I am pleased with this bill which responds to a vital need of the American people.

I AM SIGNING today the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970.

Protection for the customer is essential, and has been provided here, as in the mutual fund bill [Public Law 91-547] which I recently signed.

This bill deals with that.

I AM WITHHOLDING my signature from S. 3418, a bill designed to promote training in family medicine.

I AM TODAY signing H.R. 17923, the Department of Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1971, even though it adds $342.5 million in budget authority and a similar amount in budget outlays to the amounts I requested for fiscal year 1971.

Immediate action on this important legislation is essential if we are to continue this program beyond January 1, 1971.

I cannot accept a bill which so fully embraces this self-defeating concept.

TO STOP a crippling national railroad strike, which would work severe hardship on millions of Americans and impede an orderly economic expansion, I am signing this bill.

The challenge is to use this legislation creatively.

This new Act will improve our foreign relations and promote a better understanding of America throughout the world.

It looks easy now, but we spent more than 20 years in the Congress battling for this breakthrough.

One of the handicaps we have is the appropriation bills came the latter part of the year.

I think it will be more difficult for any new legislation we might propose.

On October 15, I signed the Department of Transportation bill, which established that Department.

This is a strong but simple law.

Today Congress has put some of those tools in our hands.

The second bill we will sign today will enhance the quality of life for every American-the Clean Water Restoration Act will give us the power to rescue the once clear waters of our streams and our rivers and our lakes from the growing menace of pollution.