I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4007
To amend section 552 of title 5, United States Code, and the National
Security Act of 1947 to require disclosure under the Freedom of Informa-
tion Act regarding certain persons, disclose Nazi war criminal records
without impairing any investigation or prosecution conducted by the
Department of Justice or certain intelligence matters, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 5, 1998
Mrs. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. HORN, Mr. BURTON of Indiana,
Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. GOSS, Mr. DICKS, and Mr. CONYERS)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Government Reform and Oversight, and in addition to the Committees
on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and the Judiciary, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned
A BILL
To amend section 552 of title 5, United States Code, and
the National Security Act of 1947 to require disclosure
under the Freedom of Information Act regarding certain
persons, disclose Nazi war criminal records without im-
pairing any investigation or prosecution conducted by
the Department of Justice or certain intelligence matters,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nazi War Crimes Dis-
closure Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NAZI WAR CRIMINAL RECORDS
INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section the term—
(1) ‘‘agency’’ has the meaning given such term
under section 551 of title 5, United States Code;
(2) ‘‘Interagency Group’’ means the Nazi War
Criminal Records Interagency Working Group estab-
lished under subsection (b);
(3) ‘‘Nazi war criminal records’’ has the mean-
ing given such term under section 3 of this Act; and
(4) ‘‘record’’ means a Nazi war criminal record.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERAGENCY GROUP.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the President
shall establish the Nazi War Criminal Records Inter-
agency Working Group, which shall remain in exist-
ence for 3 years after the date the Interagency
Group is established.
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The President shall appoint
to the Interagency Group individuals whom the
President determines will most completely and effec-
tively carry out the functions of the Interagency
Group within the time limitations provided in this
section, including the Director of the Holocaust Mu-
seum, the Historian of the Department of State, the
Archivist of the United States, the head of any other
agency the President considers appropriate, and no
more than 3 other persons. The head of an agency
appointed by the President may designate an appro-
priate officer to serve on the Interagency Group in
lieu of the head of such agency.
(3) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 90 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Inter-
agency Group shall hold an initial meeting and begin
the functions required under this section.
(c) FUNCTIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Interagency Group shall, to
the greatest extent possible consistent with section 3 of
this Act—
(1) locate, identify, inventory, recommend for
declassification, and make available to the public at
the National Archives and Records Administration,
all classified Nazi war criminal records of the United
States;
(2) coordinate with agencies and take such ac-
tions as necessary to expedite the release of such
records to the public; and
(3) submit a report to Congress, including the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of
the House of Representatives, describing all such
records, the disposition of such records, and the ac-
tivities of the Interagency Group and agencies under
this section.
(d) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT OF DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS RE-
GARDING PERSONS WHO COMMITTED NAZI
WAR CRIMES.
(a) NAZI WAR CRIMINAL RECORDS.—For purposes
of this Act, the term ‘‘Nazi war criminal records’’ means
classified records or portions of records that—
(1) pertain to any person with respect to whom
the United States Government, in its sole discretion,
has grounds to believe ordered, incited, assisted, or
otherwise participated in the persecution of any per-
son because of race, religion, national origin, or po-
litical opinion, during the period beginning on March