This motion to recommit would ensure that the integrity of the public record is preserved from people like former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger who abused his position and removed highly sensitive records from the national Archives.
Secure and accurate information is the lifeblood of effective government. We all know there have been a wide range of incidents involving data loss or theft, privacy breaches, and security incidents at federal agencies.
More troubling however, is that some seek to tamper with or corrupt the official records of this Nation – to rewrite history if you will.
Our goal here is to protect the integrity of the public record.
Under this motion, the Archivist of the United shall prescribe internal procedures to prevent the unauthorized removal of classified records from the National Archives and Records Administration or the destruction or damage of such records, including when such records are accessed or searched electronically.
First, we set forth certain procedures to ensure these records remain secure:
(1) No person, other than personnel of the National Archives and Records Administration shall view classified records in any room that is not secure except in the presence of NARA personnel or under video surveillance.
(2) No person, other than NARA personnel, shall at any time be left alone with classified records, unless that person is under video surveillance.
(3) No person, other than NARA personnel, shall conduct any review of documents while in the possession of any cell phone or other personal communication device.
(4) All persons seeking access to classified records, as a precondition to such access, must consent to a search of their belongings upon conclusion of their records review.
(5) All notes and other writings prepared by persons during the course of a review of classified records shall be retained by the National Archives and Records Administration in a secure facility.
Second, we close a loophole in the Presidential Records Act that allows those previously convicted of unauthorized removal of classified materials back into the Archives where they could do more damage.
If a person has a demonstrated propensity to commit crimes relating to the removal and destruction of classified federal records, we should take the simple step of blocking their access in the future.
The professionals at the National Archives are serious-minded historians and are not well suited to the role of police officer or security guard.
The motion states that the Archives shall not make available any original presidential records to any person convicted of a crime involving the review, retention, removal, or destruction of Archives records. This prohibition extends to individuals with special designations by former Presidents.
In short, if you are convicted of mishandling classified materials, we want to remove you from the pool of people coming to the Archives. You are a risk, and we are obligated to mitigate risks of this type.
I’d like to note, this second provision passed the House in identical form just over a year ago as part of H.R. 1255 (the Presidential Records Act), by a vote of 333 to 93.
If we are serous about preserving and protecting the historical records of the Nation, we must vote in favor of this motion to recommit and I urge my colleagues to support it.
