International Dolphin Conservation Act of 1992
PL 102-523 (H.R.5419), enacted 10/26/1992

PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3425 
Public Law 102-523 
102d Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to authorize the Secretary 
of State to enter into international agreements to establish a global moratoriiun 
Oct. 26, 1992 
to prohibit harvesting of tuna through the use of purse seine nets deployed 
[H.R. 5419] 
on or to encircle dolphins or other marine mammals, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
international 
' 
CF 
^ 
Dolphin 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Act o7l992°" 
This Act may be cited as the International Dolphin Conserva- 16 use 136 note. 
tionActofl992''. 
SEC. 2. GLOBAL MORATORIUM TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN TUNA 
HARVESTING PRACTICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
^ITLE m—GLOBAL MORATORIUM TO 
PROHIBIT CERTAIN TUNA HARVEST-
ING PRACTICES 
"SEC. 301. FINDINGS AND POUCY. 
16 USC 1411. 
"(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
"(1) The yellowfin tuna fishery of the eastern tropical 
Pacific Ocean has resulted in the deaths of miUions of dolphins. 
''(2) Significant awareness and increased concern for the 
hecdth and safety of dolphin populations has encouraged a 
change in fishing methods worldwide. 
"(3) United States tuna fishing vessels have led the world 
in the development of fishing methods to reduce dolphin 
mortalities in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and United 
States tima processing companies have voluntarily promoted 
the marketing of tuna &at is dolphin safe. 
"(4) Nations harvesting yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropi-
cal Pacific Ocean have indicated their willingness to participate 
in appropriate multilateral agreements to reduce, and eventu-
ally eliminate, dolphin mortality in that fishery. 
"(b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to— 
"(1) eliminate the marine manunal mortedity resulting firom 
the intentional encirclement of dolphins and other marine mam-
mals in tuna purse scdne fisheries; 
"(2) secure appropriate multilateral agreements to reduce, 
and eventually eliminate, the mortaUty referred to in paragraph 
106 STAT. 3426 
PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
"(3) ensure that the market of the United States does 
not act as an incentive to the harvest of tuna caught in associa-
tion with dolphins or with driftnets; 
"(4) secure appropriate multilateral agreements to ensure 
that United States tuna fishing vessels ^all have continued 
access to productive tuna fishing grounds in the South Pacific 
Ocecm ana elsewhere; and 
**(5) encourage observer coverage on purse seine vessels 
fishing for tuna outside of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean 
in a fishery in which the Secretary has determined that a 
regular and significant association occurs between marine mam-
mals and tuna, and in which tuna is harvested through the 
use of purse seine nets deployed on or to encircle marine 
mammals. 
16 use 1412. 
«SEC. 302. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS TO ESTABUSH GLOBAL 
MORATORIUM TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN TUNA HARVESTING 
PRACTICES. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary of State, in consultation with 
the Secretary, may enter into international agreements which estab-
lish, in accordance with this title, a global moratorium of at least 
5 years duration to prohibit harvestmg tuna through the use of 
purse seine nets deployed on or to encircle dolphins or other marine 
mammals. 
"(b) TERMS OF AGREEMENT.—^Any agreement entered into imder 
this section shall— 
"(1) establish a moratorium described in subsection (a) 
which takes effect on March 1,1994; 
"(2) include an international research program and, not-
withstanding the moratorium, authorize harvesting of tuna 
under that program; 
"(3) provide for reviews and reports in accordance with 
section 304 on results of research conducted under the research 
program; 
"(4) require each country that is a party to the agreement 
to take all the necessary and appropriate steps to ensure 
compliance with the moratorium; and 
"(5) encourage each countnr that is a party to the agree-
ment to seek, through bilateral and multilateral negotiations, 
to encourage other countries that participate in fisheries to 
which the agreement appUes to become parties to the 
agreement. 
"(c) COMPLIANCE BY UNITED STATES WITH MORATORIUM.—The 
moratorium authorized under subsection (a) may be terminated 
prior to December 31, 1999, with respect to the United States 
for the harvesting of tima in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean 
only if— 
"(1) the Secretary submits to the Congress in accordance 
with section 304(b) a recommendation tluit the moratorium 
be 
terminated; 
and 
"(2) the recommendation is approved by enactment of a 
joint resolution of approval. 
16 use 1413. 
"SEC. SOS. RESEARCH PROGRAMS. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—^An agreement entered into under section 
302 shall— 
"(1) esteblish an international research program to develop 
L... 
methods of 
fishing 
for large yellowfin tuna— 
PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3427 
"(A) without setting nets on dolphins or other marine 
mammals; or 
*XB) by setting nets on dolphins or other marine mam-
mals with zero set-caused mortality; 
"(2) require that proposals for research under the program 
be reviewea and authorized by a competent regional organiza-
tion; 
"(3) require that researdi under the program be conducted 
by dedicated vessels that— 
"(A) are authorized to conduct that research by a com-
petent regional organization; and 
"(B) have on board in accordance with section 305(aX2) 
an observer who is responsible to, and supervised by, a 
competent regional organization, 
"(b) LIMITATIONS ON DOLPHIN MORTALITY.—For the eastern 
tropical Pacific Ocean, an agreement entered into under section 
302 shall require that— 
"(1) the total number of research sets on dolphins conducted 
pursuant to this section during the period beginning March 
1, 1994, and ending December 31, 1999, shall not exceed 400 
annually, and that the total annual dolphin mortality shall 
not exceed 1,000; 
"(2) the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission shall 
establish a panel to review and report on the compliance of 
the international yellowfin tuna fishery fleet with the limits 
established in paragraph (1) and make recommendations as 
appropriate; and 
"(3) the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission shall 
establish an Advisory Board of technical specialists firom the 
international communities of scientists, government agencies, 
environmental groups, and the fishing industry, to assist that 
commission in efforts to coordinate, facilitate, and guide 
research. 
"(c) FUNDING.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—An agreement entered into under section 
302 shall establish fair and equitable mechanisms for fiinding 
research conducted pursuant to this section. 
"(2) PROCEEDS OF RESEARCH HARVESTS.—An agreement 
entered into under section 302 shall provide that the proceeds 
of any tima harvested for the purpose of research conducted 
pursuant to this section should, to the extent possible, be used 
for funding research conducted pursuant to this section. 
"(3) LIMITATION O
N USE O
F U
N
I
T
E
D STATES FUNDING.—Fund-
ing provided by the United States for research shall be used 
only for the purpose of developing methods of fishing for large 
yellowfin tuna that do not involve intentionally encircling dol-
phins or other marine mammals. 
"(d) REVIEW OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS.—The Marine Mammal 
Commission established under section 201 shall— 
"(1) review all research proposals submitted to the Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission; and 
"(2) recommend iui appropriate response to each of those 
proposals, to the United States Commissioners on the Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission. 
106 STAT. 3428 
PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
16 use 1414. 
«SEC. 304. REVIEWS, REPORTS, AND RBCOMMENDATIONa 
"(a) REPORTS BY THE SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall submit 
annual reports to the Congress which include— 
"(1) results of research conducted pursuant to section 303; 
*'(2) a description of the status of stocks of yellowfln tuna; 
"(3) an assessment of the economic impacts on the tuna 
industry and consumers caused by the moratorium established 
by agreements entered into under section 302; 
"(4) an assessment of the effectiveness of the moratoriimi 
in protecting dolphin populations in the eastern tropical Pacific 
Ocean; 
"(5) results of reviews conducted under section 305(c); 
"(6) copies of any international agreements or undertakings 
authorized by or related to this title; 
"(7) an assessment of the impact on fishery resources, 
other than yellowfin tuna, of methods of 
fishing 
for large yellow-
fin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that do not 
involve the intentional encirclement of dolphins; and 
"(8) any other relevant information, 
"(b) RECOMMENDATIONS OP THE SECRETARY.—If a competent 
regionsd organization under the auspices of which research is con-
ducted pursuant to section 303, or any country which participates 
in such an organization, submits to the United States a rec-
ommendation that a moratorium established by agreements entered 
into under section 302 should be terminated prior to December 
31,1999, the Secretary shall— 
"(1) review the information on which the recommendation 
is based; 
"(2) consult with relevant Federal agencies, including the 
Marine Mammal Commission, and other interested persons; 
and 
"(3) submit to the Congress a recommendation regarding 
the termination of the moratorium. 
16 use 1415. 
''SEC. 305. INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS. 
"(a) LIMITATION ON APPUCATION OF BAN ON IMPORTS.—Except 
as provided in subsection (b), the Secretarv of the Tre£isury shall 
not, under section 101(aX2) (A) and (B), han the importation of 
yellowfin tima or yellowfin tuna products fi:t)m a country that 
transmits to the Secretary of State a formal communication in 
which the countrv commits to— 
"(1) implement a moratorium of at least 5 years duration 
beginning March 1, 1994, on the practice of harvesting tuna 
through the use of purse seine nets deployed on or to encircle 
dolphms or other marine mammals imless the moratorium 
is terminated in accordance with section 302(c); 
"(2) require an observer on each vessel of the country 
larger than 400 short tons canying capacity which engages 
in purse seine fishing for yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical 
Pacific Ocean, and ensuro that at least 50 percent of all such 
observers aro responsible to, and supervised by, a competent 
regional organization; 
"(3) 
reduce 
the dolphin mortality 
resulting 
firom 
purse seine 
net operations conducted by vessels of the country in 1992 
to a level that is lower than such mortality in 1991 by a 
statistically significant margin; and 
PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3429 
"(4) reduce the dolphin mortality resiilting from purse seine 
net operations conducted hy vessels of the country in the period 
beginning January 1, 1993, and ending February 28, 1994, 
to a level that is lower than such mortality in 1992 by a 
statistically significant margin. 
**(b) SUBSEQUENT BANS ON FISH AND FISH PRODUCT IMPORTS 
F
O
R FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH COMMITMENTS.— 
"(1) BAN ON IMPORTS OF YELLOWFIN TUNA AND YELLOWFIN 
TUNA PRODUCTS.—^The Secretary, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of State, shall periodically determine whether each coun-
try which has transmitted a formal communication expressing 
the commitments described in subsection (a) is fully implement-
ing those commitments. If the Secretary determines that any 
such country is not implementing those commitments— 
''(A) the Secretary shall notify the President and the 
Congress of that determination; and 
(B) 15 days after such notification, the Secretary of 
the Treasury shall ban the importation from that coimtry 
of all yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna products. 
"(2) BAN ON IMPORTS OF OTHER FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—If— 
**(i) a coimtry does not, within 60 days after the 
establishment with respect to that country of a ban 
on importation under paragraph (IXB), certify and pro-
vide reasonable proof to the Secretary that the country 
has fully implemented the commitment described in 
subsection (aXD or has taken the necessary actions 
to remedy its failure to comply with the commitments 
described in subsection (a) (2), (3), and (4); and 
''(ii) the Secretary does not, before the end of that 
60-day period, certify to the President that the country 
has provided such certification and proof; 
the President shall direct the Secretary of the Treasury President. 
to ban the importation from that country of all articles 
(other than those subject to an importation ban under 
paragraph (IXB)) that are classified under one or more 
of those fish and fish product categories that the President, 
subject to subparagraph (B), considers appropriate to carry 
out this paragraph. 
"(B) BAN CRITERIA.—^The one or more fish and fish 
product categories to which the President imposes an 
import ban under subparagraph (A) with respect to a coun-
try must be a fish and fish product category or categories 
with respect to which the articles classified thereunder 
and imported from that country in the base year had an 
aggregate customs valuation equal to 40 percent of the 
aggregate customs valuation of all articles classified under 
£ul fish and fish product categories that were imported 
from that coimtry during the base year. 
"(C) DEFINITION OF BASE YEAR.—^For purposes of 
subparagraph (B), the term 'base year* means uie calendar 
year immediately occurring before the calendar year in 
which the import ban under subparagraph (A) commences 
with respect to the country. 
"(3) DURATION OF IMPORT BANS.—^Bans on importation 
imposed under paragraphs (1) and (2) with respect to a country 
shall continue in effect until the Secretary determines that 
106 STAT. 3430 
PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
the country is implementing the commitments described in 
subsection (a). 
"(4) IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPORT BANS.—The Secretary of 
the Treasury shall take such action as may be necessary or 
appropriate to implement importation bans imposed under 
paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(c) REVIEWS AND REPORTS.—^The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secreta^ of State, shall— 
"(1) periodically review the activities of countries which 
have transmitted to the Secretary of State formal commimica-
tions expressing the commitments described in subsection (a), 
to determine whether those countries are complying with those 
commitments; and 
"(2) include the results of those reviews in annual reports 
submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 304(a). 
16 use 1416. 
•nSEC. 306. PERMITS FOR TAKING DOLPHINS. 
"(a) ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS UNDER GENERAL PERMIT.—Not-
withstanding section 104(h), the general permit issued to the Amer-
ican Tunaboat Association on December 1, 1980, shall be subject 
to the following additional restrictions: 
"(1) Total dolphin mortalities (including mortalities result-
ing from research) authorized by the permit shall not exceed 
1,000 during the period beginning January 1, 1992, and ending 
December 31, 1992, and 800 during the period beginning Janu-
ary 1,1993, and ending March 1,1994. 
"(2) No purse seine net may be deployed under the permit 
on or to encircle any school of dolphins in which any eastern 
spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostns) or coastal spotted dolphin 
(Stenella attenuata) is observed prior to release of the net 
skiff. 
"(3) The permit shall expire March 1, 1994, unless no 
m^or purse seine tuna fishing country enters into an agree-
ment with the Secretary in accordance with section 302 before 
that date (notwithstanoing any agreement imder that section 
with a country that is not a mcgor purse seine tuna fishing 
country). 
"(4) If no major purse seine tuna fishing countiy enters 
into an agreement with the Secretary in accordance with section 
302 before March 1, 1994, and notwithst£inding £uiy agreement 
under that section with a coimtry that is not a megor purse 
seine tuna fishing countiy— 
"(A) the total dolphin mortelities authorized by the 
permit for each year after 1992, including mortelities 
caused by research, shall not exceed the number of dolphin 
mortelities which occurred under the permit during the 
preceding year; 
"(B) the totel dolphin mortalities occurring under the 
permit each year shall continue to be reduced by stetis-
tically significant amounte each year to levels approaching 
zero by December 31,1999; 
"(C) the permit shall be subject to any additional 
restrictions that the Secretary considers appropriate; and 
"(D) the permit shall expire December 31,1999. 
**(b) PERMITS REQUIRED FOR TAKING DOLPHINS FOR RESEARCH 
PURPOSES.—^An agreement entered into under section 302 shall 
not supersede or be interpreted to supersede any provision of this 
PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3431 
Act under which a permit under this Act is required for activities 
conducted pursuant to this title. 
"(c) MAJOR PURSE SEINE TUNA FISHING COUNTRY DEFINED.— 
For purposes of this section, the term 'major purse seine tima 
fishing country* means a country which on the efiTective date of 
this title has an active purse seine tuna fishing fleet of 20 or 
more vessels. 
*nSEC. 307. PROHIBrnONS. 
16 USC 1417. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—It is unlawful— 
"(1) for any person, after June 1, 1994, to sell, purchase, 
offer for sale, transport, or ship, in the United States, any 
tima or tuna product that is not dolphin safe; 
**(2) for any person or vessel that is subject to the jurisdic-
tion of the United States, intentionally to set a purse seine 
net on or to encircle any marine mammal during any tuna 
fishing operation after February 28,1994, except— 
"(A) as necessary for scientific research approved by 
the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; 
"(B) in accordance with a reconmiendation that is 
approved under section 302(cX2); or 
"(C) as authorized by the general permit issued to 
the American Tunaboat Association on December 1, 1980 
(including any additional restrictions applicable imder sec-
tion 306(a)), notwithstanding any agreement under section 
302 with a country that is not a mcgor purse seine tuna 
fishing country (as that term is defined in section 306(c)); 
"(3) for any person to import any yellowfin tuna or yellowfin 
tuna product or any other fish or fish product in violation 
of a ban on importation imposed under section 305(b) (1) or 
(2); 
"(4) for any person to violate any regulation promulgated 
under tJiis title; 
"(5) for any person to refuse to permit any duly authorized 
officer to board a vessel subject to that person's control for 
purposes of conducting any search or inspection in connection 
with the enforcement of this title; and 
"(6) for any person to assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimi-
date, or interfere with any such authorized officer in the conduct 
of any search or inspection described in paragraph (5). 
"(b) PENALTIES.— 
"(1) CIVIL PENALTY.—A person that knowingly and willfully 
violates subsection (a) (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) shall be subject 
to a civil penalty under section 105(a). 
"(2) (JRIMINAL PENALTY.—A person that knowingly and will-
fully violates subsection (aX6) shall be subject to a criminal 
penalty under section 105(b). 
(c) CIVIL FORFEITURES.—Any vessel (including its fishing gear, 
appurtenances, stores, and cargo) used, and any fish (or its fair 
market value) taken or retained, in any manner, in connection 
with or as a result of the commission of any act prohibited by 
this section shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States 
in the manner provided in section 310 of the Magnuson Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act. 
**(d) DOLPHIN SAFE TUNA.—For purposes of this section, tuna 
or a tuna product is dolphin safe if— 
106 STAT. 343? 
PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
"(1) it does not contain tuna that was harvested on the 
high seas by a vessel engaged in driftnet fishing, as that 
term is defined in section 4003 of the Driftnet Impact, Monitor-
ing, Assessment, and Control Act of 1987; 
"(2) in the case of tuna or a tuna product that contains 
tuna harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, it is 
dolphin safe under subsection (dX2) of the Dolphin Protection 
Consumer Information Act; 
"(3) in the case of tuna or a tuna product that contains 
tuna harvested outside the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean by 
a purse seine vessel, it is accompanied by a written statement 
executed by the captain of the vessel certifying that no purse 
seine net was intentionally deployed on or to encircle dolphins 
during the particular voyage on which the tuna was harvested; 
and 
"(4) in the case of tuna or a product that contains tuna 
harvested outside the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean by a purse 
seine vessel in a fishery in which the Secretary has determined 
that a regular and significant association occurs between 
marine mammals and tiuia, and in which tuna is harvested 
through the use of purse seine nets deployed on or to encircle 
marine mammals, it is accompanied by a written stetement 
executed by the captain of the vessel and by an observer, 
certifying that no purse seine net was intentionally deployed 
on or to encircle marine mammals during the particular voyage 
on which the tuna was harvested. 
16 use 1418. 
'<SEC. 308. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Marine Fisheries Service for carrying out section 303, $3,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 
1998.". 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents at the end 
of the first section of that Act is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
TITLE III—GLOBAL MORATORIUM TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN TUNA HARVESTING 
PRACTICES 
"Sec. 301. Findings and policy. 
"Sec. 302. International agreements to establish global moratorium to prohibit cer-
tain tuna harvesting practices. 
"Sec. 303. Research program. 
"Sec. 304. Reviews, reports, and recommendations. 
"Sec. 306. International commitments. 
"Sec. 306. Permits for taking dolphins. 
"Sec. 307. Prohibitions. 
"Sec. 308. Authorization of appropriations.". 
(c) DEFiNrriONS.—Section 3 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1362) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
**(15) The 
term 
'fisheiiy means— 
"(A) one or more stocks of fish which can be treated 
as a unit for purposes of conservation and management 
and which are identified on the basis of geographical, sci-
entific, technical, recreational, and economic cnaracteris-
tics; and 
"(B) any 
fishing 
for such stocks. 
"(16) The 
term 
'competent regional organization'— 
PUBLIC LAW 102-523—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3433 
"(A) for the tuna fishery in the eastern tropical Pacific 
Ocean, means the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commis-
sion; and 
"(B) in any other case, means an organization consist-
ing of those nations participating in a tuna fishery, the 
purpose of which is the conservation and management 
of that fishery and the management of issues relating 
to that fishery. 
"(17) The term 'intermedial^ nation' means a nation that 
exports yellowfin tuna or yellownn tuna products to the United 
States and that imports yellowfin tuna or yellowfin tuna prod-
ucts that are subject to a direct ban on importation into the 
United States pursuant to section 101(aX2XB). If such nation 
certifies and provides reasonable proof to the Secretary that 
it has not imported, within the preceding six months, any 
yellowfin tuna, or yellowfin tuna products that are subject to 
a direct ban on importation to the United States pursuant 
to this section, the Secretary shall, as soon as practicable after 
receiving complete information regarding certification and 
proof, make an affirmative finding that such nation does not 
constitute an intermediary nation for purposes of this section.". 
SEC. 3. A
M
E
N
D
M
E
N
T
S T
O T
U
N
A C
O
N
V
E
N
T
I
O
N
S A
C
T O
F 1950 AND 
S
O
U
T
H PACIFIC T
U
N
A A
C
T OF 1988. 
(a) TUNA CONVENTIONS ACT OF 1950.—The Tuna Conventions 
Act is amended— 
(1) in section 3— 
1
6 use 952. 
(A) in paragraph (b) by striking "and" after the semi-
colon at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (c) by striking the period and insert-
ing "', and"; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
"(d) at least one shall be chosen from a nongovernmental 
conservation organization."; and 
(2) in section 4 bj/^ inserting after "under the conventions," 1
6 use 953. 
the following: "and from nongovernmental conservation 
organizations,". 
(b) SOUTH PACIFIC TUNA ACT OF 1988.—Section 20(a) of the 
South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 973r) is amended by 
striking "1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992" each place it appears 
and inserting "1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 
2000,2001, and 2002". 
Approved October 26, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5419: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-746, Pt. 1 (eomm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries) 
and Pt. 2 (eomm. on Ways and Means). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
Sept. 22, 24, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 8, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 28 (1992): 
Oct. 26, Presidential statement.