    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 12, 2003]
    [Pages 1715-1716]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
    Restoration Act of 2003
    December 12, 2003

        Today, I have signed into law H.R. 1828, the ``Syria Accountability
    and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003.'' The Act is intended
    to strengthen the ability of the United States to conduct an effective
    foreign policy.
        Section 5 of the Act purports to impose upon the President
    requirements to take certain actions against Syria unless the President
    either determines and certifies to the Congress that the Government of
    Syria has taken specific actions, or determines that it is in the
    national security interest of the United States to waive such
    requirements and reports the reasons for that determination to the
    Congress. A law cannot burden or infringe the President's exercise of a
    core constitutional power by attaching conditions precedent to the use
    of that power. The executive branch shall construe and implement section
    5 in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority
    to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs and as Commander in Chief, in
    particular with respect to the conduct of foreign diplomats in the
    United States, the conduct of United States diplomats abroad, and the
    exportation of items and provision of services necessary to the
    performance of official functions by United States Government personnel
    abroad.
        Section 6 of the Act requires an officer in the executive branch to
    furnish information to the Congress on various subjects involving Syria
    and terrorism. The executive branch shall construe section 6 in a manner
    consistent with the President's constitutional authority to withhold
    information the disclosure of which could impair foreign relations,
    national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the
    performance of the Executive's constitutional duties.
        My approval of the Act does not constitute my adoption of the
    various statements of policy in the Act as U.S. foreign policy. Given
    the Constitution's commitment to the Presidency of the authority to
    conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, the executive branch shall
    construe such policy statements as advisory, giving them the due weight
    that comity between the legislative and executive branches should
    require, to the extent consistent with U.S. foreign policy.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     December 12, 2003.

    [[Page 1716]]

    Note: H.R. 1828, approved December 12, was assigned Public Law No. 108-
    175.