Press Briefing by Marlin Fitzwater and Ronald Robertson, General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

~,.Photocopied at the Roiald Reagan Libra
MR. SPEAKES: Not today, no. Probably won't have a dill
to sign until next week.
Q Oh, you don't know what the decision is.
Q Will we get a statement from the President, however
I mean, will we have a statement from the President on the bill --
or something from the Secretary?
MR. SPEAKES: No. I think what happens, today, is that
Jack will simply say what the President is going to do. The
President, then, will take whatever action necessary next week. Je
won't have a bill next week and --
0 So, you mean you won't have a bill to either sign or
reject?
MR. SPEAKES: That's right.
Q When will he sign the farm credit legislation?
MR. SPEAKES: Farm credit legislation, in all
probability, will be acted on at the same time that the President
acts on the farm bill itself.
Q He has announced he will sign that?
MR. SPEAKES: Sign that -- that's right.
Q Who is going to brief the President on AIDS and is
there going to be anything further on that whole issue?
MR. SPEAKES: I don't think we'll have anything further.
Rusty, do you know who is doing that? It comes out of the Domestic
Policy Council -- it simply may be done oy the staff.
MR. BRASHEAR: Dr. Jack Roper in the White House nas oeen
doing some of it, along with people from NIH.
Q Is the President going to make a decision on the
Executive Order on Affirmative Action by the end of the year?
4R. SPEAKES: I don't know what the timetable is for
that, Sam.
Q Will there ever be a decision made?
MR. SPEAKES: If it is, we'll tell you about it.
Q Is making no decision, a decision?
MR. SPEAKES: It would be, sure.
Rusty, here is the --
Q Can we assume the matter is dead?
MR. SPEAKES: No. He'll have Dr. William Roper, who is a
special assistant to the President for Health

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