Government Secrecy Reform Act of 1998

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

7 May 1997

Last action

22 July 1998 · Calendars

Status

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 489.

Summary

Government Secrecy Act of 1997 - States that it is the purpose of this Act to promote the effective protection of classified information and the disclosure of information where there is not a well-founded basis for protection or where the costs of maintaining a secret outweigh the benefits. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the President, in accordance with this Act, to protect from unauthorized disclosure, information in the possession and control of the executive branch, when there is a demonstrable need to do so in order to protect the national security of the United States. Directs the President to ensure that the amount of information classified is the minimum necessary to protect the national security. Sets forth requirements for the establishment of standards and procedures for classifying and declassifying information. Requires each head of an agency that is responsible for the classification and declassification of information to submit to the Congress each year a report that describes the application of the classification and declassification standards and procedures of that agency during the preceding fiscal year. (Sec. 5) Directs the President to establish within an existing agency a National Declassification Center to: (1) coordinate and oversee the declassification policies and practices of the Federal Government; and (2) provide technical assistance to agencies in implementing such policies and practices, in accordance with this Act. Establishes the National Declassification Advisory Committee to provide advice to the Center and make recommendations concerning declassification priorities and activities. Mandates annual reports by the Center to the President and the Congress on its activities during the preceding fiscal year, and on the implementation of agency declassification practices and its efforts to coordinate those practices.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

7 May 1997
Committee
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
7 May 1997
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Source: IntroReferral
7 May 1997
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4110-4113)
Source: IntroReferral
7 May 1997
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
3 March 1998
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1250-1251)
Source: IntroReferral
25 March 1998
Committee
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 105-525.
Source: Committee
17 June 1998
Reported
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
22 July 1998
Reported
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Thompson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 105-258.
Source: Committee
22 July 1998
Reported
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Thompson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 105-258.
Source: Committee
22 July 1998
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 489.
Source: Calendars

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Reported to Senate · 22 July 1998 · Download file
Introduced in Senate · 7 May 1997 · Download file

Documents

6 official files

Reported to Senate (text)

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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 22 July 1998
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 22 July 1998
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 22 July 1998
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 7 May 1997
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 7 May 1997
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 7 May 1997
Open at official source
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Related records

related to → Government Secrecy Act of 1997

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/712
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/105/s/712
us · 105-s-712 · source updated 7 April 2025