    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 19, 2003]
    [Pages 1754-1755]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Defense Production Reauthorization Act of 2003
    December 19, 2003

        Today, I have signed into law S. 1680, the ``Defense Production
    Reauthorization Act of 2003''. The Act extends production-related
    authorities available to the President to provide support for the Armed
    Forces and meet important civil needs.
        Section 123(c) of the Defense Production Act Amendments of 1992, as
    enacted by

    [[Page 1755]]

    section 7(c) of the Act, purports to require the executive branch to
    undertake consultations with foreign nations on specific matters and to
    report thereon to the Congress. The executive branch shall construe
    section 123(c) in a manner consistent with the constitutional
    authorities of the President to conduct the Nation's foreign relations
    and 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.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     December 19, 2003.

    Note: S. 1680, approved December 19, was assigned Public Law No. 108-
    195.