We are pleased to announce that two bills were introduced this week that, if enacted, will extend the term of the PIDB.
On May 19, 2014, Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced H.R. 4671, “To extend the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000,” and on May 21, 2014, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform marked up the bill. The bill passed by voice vote and was ordered to be reported to the full House of Representatives.
H. R. 4671, as amended, will extend the PIDB until December 31, 2017, and also gives the PIDB an opportunity to report on its work to the Congress during the next three years, beginning 180 days after enactment with a report to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Additionally, there are provisions in the bill that direct expedited declassification review under priorities set by the National Declassification Center (NDC) and that promote the sharing of declassification guidance between the NDC and agencies. These measures were previously included in a bill introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and James Risch (R-ID) to aid further transformative recommendations made by the PIDB in our 2012 Report to the President on Transforming the Security Classification System.
On May 20, 2014, Representative Mike Rogers (R-MI) introduced H.R. 4681, “Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015,” which was reported out of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on May 22, 2014. H.R. 4681 will extend the PIDB until December 31, 2018 and allow the PIDB to continue advocating for changes to modernize the security classification system.
The PIDB welcomes the opportunity to share its findings with the Congress and the administration and thanks the Congress for supporting its work.