Implementing the Controlled Unclassified Information Framework Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3662
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2008-10-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Archives
Arts, Culture, Religion
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Executive reorganization
Freedom of information
History
Inspectors general
National Archives and Records Administration
Security classification (Government documents)

Summary:
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: 
Implementing the Controlled Unclassified Information Framework Act of 2008 - Establishes within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) a Controlled Unclassified Information Office, headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by and report directly to the Archivist of the United States.

Directs the Archivist, acting through the Director, to : (1) develop and publicly issue a controlled unclassified information framework (a set of policies and procedures governing the designation, marking, safeguarding, and dissemination of controlled unclassified information that originates in a federal agency) and controlled unclassified information implementation guidance; (2) establish safeguarding and dissemination controls; (3) establish, approve, and maintain safeguarding standards and dissemination instructions for controlled unclassified information; and (4) establish a process that addresses enforcement mechanisms and penalties for improper handling of controlled unclassified information.

Establishes a Controlled Unclassified Information Council as a subcommittee of the Information Sharing Council.

Provides that the right of Congress to obtain access to and to release unclassified information shall remain unimpeded.

Requires: (1) the Archivist to report to Congress annually on the implementation of the framework; and (2) the Inspector General of each agency that is a member of the Information Sharing Council, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to audit agency compliance with this Act and report to specified congressional committees and to the Archivist.

action_date: 2008-10-01
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Implementing the Controlled Unclassified Information Framework Act of 2008 - Establishes within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) a Controlled Unclassified Information Office, headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by and report directly to the Archivist of the United States.

Directs the Archivist, acting through the Director, to : (1) develop and publicly issue the controlled unclassified information framework (a set of policies and procedures governing the designation, marking, safeguarding, and dissemination of controlled unclassified information that originates in a federal agency) and controlled unclassified information implementation guidance; (2) establish safeguarding and dissemination controls; (3) establish standards for the designation of controlled unclassified information; (4) establish, approve, and maintain safeguarding standards and dissemination instructions for controlled unclassified information; and (5) establish a process that addresses enforcement mechanisms and penalties for improper handling of controlled unclassified information.

Establishes a Controlled Unclassified Information Council as a subcommittee of the Information Sharing Council.

Requires a federal agency to make available to members of the public all unclassified information that may be released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Provides that the right of Congress to obtain access to and to release unclassified information shall remain unimpeded.

Requires: (1) the Archivist to report to Congress annually on the implementation of the framework; and (2) the Inspectors General of each agency that is a member of the Information Sharing Council, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to audit agency compliance with this Act and report to specified congressional committees and to the Archivist.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1106.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Lieberman. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Lieberman. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-10-01
text: Introduced in Senate