[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 45 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2007

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                               speech of

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2007

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, this legislation establishes 
a statutory process under which incumbent and former Presidents could, 
within specified time limits, review records prior to their release, 
and determine whether to personally assert constitutional privilege 
claims against release of the records.
  This legislation is identical to legislation introduced in a prior 
Congress and approved by the Committee under the leadership of the 
gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Burton.
  During consideration of the bill before us, the Committee approved my 
amendment to close a loophole in the Presidential Records Act. Current 
law allows those individuals previously convicted of a crime relating 
to mishandling Archives records to continue to have special access to 
Presidential records. My amendment states that the Archivist shall not 
make available any original Presidential records to any individual 
claiming access as a designated representative under statute, if that 
individual has been convicted of a crime relating to the review, 
retention, removal, or destruction of Archives records.
  As I noted in Committee, we should take the simple step of blocking 
access to original Presidential records if you've been convicted of 
crime related to Archives records.

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