[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
[June 15, 1999]
[Page 943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board Report 
on Security at the Energy Department Weapons Labs
June 15, 1999

    On March 18, 1999, I asked the President's Foreign Intelligence 
Advisory Board, the PFIAB, to undertake a review of the security threat 
at the Department of Energy's weapons labs and the measures that have 
been taken to address it. PFIAB Chairman Warren B. Rudman presented the Board's findings to me today. I have asked 
the PFIAB to make the report available to Congress and to the public.
    I would like to thank Senator Rudman 
and the Board members who undertook this important study over a 90-day 
period, reviewing hundreds of documents and conducting dozens of 
interviews. As the report recognizes, the Department of Energy 
represents the best of America's scientific talent and expertise. The 
value of their contributions makes it imperative that we place a premium 
on ensuring that we have instituted the best possible measures for the 
protection of our nation's most valuable secrets at Department 
facilities.
    This administration already has taken unprecedented steps to reduce 
the vulnerability of our secrets at the labs. Over a year ago I issued a 
sweeping directive to strengthen counterintelligence across the board at 
the Department of Energy, and Secretary Richardson has aggressively instituted new rules and procedures for 
counterintelligence and security at DOE facilities. The PFIAB has made a 
number of proposals which we will carefully review. We remain committed 
to taking the necessary steps to safeguard our Nation's secrets.
    As these vital national security issues are addressed, we will be 
most successful if we continue our efforts in a bipartisan manner with 
close cooperation between the Executive and Legislative branches of 
Government.