[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 48 (Monday, December 2, 2002)]
[Pages 2101-2102]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Signing the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2003

November 27, 2002

    Thank you all for coming. Please be seated. Today I sign an act of 
Congress authorizing intelligence programs vital to our security and 
creating a national commission to investigate the events of September 
the 11th, 2001, and the years that led up to that event. This commission 
will help me and future Presidents to understand the methods of 
America's enemies and the nature of the threats we face.
    Today I'm pleased to announce my choice for commission Chairman, Dr. 
Henry Kissinger. Dr. Kissinger is one of our Nation's most accomplished 
and respected public servants. He worked here at the White House as 
National Security Adviser, represented America abroad as the Secretary 
of State for two Presidents. He is a distinguished author, academic, 
Army veteran, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. He's also spent much 
of his life in New York, feels deeply the loss that came to that city 
and to our country. Dr. Kissinger will bring broad experience, clear 
thinking, and careful judgment to this important task.
    Mr. Secretary, thank you for returning to the service of your 
nation.
    Dr. Kissinger and I share the same commitments. His investigation 
should carefully examine all the evidence and follow all the facts, 
wherever they lead. We must uncover every detail and learn every lesson 
of September the 11th. My administration will continue to act on the 
lessons we've learned so far to better protect the people of this 
country. It's our most solemn duty.
    I want to thank the congressional leaders for their work on this 
commission and on the broader legislation as well. The law I sign today 
directs new funds and new focus to the task of collecting vital 
intelligence on terrorist threats and on weapons of mass production--
weapons proliferation. In a period of rapidly changing dangers, we will 
continue to work with the Congress to get the resources we need to 
gather information so we can better defend America.
    I want to thank the Members of Congress who are with us today, who 
worked hard to make this commission a reality: Senator Joe Lieberman--
thank you, Senator--Congressman Porter Goss; Tim Roemer; Chris Shays; 
and Chris Smith--all distinguished Members of the United States 
Congress, all who join thousands of Americans who refuse to forget that 
which took place on September the 11th, 2001.
    Above all, I want to thank the family members of the people who were 
killed on September the 11th, family members who are here today and 
others around the country. In working for this commission, you have been 
motivated by a noble goal: You want to spare other Americans the kind of 
suffering you faced. I appreciate that sentiment. America is grateful.
    The Nation's families gather during holidays. You need to know that 
there's a lot of people who continue to pray for you. There's a lot of 
people that you've never seen before--you don't have any ideas of what 
their names are--they share your grief. I hope that provides some 
comfort.
    September the 11th marked a dividing line in the life of our Nation. 
The events of a single morning dramatically demonstrated America's 
vulnerability to the threats of a new era. Oceans that separated us from 
other continents no longer separate us from danger. America's enemies 
are still determined to inflict great harm. We have a duty--a solemn 
duty--to do everything we can to protect this country.
    We've acted to reduce the Nation's vulnerabilities. We're stepping 
up security and transportation systems at port of entries and on our 
borders. We've made important reforms in Federal law enforcement, 
ensuring that the FBI's primary focus now is the prevention of future 
attack. We're doing a better job of sharing information among agencies. 
By legislation I signed this week, we've created a Department of 
Homeland Security to involve the largest reorganization of the Federal 
Government in more than a half a century, with the goal of protecting 
America.

[[Page 2102]]

    And overseas we're chasing the killers down, one person at a time--
one at a time. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling the Al Qaida 
network. There is no cave dark enough or deep enough to hide from the 
justice of the United States of America. And it doesn't matter how long 
it takes, this Nation will stay on course to find them, to bring them to 
justice, to make sure America's homeland is secure.
    These essential steps do not complete our work, and that's important 
for America to know. In the war against terror, our goal is to take 
every measure that is necessary, to gather all information that is 
available and gain every advantage that is possible. An aggressive 
investigation into September the 11th, with a responsible concern for 
sensitive information that will allow us to win the war on terror, will 
contribute to the security of this country.
    This commission's findings may show a need for further reform in 
intelligence gathering and other areas. I'm confident that under Dr. 
Kissinger's leadership the commission's work will be thorough. The 
recommendations will be helpful and useful.
    I also hope that the commission will act quickly and issue its 
report prior to the 18-month deadline embodied in the legislation. After 
all, if there's changes that need to be made, we need to know them as 
soon as possible, for the security of our country. The sooner we have 
the commission's conclusions, the sooner this administration will act on 
them.
    And as a people, Americans are always looking forward. As a nation, 
we're working every day to build a future that is peaceful and secure. 
To reach this goal we must learn all about the past that we can. So with 
this commission we have formed today, America will learn more about the 
evil that was done to us. And the understanding we will gain will serve 
us for years to come. This commission is not only important for this 
administration; this commission will be important for future 
administrations, until the world is secure from the evildoers that hate 
what we stand for.
    I ask the Members of Congress that are here today to please come up 
and join me as I sign this important legislation.
    May God bless the families of those who suffered on September the 
11th. May God bless you today. May God bless you for long days to come, 
and may God continue to bless America.

Note: The President spoke at 9:58 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. H.R. 4628, approved November 27, was assigned Public Law 
No. 107-306.