    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [December 28, 2001]
    [Page 1555]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1555]]

    Statement on Signing the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
    2002
    December 28, 2001

        Today, I have signed into law H.R. 2883, the ``Intelligence
    Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002.'' The Act authorizes
    appropriations to fund United States intelligence activities, including
    activities essential to success in the war against global terrorism.
    Regrettably, one provision of the Act falls short of the standards of
    comity and flexibility that should govern the relationship between the
    executive and legislative branches on sensitive intelligence matters
    and, in some circumstances, would fall short of constitutional
    standards.
        Section 305 of the Act amends section 502 of the National Security
    Act of 1947, which relates to executive branch reports to the Congress
    under the intelligence oversight provisions of the National Security
    Act. Section 305 purports to require that reports submitted to the
    congressional intelligence committees by the executive branch on
    significant anticipated intelligence activities or significant
    intelligence failures always be in written form, with a concise
    statement of facts pertinent to the report and an explanation of the
    significance of the activity or failure.
        Section 502 of the National Security Act as amended by section 305
    of the Act shall be construed for all purposes, specifically including
    for the purpose of the establishment of standards and procedures under
    section 502(c) of the National Security Act by the Director of Central
    Intelligence, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional
    authority to withhold information the disclosure of which could impair
    foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of
    the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional
    duties. Section 502 shall also be construed in a manner consistent with
    the statutory responsibility of the Director of Central Intelligence to
    protect intelligence sources and methods and other exceptionally
    sensitive matters.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     December 28, 2001.

    Note: H.R. 2883, approved December 28, was assigned Public Law No. 107-
    108.