[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
[November 27, 2002]
[Pages 2140-2141]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2003
November 27, 2002

    Today I have signed into law H.R. 4628, the ``Intelligence 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003,'' which authorizes 
appropriations to fund United States intelligence activities, including 
activities essential to success in the war against global terrorism. 
This Act also establishes the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks 
Upon the United States to examine and report on

[[Page 2141]]

the facts and causes relating to the September 11th terrorist attacks. 
The Commission will build upon the work of the congressional joint 
inquiries to carefully examine the circumstances surrounding the attacks 
and the lessons to be learned from them. I expect that the Commission's 
final report will contain important recommendations for steps that can 
be taken to improve our preparedness for and response to terrorist 
attacks in the future.
    The executive branch shall implement sections 325, 334, and 826 of 
the Act, and section 8H(g)(1)(A) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 as 
enacted by section 825 of the Act, relating to submission of 
recommendations to the Congress, in a manner consistent with the 
President's constitutional authority to supervise the unitary executive 
branch.
    Many provisions of the Act, including section 342 and title VIII, 
establish new requirements for the executive branch to disclose 
sensitive information. As I have noted in signing last year's 
Intelligence Authorization Act and other similar legislation, the 
executive branch shall construe such provisions 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.
    The executive branch shall construe subsections 501(d) and (e), 
relating to the number and activities of military personnel deployed 
abroad, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional 
authority as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

                                                          George W. Bush

 The White House,

 November 27, 2002.

Note: H.R. 4628, approved November 27, was assigned Public Law No. 107-
306.