Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6575, the Over-Classification Reduction Act, addresses the ongoing problem in the Federal Government of over-classification. This bill was introduced by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Henry Waxman and Tom Davis. The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, known as the 9/11 Commission, recommended limiting the unnecessary classification of documents and providing incentives for information sharing. Yet as we mark the 7th-year anniversary of the September 11 tragedy, our government still is not sharing important information. Some information must be protected to avoid threatening our national security. But going too far by over-protecting information is also damaging. Over-classification hurts our efforts to fight terrorism because it prevents agencies from sharing information with relevant stakeholders, including State and local law enforcement and other Federal agencies. It also undermines public access to this important information. H.R. 6575 calls on the Archivist to promulgate regulations to prevent the over-classification of information. In addition to reducing over- classification, the Archivist would consider what classified information should be prepared in an unclassified format. Agencies would be required to give employees training and the opportunity to challenge classifications, and agency inspectors general would randomly audit classified information to ensure that it is properly marked. This bill is being considered with an amendment that makes clarifications and addresses concerns raised by the administration and some Members of Congress. For example, the amendment ensures that the bill is consistent with executive order 12958 as well as other existing laws and programs. The amendment also clarifies that the regulations required by the bill be developed in consultation with the heads of affected agencies. It is essential that the Director of National Intelligence play an important role in developing policies related to the declassification of intelligence information. The Archivist also should consult with relevant agencies such as the Department of Defense regarding information about military operations or the Department of Energy regarding safeguarding nuclear facilities. This bill takes a government-wide approach to improving information sharing. By doing so it will help strengthen our national security. I would like to thank Chairman Reyes and Representative Harman for working with the Committee on Oversight on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 6575, the Over-Classification Reduction Act, which addresses the ongoing problem in the Federal Government of over- classification. Let me thank again Chairman Waxman as well as Ranking Member Davis for their sponsorship of this bill.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Hodes).

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, before returning to the subject matter before the House, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I'm pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 5811, and H.R. 5811 seeks to modernize the requirements of the Federal Records Act and the Presidential Records Act to ensure the preservation of e-mails and other electronic messages. This bill was introduced by Chairman Waxman, Representative Holt and myself on April 15 and reported as amended from the committee on June 11. I want to thank Chairman Waxman and Representative Holt for their dedication to this important issue. Now, my friend from Virginia and others have made some statements that I would like to refute, and one is that this bill strikes a careful balance. It's not going after this administration, but the Act itself recognizes the President's authority to carry out the day-to-day management of his records. This bill preserves that framework. The Federal Records Act gives the Archivist the authority to conduct inspection of agencies' record keeping programs, but the Presidential Records Act does not include such language. This bill does not give the Archivist any new authority to conduct inspections of Presidential records. And also, the Archivist has the expertise and the responsibility to determine how records should be managed and preserved and to certify that it is done properly. The status quo of having those at the White House make the decisions has not worked, and so, therefore, Mr. Speaker, we know that this bill is needed. And that's why we have it under consideration on the floor today. I urge my colleagues to safeguard our Nation's rich history. Therefore, I urge swift passage of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, this bill addresses a real problem, and that is a government operating in secret. And it requires agencies to electronically preserve e-mail records. Additionally, the bill has new requirements for the maintenance and preservation of e-mail records that are sent and received by Presidential advisers. The bill calls on the Archivist of the United States to establish standards for the management and preservation of these records. It's ironic, Mr. Speaker, that the other side has talked about energy during this entire debate when this administration's energy policy was conducted in secret, which may explain why the country is in the position it is in now because there was no openness to the policy, and this certainly wasn't the correct path to take. With that, Mr. Speaker, I hope we can go on and pass this bill and open up our government for public perusal.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the instructions of the House on the motion to recommit, I report the bill, H.R. 5811, back to the House with an amendment.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1318, I call up the bill (H.R. 5811) to amend title 44, United States Code, to require preservation of certain electronic records by Federal agencies, to require a certification and reports relating to Presidential records, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to recognize and yield 5 minutes to the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Mr. Waxman.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, to get back to the subject matter before the House, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my name as a cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 362.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. I thank the chairman from West Virginia for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2176, legislation that would ratify a longstanding tribal land claim in the State of Michigan. The Bay Mills Indian community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe have worked for over a decade to achieve an agreement with the State of Michigan that would reinstate land rights that these tribes lost shortly after signing a treaty with the Federal Government in the 1850s. In an effort to achieve justice for these tribes, who have sought to reclaim their lands for over 100 years and to protect the homes of over 100 families who currently reside on the disputed land in Charlotte Beach, the State of Michigan negotiated a land-swap settlement. That agreement would give the Bay Mills Indian community 20 acres of land in Port Huron and give the Sault Tribe up to 40 acres in Romulus or Flint. Under Federal law, the new lands provided to the tribes would be eligible for gambling casinos, just as the Charlotte Beach land would be eligible. The purpose of the land claim agreement is to give alternative land that has the same property rights as the land that was stolen from these tribes. Mr. Speaker, two Governors from the State of Michigan and those Members of Congress whose districts are most affected have all endorsed the land-swap agreement that would give these tribes new lands in exchange for the 110 acres of land they lost in the 19th century. There is no authentic argument against this bill. The legislation before us does not expand gaming, as some opponents have erroneously charged. This legislation simply restores justice to Native Americans in the State of Michigan and provides these Indians there an opportunity to raise badly needed revenues. I urge adoption of the bill. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I rise in support of House Resolution 1283 which expresses our heartfelt sympathy for the victims and the families following the tornado that hit Little Sioux on June 11. At 6:35 p.m. on June 11, a tornado touched down at the Little Sioux Boy Scout Ranch near Little Sioux, Iowa. The tornado, which tore through the ranch with the greatest force of nature, caused a rock chimney to collapse into the bunkhouse where the Scouts sought shelter. In the aftermath of the tornado's destruction, 43 individuals were injured, and four, Sam Thomsen, Josh Fennen, Ben Petrzilka, and Aaron Eilerts, were tragically killed. Mr. Speaker, the Boy Scout community and America at large will grieve the loss of the four Scouts whose lives ended so suddenly. With this bill, we have the opportunity to commemorate the lives of these individuals and to convey our gratitude to all those who so swiftly responded to the disaster, and I urge the adoption of this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker I continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I gladly join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Con. Res. 370 which expresses support for the designation of September 2008 as ``Gospel Music Heritage Month'' and honors gospel music for its valuable and long-standing contributions to America's culture. H. Con. Res. 370 was introduced by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) on June 10, 2008, and is cosponsored by 53 House Members. The bill before us was reported favorably from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2008, by voice vote. Gospel music is a unique national art form that truly exemplifies the American ``melting pot'' concept. Its diverse influences include African-American spirituals, traditional African music, ragtime, jazz, and blues, as well as Irish folk songs and hymns. While some originally deemed the fusion of secular music with sacred lyrics, which characterizes gospel music, to be unconventional, gospel music has quickly grown into an integral part of American culture. The influence of gospel music extends throughout practically all forms of secular music performed today, including rock and roll, country, soul, and rhythm and blues. Gospel music has motivated innumerable musicians over the years, including such greats as Tommy Dorsey, who is sometimes credited as the ``Father of Gospel Music,'' James Vaughan, Diana Washington, Smokie Norful, Yolanda Adams, Sam Cooke, Mahaliah Jackson, Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, and the list goes on. Mr. Speaker, it is important that we as a Congress honor the enormous and beautiful contributions that gospel music has given to not only America, but to the world by designating September 2008 as Gospel Music Heritage Month. I urge the swift passage of this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to recognize the sponsor of the resolution, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for 3 minutes.

Mr. CLAY. I yield the gentlewoman 2 additional minutes.

Mr. CLAY. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support House Concurrent Resolution 370. I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 195) expressing the sense of the Congress that a National Dysphagia Awareness Month should be established.