[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[October 20, 1998]
[Page 1825]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
1999
October 20, 1998

    Today I have signed into law H.R. 3694, the ``Intelligence 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999.'' The Act authorizes Fiscal Year 
1999 appropriations for U.S. intelligence and intelligence-related 
activities.
    The Act is the product of the dedication and effort of many people 
in Congress and my Administration. I believe that the Act will help our 
Nation maintain a strong intelligence capability and preserve the safety 
and security of our country.
    I am pleased that the Act provides enhanced protective authority for 
CIA personnel and family members. This is extremely important given the 
continuing terrorist threat against U.S. citizens and interests. I also 
note that the Act names the CIA Headquarters Compound in Langley, 
Virginia, the ``George Bush Center for Intelligence.'' This is an 
appropriate and well-deserved tribute to former President Bush.
    Sections 601 and 602 of the Act enhance significantly our ability to 
conduct effective counterintelligence and international terrorism 
investigations. In addition, section 604 expands the Government's 
ability to conduct wiretaps when investigating a broad range of Federal 
felonies. The Attorney General will develop comprehensive guidelines and 
minimization procedures for the use of this expanded authority and will 
amend procedures currently contained in the manual for United States 
Attorneys to provide appropriate protection for the rights of Americans. 
Until such guidelines and procedures are finalized, the Government will 
conduct wiretaps in accordance with the standards provided under current 
law. The Department of Justice will include statistics on the use of the 
expanded authority in its annual wiretap report to the Congress.
    Finally, I am satisfied that this Act contains an acceptable 
whistleblower protection provision, free of the constitutional 
infirmities evident in the Senate-passed version of this legislation. 
The Act does not constrain my constitutional authority to review and, if 
appropriate, control disclosure of certain classified information to the 
Congress. I note that the Act's legislative history makes clear that the 
Congress, although disagreeing with the executive branch regarding the 
operative constitutional principles, does not intend to foreclose the 
exercise of my constitutional authority in this area.
    The Constitution vests the President with authority to control 
disclosure of information when necessary for the discharge of his 
constitutional responsibilities. Nothing in this Act purports to change 
this principle. I anticipate that this authority will be exercised only 
in exceptional circumstances and that when agency heads decide that they 
must defer, limit, or preclude the disclosure of sensitive information, 
they will contact the appropriate congressional committees promptly to 
begin the accommodation process that has traditionally been followed 
with respect to disclosure of sensitive information.

                                                      William J. Clinton

The White House,

October 20, 1998.

Note: H.R. 3694, approved October 20, was assigned Public Law No. 105-
272.