[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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