[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 31 (Monday, August 6, 2007)]
[Pages 1040-1041]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007

August 3, 2007

    Today I signed into law the ``Implementing Recommendations of the 9/
11 Commission Act of 2007.'' This legislation builds upon the 
considerable progress we have made in strengthening our defenses and 
protecting Americans since the attacks of September 11, 2001. In the 
largest restructuring of our Government since World War II, we created 
the Department of Homeland Security to better coordinate the protection 
and response capabilities of our Government. The Director of National 
Intelligence leads a restructured intelligence community that is better 
able to uncover, understand, and counter threats from terrorists. To 
implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, I have issued 
numerous Executive orders, Presidential directives, and national 
strategies. I have also signed into law the Intelligence Reform and 
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the PATRIOT Act, and other important 
pieces of legislation.
    I am pleased that the legislation I signed today protects Americans 
from being unduly prosecuted for reporting activity that could lead to 
acts of terrorism. I also appreciate the steps taken to modernize the 
Visa Waiver Program, particularly the additional security measures, but 
I will continue to work with Congress to advance our security and 
foreign policy objectives by allowing greater flexibility to bring some 
of our closest allies into the program. I will also continue to work 
with Congress to ensure the workability of the cargo screening 
provisions in a way that increases our vigilance on homeland security 
while ensuring the continuance of vital commerce. And I appreciate the 
willingness of Congress to remove several provisions that had previously 
generated concern.
    There is still other work to be done. I continue to believe that 
Congress should act on the outstanding 9/11 Commission recommendations 
to reform the legislative branch's oversight of intelligence and 
counterterrorism activities, which the Commission described as 
dysfunctional. While this legislation does not heed the Commission's 
advice, I hope Congress revisits the issue soon.
    I also believe it is important to recognize the urgent need for 
Congress to pass legislation to modernize the Foreign Intelligence 
Surveillance Act, a decades-old law that should be updated to address 
changes in communication technology while protecting the civil liberties 
of our citizens. The Director of National Intelligence has stated 
unequivocally that without this change in the law, we will continue to 
miss significant amounts of information that we should be collecting to 
protect against potential terrorist attacks.
    Congress should also continue to strive to better target grant 
dollars to cities and States based on risk. This legislation makes some 
progress, but it also authorizes billions of dollars for grants and 
other programs that are unnecessary or should not be funded at such 
excessive levels. I will not request this excessive funding in my 2009 
budget request.
    I thank members of both parties in Congress who worked on this 
legislation, and I appreciate the willingness of members to strengthen 
provisions we believed would have weakened our security. Leaders in 
Washington should never forget that our most important duty is to 
protect the American people. I will continue to work with the Congress 
to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep our Nation safe.

Note: H.R. 1, approved August 3, was assigned Public Law No. 110-53.

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