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# 13-0000012/19/97 FRI 09:17 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB DEC 17'97 17:24 No.003 P.07DAN BURTON, INDIANA CHAIRMAN HENRY A. WAXMAN, CALIFORNIARANKING MINORITY MEMBERBENJAMIN A. GILMAN, NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS TOM LANTOS, CALIFORNIAJ. DENNIS HASTERT, ILLINOIS BOB WISE, WEST VIRGINIACONSTANCE A. MORELLA, MARYLAND MAJOR R. OWENS, NEW YORKCHRISTOPHER SHAYS, CONNECTICUT EDOLPHUS TOWNS, NEW YORKSTEVEN SCHIFF, NEW MEXICO Congress of the United States PAUL E. KANJORSKI, PENNSYLVANIACHRISTOPHER COX, CALIFORNIA GARY A. CONDIT, CALIFORNIAILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, FLORIDA House of Representatives CAROLYN B. MALONEY, NEW YORKJOHN M. MCHUGH, NEW YORK THOMAS M. BARRETT, WISCONSINSTEPHEN HORN, CALIFORNIA COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT ELEANOR HOLMES NORTONJOHN L. MICA, FLORIDA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIATHOMAS M. DAVIS III, VIRGINIA 2157 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING CHAKA FATTAH, PENNSYLVANIADAVID M. MCINTOSH, INDIANA ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, MARYLANDMARK E. SOUDER, INDIANA WASHINGTON, DC 20515-6143 DENNIS KUCINICH, OHIOJOE SCARBOROUGH, FLORIDA ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH, ILLINOISJOHN SHADEGG, ARIZONA MAJORITY (202) 225-5074 DANNY K. DAVIS, ILLINOISSTEVE C. LATOURETTE, OHIO MINORITY (202) 225-5051 JOHN F. TIERNEY, MASSACHUSETTSMARSHALL "MARK" SANFORD, SOUTH CAROLINA TTY (202) 225-5062 JIM TURNER, TEXASJOHN E. SUNUNU, NEW HAMPSHIRE THOMAS H. ALLEN, MAINEPETE SESSIONS, TEXAS HAROLD E. FORD, JR., TENNESSEEMIKE PAPPAS, NEW JERSEYVINCE SNOWBARGER, KANSAS December 16, 1997BOB BARR, GEORGIA BERNARD SANDERS, VERMONTROB PORTMAN, OHIO INDEPENDENTCIA HAS NO OBJECTION TODECLASSIFICATION AND/ORRELEASE OF CIA INFORMATIONON THIS DOCUMENTThe Honorable George J. TenetDirector of Central IntelligenceCentral Intelligence AgencyWashington, D.C. 20505Dear Director Tenet:As Chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, I have a great interest in ensuring that the Assassination Records Review Board, which is under the jurisdiction of the Committee, completes its work by its scheduled termination date of September 30, 1998. Earlier this year I introduced H.R. 1553, now Public Law 105-25, which extended the authorization of the Review Board for one additional year, until September 30, 1998. This one-year extension of authorization for the Review Board was included in President Clinton's fiscal year 1998 budget, and received bipartisan support in Congress.During consideration of H.R. 1553, I stated my firm intention for this to be the final extension of authorization for the Review Board. Accordingly, I believe that it is of utmost importance that all federal agencies holding assassination records fully cooperate with the Review Board, in a timely manner, in order that documents may be processed and transferred to the National Archives, in compliance with the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-526).The Review Board has advised me that while it perceives that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) generally has been cooperative and helpful, the Board nevertheless believes that the CIA is not transferring records to the Board at a pace consistent with the need to complete the work on time. The Board similarly has advised that, unless it receives processed records in a more expeditious manner, it is prepared to use its legal powers to order a transfer of records to the Board which would then vote to open the records without benefit of a pre-review by the CIA. The Board has informed me that it does not wish to take this step, but that it is fully prepared to do so if necessary to complete its work by its September 30, 1998, termination date.I urge you to take all appropriate steps to ensure that the CIA promptly fulfills its obligations under the law by expeditiously reviewing and transferring the relevant records to the Review Board.Sincerely,![signature of Dan Burton]Dan BurtonChairmanDB:jts