June 13, 2007   COMMITTEE PROTECTS TRANSPARENCY OF PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS Approves Six Other Bills or Resolutions   WASHINGTON – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led by Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., Wednesday passed legislation that would repeal a 2001 Bush Executive Order that created new and broad authorities for former presidents to block or impede the release of their communications with top aides. The Presidential Records Act Amendment Act of 2007, S.886/H.R.1255, was among several bills reported out of the Committee en bloc. The new legislation would restore the process that existed before the Executive Order and would create new procedures to ensure the timely review and release of presidential records. “Presidential records have shaped in innumerable ways the understanding Americans have in how their government works and how the critical decisions of state are made. The scholars who sift through and write about these public records make a lasting contribution to the public welfare that goes well beyond academia,” Lieberman said. “This bill is a tribute to freedom of information and the timely release of materials essential to self-governance.” The Committee also voted to create a government fact-finding commission to fully investigate the relocation and internment of Latin Americans of Japanese descent placed in U.S. internment camps during World War II. “A government fact-finding commission would give finality to and complete the record on government efforts to detain and intern civilians of Japanese ancestry,” Lieberman said. “This nation demonstrates its greatness when we speak openly about our past, acknowledge the bad with the good, and when we take steps to right past wrongs.” The bills reported en bloc included: • S.886/H.R.1255, the Presidential Records Act Amendment of 2007; • S.381, the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act; • S.274, the Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act; • S.Res.22, a resolution reaffirming the constitutional and statutory protections accorded sealed domestic mail, and for other purposes; • S.967, the Federal Supervisor Training Act of 2007; • S.1046, the Senior Professional Performance Act of 2007; and • S.1099, a bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, U.S. Code, to make individuals employed by the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission eligible to obtain Federal health insurance In addition, the Committee reported the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 separately in a vote of 9-1. -30-   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 June 2007 Press Releases   June 29 - LIEBERMAN COMMENTS ON DISCOVERY OF UNEXPLODED LONDON CAR BOMB   June 29 - LIEBERMAN STRESSES NEED FOR LONG-TERM REBUILDING ASSISTANCE TO GULF COAST STATES   June 27 - LIEBERMAN, COLLINS LOOK TO EUROPE FOR LESSONS IN COMBATING VIOLENT ISLAMIST EXTREMISM   June 25 - USDA MUST JOIN WITH DHS TO PREVENT, CONTROL AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK   June 22 - LIEBERMAN WELCOMES LONG-OVERDUE CREATION OF FEMA NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL   June 19 - SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON JUVENILE DIABETES; YOUTHS FROM CT, ME TESTIFY   June 18 - LIEBERMAN JOINS CONRAD IN URGING RELIEF FROM PASSPORT DELAYS   June 15 - LIEBERMAN APPLAUDS LAUNCH OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACADEMY   June 13 - LIEBERMAN PLEASED STATE GETS MORE DISASTER AID   June 13 current Press Release   June 13 - COMMITTEE VOTES TO GIVE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSE VOTING RIGHTS   June 12 - LIEBERMAN TROUBLED BY “VAST INCONSISTENCIES” IN SCHOOL DISTRICT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING   June 11 - CONNECTICUT LAWMAKERS SEEK ANSWERS ABOUT NEW HAVEN IMMIGRATION RAID   June 6 - LIEBERMAN WINS BETTER TREATMENT, IMPROVED CONDITIONS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS DETAINED IN U.S.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510