Improving Public Access To Documents Act Of 2008

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 6193, the Improving Public Access to Documents Act, sponsored by Homeland Security Committee colleague, Representative Jane Harman, who does such great work.

H.R. 6193 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer policies, procedures, and programs to implement the President's controlled unclassified information framework to standardize the many sensitive but unclassified categories of information. The bill requires the Secretary to coordinate with the Archivist of the United States and consult with representatives of State and local governments, privacy and civil rights advocacy groups, and the private sector in this effort.

This bill codifies many of the policies and procedures included in a May 7, 2008 executive memorandum, which directs executive department heads to begin consolidating the over 100 known sensitive but unclassified designations.

Information designated as sensitive but unclassified doesn't merit a security classification under Executive Order 12958 regarding classified national security information but is still sensitive that general disclosure is not in the public's best interest. Information that is law enforcement sensitive or designated for official use only are two examples of information that will now be marked as controlled unclassified information under this new construct.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that H.R. 6193 is a helpful first step in standardizing the many types of sensitive but unclassified information so as to improve homeland security information sharing. I urge my colleagues to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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