[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H7323-H7324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PUBLIC INTEREST DECLASSIFICATION BOARD REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2012

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 3564) to extend the Public Interest Declassification Act of 
2000 until 2014 and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3564

       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 ``Public Interest 
     Declassification Board Reauthorization Act of 2012''.

     SEC. 2. PUBLIC INTEREST DECLASSIFICATION BOARD.

       (a) Subsequent Appointment.--Section 703(c)(2)(D) of the 
     Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-
     567; 50 U.S.C. 435 note) is amended by striking the period at 
     the end and inserting ``from the date of the appointment.''.
       (b) Vacancy.--Section 703(c)(3) of the Public Interest 
     Declassification Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-567; 50 U.S.C. 
     435 note) is amended by striking ``A member of the Board 
     appointed to fill a vacancy before the expiration of a term 
     shall serve for the remainder of the term.''.
       (c) Extension of Sunset.--Section 710(b) of the Public 
     Interest Declassification Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-567; 50 
     U.S.C. 435 note) is amended by striking ``2012.'' inserting 
     ``2014.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Farenthold) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.

                              {time}  1610


                             General Leave

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  S. 3564, the Public Interest Declassification Board Act, reauthorizes 
the Public Interest Declassification Board, or PIDB, for an additional 
2 years. Without congressional action, the PIDB will sunset on December 
31, 2012.
  The PIDB is an advisory committee tasked with improving and 
modernizing the process used to classify and declassify government 
information. The volume of classified information has skyrocketed in 
recent years, due to the rapid increase in electronic communications, 
as well as an institutional bias that prefers overclassification as a 
risk-avoidance strategy. Over classification can unduly hinder much-
needed public transparency and the ability to rapidly share information 
across the government.

[[Page H7324]]

  The chief goals of the PIDB are to help develop effective modern 
standards and processes for classification and declassification to 
address the problems by overclassification and promote the fullest 
possible public access to national security records through efficient 
and timely declassification systems. S. 3564 will further the cause of 
transparency by maintaining an expert advisory group to ensure the 
executive branch is classifying and declassifying records in a timely 
and responsible manner.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of this important legislation. This bill renews the 
authorization of the Public Interest Declassification Board. The PIDB 
is an advisory committee whose purpose is to promote the fullest 
possible public access to significant national security decisions and 
activities. The PIDB advises the President on policies related to 
classification and declassification of national security information. 
The Board also advises the President on the declassification and 
release of classified records with historical value. The authorization 
for the PIDB is set to expire at the end of this month. It is important 
that we reauthorize the authority for this panel so that their 
important work is not jeopardized.
  Just last month, the PIDB issued a report to the President, titled 
``Transforming the Security Classification System.'' The report made a 
number of recommendations for improving the classification system. The 
report criticized our current system. It stated:

       We believe the current classification and declassification 
     systems are outdated and incapable of dealing adequately with 
     the large volumes of classified information generated in an 
     era of digital communication and information systems. 
     Overcoming the entrenched practices that no longer serve the 
     purpose of protecting our national security will prove 
     difficult.

  Transparency and access to information are essential tools for 
effective oversight of the executive branch. Outdated systems for 
managing classified information must be modernized to provide greater 
public access to information about the Federal Government's policies 
and activities. Reauthorizing the PIDB is critical to that effort, and 
I support this bill. I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. As we've heard, this bill promotes bipartisan-
supported transparency in the government. I urge my colleagues to 
support the passage of the Public Interest Declassification Board 
Reauthorization Act of 2012, S. 3564, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Farenthold) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 3564.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

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