process and contains certain provisions that conflict with the Supreme Court's decision in INS v. Chadha. How is INS v Chadha relevant here, and what provisions of the bill did this case seem to contradict?
Johonny
(20,928 posts)Trumpy is your friend.
Skittles
(153,258 posts)that one is for this idiotic supporters