[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 52 (Monday, December 29, 2003)]
[Page 1836]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 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. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.