[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5646 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5646

   To provide for the creation of the Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
Records Collection at the National Archives, to require the expeditious 
 public transmission to the Archivist and public disclosure of Missing 
        Armed Forces Personnel records, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 16, 2020

Mr. Pappas (for himself and Mr. Fulcher) introduced the following bill; 
      which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the creation of the Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
Records Collection at the National Archives, to require the expeditious 
 public transmission to the Archivist and public disclosure of Missing 
        Armed Forces Personnel records, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Bring Our Heroes Home Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS, DECLARATIONS, AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings and Declarations.--Congress finds and declares the 
following:
            (1) A vast number of records relating to Missing Armed 
        Forces Personnel have not been identified, located, or 
        transferred to the National Archives following review and 
        declassification. Only in the rarest cases is there any 
        legitimate need for continued protection of records pertaining 
        to Missing Armed Forces Personnel who have been missing for 
        decades.
            (2) There has been insufficient priority placed on 
        identifying, locating, reviewing, or declassifying records 
        relating to Missing Armed Forces Personnel and then 
        transferring the records to the National Archives for public 
        access.
            (3) Mandates for declassification set forth in multiple 
        Executive orders have been broadly written, loosely 
        interpreted, and often ignored by Federal agencies in 
        possession and control of records related to Missing Armed 
        Forces Personnel.
            (4) No individual or entity has been tasked with oversight 
        of the identification, collection, review, and declassification 
        of records related to Missing Armed Forces Personnel.
            (5) The interest, desire, workforce, and funding of Federal 
        agencies to assemble, review, and declassify records relating 
        to Missing Armed Forces Personnel have been lacking.
            (6) All records of the Federal Government relating to 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel should be preserved for 
        historical and governmental purposes and for public research.
            (7) All records of the Federal Government relating to 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel should carry a presumption of 
        declassification, and all such records should be disclosed 
        under this Act to enable the fullest possible accounting for 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel.
            (8) Legislation is necessary to create an enforceable, 
        independent, and accountable process for the public disclosure 
        of records relating to Missing Armed Forces Personnel.
            (9) Legislation is necessary because section 552 of title 
        5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Freedom of 
        Information Act''), as implemented by Federal agencies, has 
        prevented the timely public disclosure of records relating to 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to provide for the creation of the Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel Records Collection at the National Archives; and
            (2) to require the expeditious public transmission to the 
        Archivist and public disclosure of Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel records, subject to narrow exceptions, as set forth 
        in this Act.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Archivist.--The term ``Archivist'' means Archivist of 
        the United States.
            (2) Collection.--The term ``Collection'' means the Missing 
        Armed Forces Personnel Records Collection established under 
        section 4(a).
            (3) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency''--
                    (A) means an agency, as defined in section 552(f) 
                of title 5, United States Code; and
                    (B) includes any Executive department, military 
                department, Government corporation, Government 
                controlled corporation, or other establishment in the 
                executive branch of the Federal Government, including 
                the Executive Office of the President, any branch of 
                the Armed Forces, and any independent regulatory 
                agency.
            (4) Executive branch missing armed forces personnel 
        record.--The term ``executive branch Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel record'' means a Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        record of an Executive agency, or information contained in such 
        a Missing Armed Forces Personnel record obtained by or 
        developed within the executive branch of the Federal 
        Government.
            (5) Government office.--The term ``Government office'' 
        means an Executive agency, the Library of Congress, or the 
        National Archives.
            (6) Missing armed forces personnel.--
                    (A) Definition.--The term ``Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel'' means 1 or more missing persons.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel'' includes an individual who was a missing 
                person and whose status was later changed to ``missing 
                and presumed dead''.
            (7) Missing armed forces personnel record.--The term 
        ``Missing Armed Forces Personnel record'' means a record that 
        relates, directly or indirectly, to the loss, fate, or status 
        of Missing Armed Forces Personnel that--
                    (A) was created or made available for use by, 
                obtained by, or otherwise came into the custody, 
                possession, or control of--
                            (i) any Government office;
                            (ii) any Presidential library; or
                            (iii) any of the Armed Forces; and
                    (B) relates to 1 or more Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel who became missing persons during the 
                period--
                            (i) beginning on December 7, 1941; and
                            (ii) ending on the date of enactment of 
                        this Act.
            (8) Missing person.--The term ``missing person'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 1513 of title 10, United 
        States Code.
            (9) National archives.--The term ``National Archives''--
                    (A) means the National Archives and Records 
                Administration; and
                    (B) includes any component of the National Archives 
                and Records Administration (including Presidential 
                archival depositories established under section 2112 of 
                title 44, United States Code).
            (10) Official investigation.--The term ``official 
        investigation'' means a review, briefing, inquiry, or hearing 
        relating to Missing Armed Forces Personnel conducted by a 
        Presidential commission, committee of Congress, or agency, 
        regardless of whether it is conducted independently, at the 
        request of any Presidential commission or committee of 
        Congress, or at the request of any official of the Federal 
        Government.
            (11) Originating body.--The term ``originating body'' means 
        the Government office or other initial source that created a 
        record or particular information within a record.
            (12) Public interest.--The term ``public interest'' means 
        the compelling interest in the prompt public disclosure of 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel records for historical and 
        governmental purposes, for public research, and for the purpose 
        of fully informing the people of the United States, most 
        importantly families of Missing Armed Forces Personnel, about 
        the fate of the Missing Armed Forces Personnel and the process 
        by which the Federal Government has sought to account for them.
            (13) Record.--The term ``record'' has the meaning given the 
        term ``records'' in section 3301 of title 44, United States 
        Code.
            (14) Review board.--The term ``Review Board'' means the 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel Records Review Board established 
        under section 7.

SEC. 4. MISSING ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL RECORDS COLLECTION AT THE 
              NATIONAL ARCHIVES.

    (a) Establishment of Collection.--Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Archivist shall--
            (1) commence establishment of a collection of records to be 
        known as the ``Missing Armed Forces Personnel Records 
        Collection'';
            (2) commence preparing the subject guidebook and index to 
        the Collection; and
            (3) establish criteria for Executive agencies to follow 
        when transmitting copies of Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        Records to the Archivist, to include required metadata.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Review Board shall promulgate rules to 
establish guidelines and processes for the disclosure of records 
contained in the Collection.

SEC. 5. REVIEW, IDENTIFICATION, TRANSMISSION TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, 
              AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF MISSING ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL 
              RECORDS BY GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Preparation.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and sufficiently in advance of the 
        deadlines established under this Act, each Government office 
        shall--
                    (A) identify and locate any Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel records in the custody, possession, or 
                control of the Government office; and
                    (B) prepare for transmission to the Archivist in 
                accordance with the criteria established by the 
                Archivist a copy of any Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
                records that have not previously been transmitted to 
                the Archivist by the Government office.
            (2) Certification.--Each Government office shall submit to 
        the Archivist, under penalty of perjury, a certification 
        indicating--
                    (A) whether the Government office has conducted a 
                thorough search for all Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
                records in the custody, possession, or control of the 
                Government office; and
                    (B) whether a copy of any Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel record has not been transmitted to the 
                Archivist.
            (3) Preservation.--No Missing Armed Forces Personnel record 
        shall be destroyed, altered, or mutilated in any way.
            (4) Effect of previous disclosure.--Information that was 
        made available or disclosed to the public before the date of 
        enactment of this Act in a Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        record may not be withheld, redacted, postponed for public 
        disclosure, or reclassified.
            (5) Withheld and substantially redacted records.--For any 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel record that is transmitted to 
        the Archivist which a Government office proposes to 
        substantially redact or withhold in full from public access, 
        the head of the Government office shall submit an unclassified 
        and publicly releasable report to the Archivist, the Review 
        Board, and each appropriate committee of the Senate and the 
        House of Representatives justifying the decision of the 
        Government office to substantially redact or withhold the 
        record by demonstrating that the release of information would 
        clearly and demonstrably be expected to cause an articulated 
        harm, and that the harm would be of such gravity as to outweigh 
        the public interest in access to the information.
    (b) Review.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, each Government office shall, in 
        accordance with the criteria established by the Archivist and 
        the rules promulgated under paragraph (2)--
                    (A) identify, locate, copy, and review each Missing 
                Armed Forces Personnel record in the custody, 
                possession, or control of the Government office for 
                transmission to the Archivist and disclosure to the 
                public or, if needed, review by the Review Board; and
                    (B) cooperate fully, in consultation with the 
                Archivist, in carrying out paragraph (3).
            (2) Requirement.--The Review Board shall promulgate rules 
        for the disclosure of relevant records by Government offices 
        under paragraph (1).
            (3) National archives records.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Archivist shall--
                    (A) locate and identify all Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel records in the custody of the National 
                Archives as of the date of enactment of this Act that 
                remain classified, in whole or in part;
                    (B) notify a Government office if the Archivist 
                locates and identifies a record of the Government 
                office under subparagraph (A); and
                    (C) make each classified Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel record located and identified under 
                subparagraph (A) available for review by Executive 
                agencies through the National Declassification Center 
                established under Executive Order 13526.
            (4) Records already public.--A Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel record that is in the custody of the National 
        Archives on the date of enactment of this Act and that has been 
        publicly available in its entirety without redaction shall be 
        made available in the Collection without any additional review 
        by the Archivist, the Review Board, or any other Government 
        office under this Act.
    (c) Transmission to the National Archives.--Each Government office 
shall--
            (1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, commence transmission to the Archivist of copies of 
        the Missing Armed Forces Personnel records in the custody, 
        possession, or control of the Government office; and
            (2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, complete transmission to the Archivist of copies of 
        all Missing Armed Forces Personnel records in the possession or 
        control of the Government office.
    (d) Periodic Review of Postponed Missing Armed Services Personnel 
Records.--
            (1) In general.--All Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        records, or information within a Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        record, the public disclosure of which has been postponed under 
        the standards under this Act shall be reviewed by the 
        originating body--
                    (A)(i) periodically, but not less than every 5 
                years, after the date on which the Review Board 
                terminates under section 7(o); and
                    (ii) at the direction of the Archivist; and
                    (B) consistent with the recommendations of the 
                Review Board under section 9(b)(3)(B).
            (2) Contents.--
                    (A) In general.--A periodic review of a Missing 
                Armed Forces Personnel record, or information within a 
                Missing Armed Forces Personnel record, by the 
                originating body shall address the public disclosure of 
                the Missing Armed Forces Personnel record under the 
                standards under this Act.
                    (B) Continued postponement.--If an originating body 
                conducting a periodic review of a Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel record, or information within a Missing Armed 
                Forces Personnel record, the public disclosure of which 
                has been postponed under the standards under this Act, 
                determines that continued postponement is required, the 
                originating body shall provide to the Archivist an 
                unclassified written description of the reason for the 
                continued postponement that the Archivist shall 
                highlight and make accessible on a publicly accessible 
                website administered by the National Archives.
                    (C) Scope.--The periodic review of postponed 
                Missing Armed Forces Personnel records, or information 
                within a Missing Armed Forces Personnel record, shall 
                serve the purpose stated in section 2(b)(2), to provide 
                expeditious public disclosure of Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel records, to the fullest extent possible, 
                subject only to the grounds for postponement of 
                disclosure under section 6.
                    (D) Disclosure absent certification by president.--
                Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of 
                this Act, all Missing Armed Forces Personnel records, 
                and information within a Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
                record, shall be publicly disclosed in full, and 
                available in the Collection, unless--
                            (i) the head of the originating body, 
                        Executive agency, or other Government office 
                        recommends in writing that continued 
                        postponement is necessary;
                            (ii) the written recommendation described 
                        in clause (i)--
                                    (I) is provided to the Archivist in 
                                unclassified and publicly releasable 
                                form not later than 180 days before the 
                                date that is 10 years after the date of 
                                enactment of this Act; and
                                    (II) includes--
                                            (aa) a justification of the 
                                        recommendation to postpone 
                                        disclosure with clear and 
                                        convincing evidence that the 
                                        identifiable harm is of such 
                                        gravity that it outweighs the 
                                        public interest in disclosure; 
                                        and
                                            (bb) a recommended 
                                        specified time at which or a 
                                        specified occurrence following 
                                        which the material may be 
                                        appropriately disclosed to the 
                                        public under this Act;
                            (iii) the Archivist transmits all 
                        recommended postponements and the 
                        recommendation of the Archivist to the 
                        President not later than 90 days before the 
                        date that is 10 years after the date of 
                        enactment of this Act; and
                            (iv) the President transmits to the 
                        Archivist a certification indicating that 
                        continued postponement is necessary and the 
                        identifiable harm, as demonstrated by clear and 
                        convincing evidence, is of such gravity that it 
                        outweighs the public interest in disclosure not 
                        later than the date that is 10 years after the 
                        date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS.

    (a) In General.--Disclosure to the public of a Missing Armed Forces 
Personnel record or particular information in a Missing Armed Forces 
Personnel record created after the date that is 25 years before the 
date of the review of the Missing Armed Forces Personnel record by the 
Archivist may be postponed subject to the limitations under this Act 
only--
            (1) if it pertains to--
                    (A) military plans, weapons systems, or operations;
                    (B) foreign government information;
                    (C) intelligence activities (including covert 
                action), intelligence sources or methods, or 
                cryptology;
                    (D) foreign relations or foreign activities of the 
                United States, including confidential sources;
                    (E) scientific, technological, or economic matters 
                relating to the national security;
                    (F) United States Government programs for 
                safeguarding nuclear materials or facilities;
                    (G) vulnerabilities or capabilities of systems, 
                installations, infrastructures, projects, plans, or 
                protection services relating to the national security; 
                or
                    (H) the development, production, or use of weapons 
                of mass destruction; and
            (2) the threat posed by the public disclosure of the 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel record or information is of such 
        gravity that it outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
    (b) Older Records.--Disclosure to the public of a Missing Armed 
Forces Personnel record or particular information in a Missing Armed 
Forces Personnel record created on or before the date that is 25 years 
before the date of the review of the Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
record by the Archivist may be postponed subject to the limitations 
under this Act only if, as demonstrated by clear and convincing 
evidence--
            (1) the release of the information would be expected to--
                    (A) reveal the identity of a confidential human 
                source, a human intelligence source, a relationship 
                with an intelligence or security service of a foreign 
                government or international organization, or a nonhuman 
                intelligence source, or impair the effectiveness of an 
                intelligence method currently in use, available for 
                use, or under development;
                    (B) reveal information that would impair United 
                States cryptologic systems or activities;
                    (C) reveal formally named or numbered United States 
                military war plans that remain in effect, or reveal 
                operational or tactical elements of prior plans that 
                are contained in such active plans; or
                    (D) reveal information, including foreign 
                government information, that would cause serious harm 
                to relations between the United States and a foreign 
                government, or to ongoing diplomatic activities of the 
                United States; and
            (2) the threat posed by the public disclosure of the 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel record or information is of such 
        gravity that it outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
    (c) Exception.--Regardless of the age of a Missing Armed Forces 
Personnel record--the date on which a Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
record was created--disclosure to the public of information in the 
Missing Armed Forces Personnel record may be postponed if--
            (1) the public disclosure of the information would reveal 
        the name or identity of a living person who provided 
        confidential information to the United States and would pose a 
        substantial risk of harm to that person;
            (2) the public disclosure of the information could 
        reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of 
        personal privacy, and that invasion of privacy is so 
        substantial that it outweighs the public interest; or
            (3) the public disclosure of the information could 
        reasonably be expected to cause harm to the methods currently 
        in use or available for use by members of the Armed Forces to 
        survive, evade, resist, or escape.

SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT AND POWERS OF THE MISSING ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL 
              RECORDS REVIEW BOARD.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established as an independent 
establishment in the executive branch a board to be known as the 
``Missing Armed Forces Personnel Records Review Board''.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Appointments.--The President shall appoint, by and with 
        the advice and consent of the Senate, 5 individuals to serve as 
        a member of the Review Board to ensure and facilitate the 
        review, transmission to the Archivist, and public disclosure of 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel records.
            (2) Qualifications.--The President shall appoint 
        individuals to serve as members of the Review Board--
                    (A) without regard to political affiliation;
                    (B) who are citizens of the United States of 
                integrity and impartiality;
                    (C) who are not an employee of an Executive agency 
                on the date of the appointment;
                    (D) who have high national professional reputation 
                in their fields who are capable of exercising the 
                independent and objective judgment necessary to the 
                fulfillment of their role in ensuring and facilitating 
                the identification, location, review, transmission to 
                the Archivist, and public disclosure of Missing Armed 
                Forces Personnel records;
                    (E) who possess an appreciation of the value of 
                Missing Armed Forces Personnel records to scholars, the 
                Federal Government, and the public, particularly 
                families of Missing Armed Forces Personnel;
                    (F) not less than 1 of whom is a professional 
                historian; and
                    (G) not less than 1 of whom is an attorney.
            (3) Deadlines.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the President shall 
                submit nominations for all members of the Review Board.
                    (B) Confirmation rejected.--If the Senate votes not 
                to confirm a nomination to serve as a member of the 
                Review Board, not later than 90 days after the date of 
                the vote the President shall submit the nomination of 
                an additional individual to serve as a member of the 
                Review Board.
            (4) Consultation.--The President shall make nominations to 
        the Review Board after considering individuals recommended by 
        the American Historical Association, the Organization of 
        American Historians, the Society of American Archivists, the 
        American Bar Association, veterans' organizations, and 
        organizations representing families of Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel.
    (c) Security Clearances.--The appropriate departments, agencies, 
and elements of the executive branch of the Federal Government shall 
cooperate to ensure that an application by an individual nominated to 
be a member of the Review Board, seeking security clearances necessary 
to carry out the duties of the Review Board, is expeditiously reviewed 
and granted or denied.
    (d) Confirmation.--
            (1) Hearings.--Not later than 30 days on which the Senate 
        is in session after the date on which not less than 3 
        individuals have been nominated to serve as members of the 
        Review Board, the Committee on Homeland Security and 
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate shall hold confirmation 
        hearings on the nominations.
            (2) Committee vote.--Not later than 14 days on which the 
        Senate is in session after the date on which the Committee on 
        Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs holds a confirmation 
        hearing on the nomination of an individual to serve as a member 
        of the Review Board, the committee shall vote on the nomination 
        and report the results to the full Senate immediately.
            (3) Senate vote.--Not later than 14 days on which the 
        Senate is in session after the date on which the Committee on 
        Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs reports the results 
        of a vote on a nomination of an individual to serve as a member 
        of the Review Board, the Senate shall vote on the confirmation 
        of the nominee.
    (e) Vacancy.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which a 
vacancy on the Review Board occurs, the vacancy shall be filled in the 
same manner as specified for original appointment.
    (f) Chairperson.--The members of the Review Board shall elect a 
member as Chairperson at the initial meeting of the Review Board.
    (g) Removal of Review Board Member.--
            (1) In general.--A member of the Review Board shall not be 
        removed from office, other than--
                    (A) by impeachment by Congress; or
                    (B) by the action of the President for 
                inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, 
                physical disability, mental incapacity, or any other 
                condition that substantially impairs the performance of 
                the member's duties.
            (2) Judicial review.--
                    (A) In general.--A member of the Review Board 
                removed from office may obtain judicial review of the 
                removal in a civil action commenced in the United 
                States District Court for the District of Columbia.
                    (B) Relief.--The member may be reinstated or 
                granted other appropriate relief by order of the court.
    (h) Compensation of Members.--
            (1) Basic pay.--A member of the Review Board shall be 
        compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
        annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
        Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the 
        member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the 
        Review Board.
            (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Review Board shall be 
        allowed reasonable travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 
        of subsistence, at rates for employees of agencies under 
        subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, 
        while away from the member's home or regular place of business 
        in the performance of services for the Review Board.
    (i) Duties of the Review Board.--
            (1) In general.--The Review Board shall consider and render 
        a decision on a determination by a Government office to seek to 
        postpone the disclosure of a Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        record, in whole or in part.
            (2) Records.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Review 
        Board shall consider and render a decision regarding--
                    (A) whether a record constitutes a Missing Armed 
                Forces Personnel record; and
                    (B) whether a Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
                record, or particular information in a Missing Armed 
                Forces Personnel record, qualifies for postponement of 
                disclosure under this Act.
    (j) Powers.--The Review Board shall have the authority to act in a 
manner prescribed under this Act, including authority to--
            (1) direct Government offices to transmit to the Archivist 
        Missing Armed Forces Personnel records as required under this 
        Act;
            (2) direct Government offices to transmit to the Archivist 
        substitutes and summaries of Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        records that can be publicly disclosed to the fullest extent 
        for any Missing Armed Forces Personnel record that is proposed 
        for postponement;
            (3) obtain access to Missing Armed Forces Personnel records 
        that have been identified by a Government office;
            (4) direct a Government office to make available to the 
        Review Board, and if necessary investigate the facts 
        surrounding, additional information, records, or testimony from 
        individuals, which the Review Board has reason to believe is 
        required to fulfill its functions and responsibilities under 
        this Act;
            (5) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and 
        places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and 
        administer such oaths as the Review Board considers advisable 
        to carry out its responsibilities under this Act;
            (6) hold individuals in contempt for failure to comply with 
        directives and mandates issued by the Review Board under this 
        Act, which shall not include the authority to imprison or fine 
        any individual;
            (7) require any Government office to account in writing for 
        the destruction of any records relating to the loss, fate, or 
        status of Missing Armed Forces Personnel;
            (8) receive information from the public regarding the 
        identification and public disclosure of Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel records; and
            (9) make a final determination regarding whether a Missing 
        Armed Forces Personnel record will be disclosed to the public 
        or disclosure of the Missing Armed Forces Personnel record to 
        the public will be postponed, notwithstanding the determination 
        of an Executive agency.
    (k) Witness Immunity.--The Review Board shall be considered to be 
an agency of the United States for purposes of section 6001 of title 
18, United States Code.
    (l) Oversight.--
            (1) In general.--The Committee on Homeland Security and 
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives shall 
        have--
                    (A) continuing oversight jurisdiction with respect 
                to the official conduct of the Review Board and the 
                disposition of postponed records after termination of 
                the Review Board; and
                    (B) upon request, access to any records held or 
                created by the Review Board.
            (2) Duty of review board.--The Review Board shall have the 
        duty to cooperate with the exercise of oversight jurisdiction 
        under paragraph (1).
    (m) Support Services.--The Administrator of the General Services 
Administration shall provide administrative services for the Review 
Board on a reimbursable basis.
    (n) Interpretive Regulations.--The Review Board may issue 
interpretive regulations.
    (o) Termination and Winding Up.--
            (1) In general.--Two years after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, the Review Board shall, by majority vote, determine 
        whether all Government offices have complied with the 
        obligations, mandates, and directives under this Act.
            (2) Termination date.--The Review Board shall terminate on 
        the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this 
        Act.
            (3) Report.--Before the termination of the Review Board 
        under paragraph (2), the Review Board shall submit to Congress 
        reports, including a complete and accurate accounting of 
        expenditures during its existence, and shall complete all other 
        reporting requirements under this Act.
            (4) Records.--Upon termination of the Review Board, the 
        Review Board shall transfer all records of the Review Board to 
        the Archivist for inclusion in the Collection, and no record of 
        the Review Board shall be destroyed.

SEC. 8. MISSING ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL RECORDS REVIEW BOARD PERSONNEL.

    (a) Executive Director.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 45 days after the initial 
        meeting of the Review Board, the Review Board shall appoint an 
        individual to the position of Executive Director.
            (2) Qualifications.--The individual appointed as Executive 
        Director of the Review Board--
                    (A) shall be a citizen of the United States of 
                integrity and impartiality;
                    (B) shall be appointed without regard to political 
                affiliation; and
                    (C) shall not have any conflict of interest with 
                the mission of the Review Board.
            (3) Security clearance.--
                    (A) Limit on appointment.--The Review Board shall 
                not appoint an individual as Executive Director until 
                after the date on which the individual qualifies for 
                the necessary security clearance.
                    (B) Expedited provision.--The appropriate 
                departments, agencies, and elements of the executive 
                branch of the Federal Government shall cooperate to 
                ensure that an application by an individual nominated 
                to be Executive Director, seeking security clearances 
                necessary to carry out the duties of the Executive 
                Director, is expeditiously reviewed and granted or 
                denied.
            (4) Duties.--The Executive Director shall--
                    (A) serve as principal liaison to Government 
                offices;
                    (B) be responsible for the administration and 
                coordination of the review of records by the Review 
                Board;
                    (C) be responsible for the administration of all 
                official activities conducted by the Review Board; and
                    (D) not have the authority to decide or determine 
                whether any record should be disclosed to the public or 
                postponed for disclosure.
            (5) Removal.--The Executive Director may be removed by a 
        majority vote of the Review Board.
    (b) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Review Board may, in accordance with 
        the civil service laws, but without regard to civil service law 
        and regulation for competitive service as defined in subchapter 
        I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, appoint and 
        terminate additional employees as are necessary to enable the 
        Review Board and the Executive Director to perform their duties 
        under this Act.
            (2) Qualifications.--An individual appointed to a position 
        as an employee of the Review Board--
                    (A) shall be a citizen of the United States of 
                integrity and impartiality; and
                    (B) shall not have had any previous involvement 
                with any official investigation or inquiry relating to 
                the loss, fate, or status of Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel.
            (3) Security clearance.--
                    (A) Limit on appointment.--The Review Board shall 
                not appoint an individual as an employee of the Review 
                Board until after the date on which the individual 
                qualifies for the necessary security clearance.
                    (B) Expedited provision.--The appropriate 
                departments, agencies, and elements of the executive 
                branch of the Federal Government shall cooperate to 
                ensure that an application by an individual who is a 
                candidate for a position with the Review Board, seeking 
                security clearances necessary to carry out the duties 
                of the position, is expeditiously reviewed and granted 
                or denied.
    (c) Compensation.--The Review Board shall fix the compensation of 
the Executive Director and other employees of the Review Board without 
regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, 
United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General 
Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the Executive 
Director and other employees may not exceed the rate payable for level 
V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United 
States Code.
    (d) Advisory Committees.--
            (1) In general.--The Review Board may create 1 or more 
        advisory committees to assist in fulfilling the 
        responsibilities of the Review Board under this Act.
            (2) Applicability of faca.--Any advisory committee created 
        by the Review Board shall be subject to the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

SEC. 9. REVIEW OF RECORDS BY THE MISSING ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL RECORDS 
              REVIEW BOARD.

    (a) Startup Requirements.--The Review Board shall--
            (1) not later than 90 days after the date on which all 
        members are appointed, publish an initial schedule for review 
        of all Missing Armed Forces Personnel records, which the 
        Archivist shall highlight and make available on a publicly 
        accessible website administered by the National Archives; and
            (2) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, begin reviewing of Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        records under this Act.
    (b) Determination of the Review Board.--
            (1) In general.--The Review Board shall direct that all 
        records that relate, directly or indirectly, to the loss, fate, 
        or status of Missing Armed Forces Personnel be transmitted to 
        the Archivist and disclosed to the public in the Collection in 
        the absence of clear and convincing evidence that--
                    (A) the record is not a Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel record; or
                    (B) the Missing Armed Forces Personnel record, or 
                particular information within the Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel record, qualifies for postponement of public 
                disclosure under this Act.
            (2) Postponement.--In approving postponement of public 
        disclosure of a Missing Armed Forces Personnel record, or 
        information within a Missing Armed Forces Personnel record, the 
        Review Board shall seek to--
                    (A) provide for the disclosure of segregable parts, 
                substitutes, or summaries of the Missing Armed Forces 
                Personnel record; and
                    (B) determine, in consultation with the originating 
                body and consistent with the standards for postponement 
                under this Act, which of the following alternative 
                forms of disclosure shall be made by the originating 
                body:
                            (i) Any reasonably segregable particular 
                        information in a Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
                        record.
                            (ii) A substitute record for that 
                        information which is postponed.
                            (iii) A summary of a Missing Armed Forces 
                        Personnel record.
            (3) Reporting.--With respect to a Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel record, or information within a Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel record, the public disclosure of which is postponed 
        under this Act, or for which only substitutions or summaries 
        have been disclosed to the public, the Review Board shall 
        create and transmit to the Archivist an unclassified and 
        publicly releasable report containing--
                    (A) a description of actions by the Review Board, 
                the originating body, or any Government office 
                (including a justification of any such action to 
                postpone disclosure of any record or part of any 
                record) and of any official proceedings conducted by 
                the Review Board; and
                    (B) a statement, based on a review of the 
                proceedings and in conformity with the decisions 
                reflected therein, designating a recommended specified 
                time at which, or a specified occurrence following 
                which, the material may be appropriately disclosed to 
                the public under this Act, which the Review Board shall 
                disclose to the public with notice thereof, reasonably 
                calculated to make interested members of the public 
                aware of the existence of the statement.
            (4) Actions after determination.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 14 days after the 
                date of a determination by the Review Board that a 
                Missing Armed Forces Personnel record shall be publicly 
                disclosed in the Collection or postponed for disclosure 
                and held in the protected Collection, the Review Board 
                shall notify the head of the originating body of the 
                determination and highlight and make available the 
                determination on a publicly accessible website 
                reasonably calculated to make interested members of the 
                public aware of the existence of the determination.
                    (B) Oversight notice.--Simultaneous with notice 
                under subparagraph (A), the Review Board shall provide 
                notice of a determination concerning the public 
                disclosure or postponement of disclosure of a Missing 
                Armed Forces Personnel record, or information contained 
                within a Missing Armed Forces Personnel record, which 
                shall include a written unclassified justification for 
                public disclosure or postponement of disclosure, 
                including an explanation of the application of any 
                standards in section 6 to the President, to the 
                Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
                of the Senate, and the Committee on Oversight and 
                Reform of the House of Representatives.
            (5) Referral after termination.--A Missing Armed Forces 
        Personnel record that is identified, located, or otherwise 
        discovered after the date on which the Review Board terminates 
        shall be transmitted to the Archivist for the Collection and 
        referred to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and 
        the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
        for review, ongoing oversight and, as warranted, referral for 
        possible enforcement action relating to a violation of this Act 
        and determination as to whether declassification of the Missing 
        Armed Forces Personnel is warranted under this Act.
    (c) Notice to Public.--Every 30 days, beginning on the date that is 
60 days after the date on which the Review Board first approves the 
postponement of disclosure of a Missing Armed Forces Personnel record, 
the Review Board shall highlight and make accessible on a publicly 
available website reasonably calculated to make interested members of 
the public aware of the existence of the postponement a notice that 
summarizes the postponements approved by the Review Board, including a 
description of the subject, originating body, length or other physical 
description, and each ground for postponement that is relied upon.
    (d) Reports by the Review Board.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter until the 
        Review Board terminates, the Review Board shall submit a report 
        regarding the activities of the Review Board to--
                    (A) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    (B) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
                    (C) the President;
                    (D) the Archivist; and
                    (E) the head of any Government office the records 
                of which have been the subject of Review Board 
                activity.
            (2) Contents.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following information:
                    (A) A financial report of the expenses for all 
                official activities and requirements of the Review 
                Board and its employees.
                    (B) The progress made on review, transmission to 
                the Archivist, and public disclosure of Missing Armed 
                Forces Personnel records.
                    (C) The estimated time and volume of Missing Armed 
                Forces Personnel records involved in the completion of 
                the duties of the Review Board under this Act.
                    (D) Any special problems, including requests and 
                the level of cooperation of Government offices, with 
                regard to the ability of the Review Board to carry out 
                its duties under this Act.
                    (E) A record of review activities, including a 
                record of postponement decisions by the Review Board or 
                other related actions authorized under this Act, and a 
                record of the volume of records reviewed and postponed.
                    (F) Suggestions and requests to Congress for 
                additional legislative authority needs.
                    (G) An appendix containing copies of reports 
                relating to postponed records submitted to the 
                Archivist under subsection (b)(3) since the end of the 
                period covered by the most recent report under 
                paragraph (1).
            (3) Termination notice.--Not later than 90 days before the 
        Review Board expects to complete the work of the Review Board 
        under this Act, the Review Board shall provide written notice 
        to Congress of the intent of the Review Board to terminate 
        operations at a specified date.

SEC. 10. DISCLOSURE OF OTHER MATERIALS AND ADDITIONAL STUDY.

    (a) Materials Under Seal of Court.--
            (1) In general.--The Review Board may request the Attorney 
        General to petition any court of the United States or of a 
        foreign country to release any information relevant to the 
        loss, fate, or status of Missing Armed Forces Personnel that is 
        held under seal of the court.
            (2) Grand jury information.--
                    (A) In general.--The Review Board may request the 
                Attorney General to petition any court of the United 
                States to release any information relevant to loss, 
                fate, or status of Missing Armed Forces Personnel that 
                is held under the injunction of secrecy of a grand 
                jury.
                    (B) Treatment.--A request for disclosure of Missing 
                Armed Forces Personnel materials under this Act shall 
                be deemed to constitute a showing of particularized 
                need under rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Criminal 
                Procedure.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Attorney General should assist the Review Board in 
        good faith to unseal any records that the Review Board 
        determines to be relevant and held under seal by a court or 
        under the injunction of secrecy of a grand jury;
            (2) the Secretary of State should--
                    (A) contact the Governments of the Russian 
                Federation, the People's Republic of China, and the 
                Democratic People's Republic of Korea to seek the 
                disclosure of all records in their respective custody, 
                possession, or control relevant to the loss, fate, or 
                status of Missing Armed Forces Personnel; and
                    (B) contact any other foreign government that may 
                hold information relevant to the loss, fate, or status 
                of Missing Armed Forces Personnel, and seek disclosure 
                of such information; and
            (3) all agencies should cooperate in full with the Review 
        Board to seek the disclosure of all information relevant to the 
        loss, fate, or status of Missing Armed Forces Personnel 
        consistent with the public interest.

SEC. 11. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) Precedence Over Other Law.--When this Act requires transmission 
of a record to the Archivist or public disclosure, it shall take 
precedence over any other law (except section 6103 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986), judicial decision construing such law, or common 
law doctrine that would otherwise prohibit such transmission or 
disclosure, with the exception of deeds governing access to or transfer 
or release of gifts and donations of records to the United States 
Government.
    (b) Freedom of Information Act.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to eliminate or limit any right to file requests with any 
Executive agency or seek judicial review of the decisions under section 
552 of title 5, United States Code.
    (c) Judicial Review.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
preclude judicial review under chapter 7 of title 5, United States 
Code, of final actions taken or required to be taken under this Act.
    (d) Existing Authority.--Nothing in this Act revokes or limits the 
existing authority of the President, any Executive agency, the Senate, 
or the House of Representatives, or any other entity of the Government 
to publicly disclose records in its custody, possession, or control.
    (e) Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives.--To the 
extent that any provision of this Act establishes a procedure to be 
followed in the Senate or the House of Representatives, such provision 
is adopted--
            (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
        and House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed to be 
        part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable 
        only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that 
        House, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it 
        is inconsistent with such rules; and
            (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
        either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the 
        procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and 
        to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that 
        House.

SEC. 12. TERMINATION OF EFFECT OF ACT.

    (a) Provisions Pertaining to the Review Board.--The provisions of 
this Act that pertain to the appointment and operation of the Review 
Board shall cease to be effective when the Review Board and the terms 
of its members have terminated under section 7(o).
    (b) Other Provisions.--The remaining provisions of this Act shall 
continue in effect until such time as the Archivist certifies to the 
President and Congress that all Missing Armed Forces Personnel records 
have been made available to the public in accordance with this Act.

SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out this Act, to remain available until 
expended.
    (b) Interim Funding.--Until such time as funds are appropriated 
pursuant to subsection (a), the President may use such sums as are 
available for discretionary use to carry out this Act.

SEC. 14. SEVERABILITY.

    If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any 
person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of this Act and 
the application of that provision to other persons not similarly 
situated or to other circumstances shall not be affected by the 
invalidation.
                                 <all>