Synopsis "2003 Report to Congress on Combating Terrorism"
Over the past year, our nation has continued to take action to combat terrorism both overseas and at home. Together with the Congress, the Administration has passed landmark legislation to reorganize the federal government, aggressively pursued terrorists around the world, improved our intelligence capabilities, enhanced security at our airports, seaports, land borders and local communities, and strengthened America's response capabilities. Consistent with the requirements of Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense Authorization Act, the fifth annual Report to Congress on Combating Terrorism (hereafter referred to as the "Report") details government-wide spending to combat terrorism. As the Report demonstrates, the Federal government has taken decisive action since September 11, 2001 to protect the nation and combat terrorism overseas. In compliance with the Homeland Security Act of 2002, future Reports will be transmitted with the President's Budget. Federal funding to protect the nation and combat terrorism overseas has dramatically increased since September 11, 2001. In the FY 2004 request, funding for combating terrorism activities increases by 83 percent over FY 2002, the pre-September 11 level. The President's FY 2004 Budget would more than double the pre-September 11 funding level for homeland security, the domestic subset of combating terrorism. And funding for overseas combating terrorism, which includes ongoing efforts to prepare for, protect against, detect, and disrupt terrorism overseas, but does not include direct military action in support of the war on terrorism, would increase by 38 percent over the pre-September 11 level. Our success in combating terrorism overseas and protecting the homeland is not measured by how much we spend but by how much we accomplish. We will continue to focus our efforts on strategic action and target our resources to mitigate the threats to, and vulnerabilities of, our nation. Over the past year, the Administration has completed a number of strategic documents to guide efforts to combat terrorism, including:
