The United States has been one of the leaders in the efforts which have resulted in the adoption of Montreal Protocols No. 3 and No. 4.

The social and economic progress to which they aspire cannot come without the political equality of statehood.

Ratification of Montreal Protocols No. 3 and No. 4 by the United States will significantly advance these efforts to increase the economic protection of users of the international air transport system.

I SUBMIT herewith to the Congress the Puerto Rico Statehood Act of 1977.

Government cannot expect the trust and confidence of its people unless it enacts and enforces laws that are effective, efficient, and fair.

I urge them to continue their good work.

When I took office in 1974, I found many of our regulatory laws outdated and unintelligible.

Cash awards totaling $1,442,536 were paid for these adopted suggestions, based not only on the tangible first-year benefits of $74,347,607.94 which were realized therefrom, but also on many additional benefits and improvements of an…

Of those suggestions submitted, more than 296,000 have been adopted with resultant tangible first-year benefits in excess of $929,000,000.

Of the 119,256 suggestions which were submitted by military personnel during Fiscal Year 1976, 19,375 were adopted.

Enlisted personnel received $1,104,328 in awards, which represents 82 percent of the total cash awards paid.

I believe I speak for all of us when I say that Secretary Kissinger, whom we are honoring tonight, we have been impressed by our association with him on a personal basis.

It is my particular pleasure to be able to give special recognition to this great American this evening before this distinguished and most appropriate audience.

Cash awards totaling $1,343,224 were paid for these adopted suggestions.

The functions conferred upon the President by section 708(d) of the Defense Production Act and delegated under section 501(a) of this order, relating to the establishment of advisory committees, shall be exercised only after consultation…

It is now time to act.

By virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 3347 of Title 5 and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, and as President of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Enlisted personnel received $1,175,908.50 in awards, which represents 81 percent of the total cash awards paid.

Mr. Secretary, it is my honor and tremendous privilege to award you on behalf of this grateful Nation the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award it is within the power of a President to grant.

Of those suggestions submitted, more than 275,000 have been adopted with resultant tangible first-year benefits in excess of $873,000,000.

He is, so far as this American is concerned, the greatest Secretary of State in the history of our Republic.

I commend the report to the attention of the Congress and urge prompt action to create a Department of Energy.

I hereby transmit to the Congress the eighth quarterly report of the Council on Wage and Price Stability.

The United States strongly seeks the achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East.

Excellence has its own reward, not only to those who strive for it but also to the free society which encourages it.