President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992
PL 102-526 (S.3006), enacted 10/26/1992

PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3443 
Public Law 102-526 
102d Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the expeditious disclosure of records relevant to the assassination 
of President John F. Kennedy. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "President John F. Kennedy 
Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS, DECLARATIONS, AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.—^The Congress finds and 
declares that— 
(1) all Government records related to the assassination 
of President John F. Kennedy should be preserved for historical 
and governmental purposes; 
(2) all Grovemment records concerning the assassination 
of President John F. Kennedy should carry a presumption 
of immediate disclosure, and £dl records should be eventually 
disclosed to enable the pubUc to become fiilly informed about 
the history surrounding the assassination; 
(3) legislation is necessary to create an enforceable, 
independent, and accountable process for the public disclosure 
of such records; 
(4) legislation is necessary because congressional records 
related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy 
would not otherwise be subject to public disclosure until at 
least the year 2029; 
(5) legislation is necessary because the Freedom of Informa-
tion Act, as implemented by the executive branch, has pre-
vented the timely public disclosure of records relating to the 
assassination of President John F. Kennedy; 
(6) legislation is necessary because Executive Order No. 
12356, entitled "National Security Information'' has eliminated 
the declassification and downgrading schedules relating to 
classified information across government and has prevented 
the timely public disclosure of records relating to the assassina-
tion of President John F. Kennedy; and 
(7) most of the records related to the assassination of 
President John F. Kennedy are almost 30 years old, and only 
in the rarest cases is there any legitimate need for continued 
protection of such records. 
(b) PURPOSES.—^The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to provide for the creation of the President John F. 
Kennedy Assassination Records Collection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration; and 
(2) to require the expeditious pubUc transmission to the 
Archivist and pubUc disclosure of such records. 
Oct. 26, 1992 
[S. 3006] 
President John 
F. Kennedy 
Assassination 
Records 
Collection Act of 
1992. 
44 u s e 2107 
note. 
44 use 2107 
note. 
106 STAT. 3444 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—(XTT. 26, 1992 
44 use 2107 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) "Archivist" means the Archivist of the United States. 
(2) "Assassination record" means a record that is related 
to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, that was 
created or made available for use by, obtained by, or otherwise 
came into the possession of— 
(A) the Commission to Investigate the Assassination 
of President John F. Kennedy (the b a r r e n Commission"); 
(B) the Commission on Central Intelligence Agency 
Activities Within the United States (the "Rockefeller Com-
mission"); 
(C) the Senate Select Committee to Study Govern-
mental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities 
(the "Church Committee"); 
(D) the Select Committee on Intelligence (the "Pike 
Committee") of the House of Representatives; 
(£) the Select Committee on Assassinations (the 
"House Assassinations Committee") of the House of Rep-
resentatives; 
(F) the Library of Congress; 
(G) the National Archives and Records Administration; 
(H) any Presidential library; 
(I) any Executive agency; 
(J) any independent agency; 
(K) any other office of the Federal (jovemment; and 
(L) any State or local law enforcement office that pro-
vided support or assistance or performed work in connec-
tion with a Federal inquiry into the assassination of Presi-
dent John F. Kennedy, 
but does not include the autopsy records donated by the Ken-
nedy family to the National Archives pursuant to a deed of 
^ft regulating access to those records, or copies and reproduc-
tions made from such records. 
(3) "Collection" means the President John F. Kennedy 
Assassination Records Collection established imder section 4. 
(4) "Executive agency" means an Executive agency as 
defined in subsection 552(f) of title 5, United States (5ode, 
and includes any Executive department, military department, 
Grovernment corporation, Government controlled corporation, 
or other establishment in the executive branch of the Govern-
ment, including the Executive Office of the President, or any 
independent regulatory agency. 
(5) "Government office" me£uis any office of the Federal 
Grovemment that has possession or control of assassination 
records, including— 
(A) the House Committee on Administration with 
regard to the Select Committee on Assassinations of the 
records of the House of Representatives; 
(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate 
with regard to records of the Senate Select Committee 
to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intel-
ligence Activities and other assassination records; 
(C) the Library of Congress; 
(D) the National Archives as custodian of assassination 
records that it has obtained or possesses, including the 
Commission to Investigate the Assassination of President 
PUBUC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26,1992 
106 STAT. 3445 
John F. Kennedy and the Commission on Central Intel-
ligence Agency Activities in the United States; and 
(E) any other executive branch office or agency, and 
any independent agency. 
(6) "Identification aid" means the Mrritten description pre-
pared for each record as required in section 4. 
(7) 'T^ational Archives means the National Archives and 
Records Administration and all components thereof, including 
Presidential archival depositories established under section 
2112 of title 44, United States Code. 
(8) "Officisd investigation" means the reviews of the assas-
sination of President John F. Kennedy conducted by any Presi-
dential commission, any authorized congressional committee, 
and any Government agency either independently, at the 
request of any Presidential commission or congressional com-
mittee, or at the request of any Government official. 
(9) "Originating body" means the Executive agency, govern-
ment commission, congressional committee, or other govern-
mental entity l^at created a record or particular information 
within a record. 
(10) "Public interest" means the compelling interest in the 
prompt public disclosure of assassination records for historical 
and governmental purposes and for the purpose of fully inform-
ing the American people about the history siurounding the 
assassination of I'resident John F. Kennedy. 
(11) "Record" includes a book, paper, map, photograph, 
soimd or video recording, machine readable material, computer-
ized, digitized, or electronic information, regardless of the 
medium on which it is stored, or other documentary material, 
regardless of its physical form or characteristics. 
(12) "Review Board" means the Assassination Records 
Review Board established by section 7. 
(13) "Third agency" means a Government agency that origi-
nated an assassination record that is in the possession of 
another agency. 
SEC. 4. PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS COL- 
44 USC 2107 
LECnON AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS "ote. 
ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the National Archives and Records 
Administration shall commence esteblishment of a collection of 
records to be known as the President John F. Kennedy Assassina-
tion Records Collection. In so doing, the Archivist shall ensure 
the physical integrity and original provenance of all records. The 
Collection shall consist of record copies of all Government records 
relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which 
shall be transmitted to the National Archives in accordance with 
section 2107 of title 44, United States Code. The Archivist shall Printing, 
prepare and publish a subject guidebook and index to the collection. 
(2) The Collection shall include— 
(A) all assassination records— 
(i) that have been transmitted to the National Archives 
or disclosed to the public in an imredacted form prior 
to the date of enactment of this Act; 
(ii) that are required to be transmitted to the National 
Archives; or 
106 STAT. 3446 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
(iii) the disclosure of which is postponed under this 
Act; 
(B) a central directory comprised of identification aids cre-
ated for each record transmitted to the Archivist imder section 
5; and 
(C) all Review Board records as required by this Act. 
(b) 
DISCLOSURE 
OF RECORDS.—^All assassination records 
transmitted to the National Archives for disclosure to the public 
shall be included in the Collection and shall be available to the 
pubUc for inspection and copying at the National Archives within 
30 days after their transmission to the National Archives. 
(c) FEES FOR COPYING.—The Archivist shall— 
(1) charge fees for copjdng assassination records; and 
(2) grant waivers of such fees pursuant to the standards 
estabUshed by section 552(aX4) of title 5, United States Code. 
Historic 
(d) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—(1) The Collection shall be 
preservation. 
preserved, protected, archived, and made available to the pubUc 
at the National Archives using appropriations authorized, specified, 
and restricted for use imder the terms of this Act. 
(2) The National Archives, in consultation with the Information 
Security Oversight Office, shall ensure the security of the postponed 
assassination records in the Collection. 
(e) OVERSIGHT.—^The Committee on Gk)vemment Operations of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on (Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate shall have continuing oversight jurisdiction 
with respect to the Collection. 
44 use 2107 
SEC. 5. REVIEW, mENTIFICATION, TRANSMISSION TO TOE NATIONAL 
note. 
ARCHIVES, AND PUBUC DISCLOSURE OF ASSASSINATION 
RECORDS BY GOVERNMENT OFFICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) As soon as practicable after the date 
of enactment of this Act, each Government office shall identify 
and organize its records relating to the assassination of President 
John F. Kennedy and prepare them for transmission to the Archivist 
for inclusion in the Collection. 
(2) No assassination record shall be destroyed, altered, or muti-
lated in any way. 
(3) No assassination record made available or disclosed to the 
public prior to the date of enactment of this Act may be withheld, 
redacted, postponed for public disclosure, or reclassified. 
(4) No assassination record created by a person or entity outside 
government (excluding names or identities consistent with the 
requirements of section 6) shall be withheld, redacted, postponed 
for public disclosure, or reclassified. 
(b) CUSTODY OF ASSASSINATION RECORDS PENDING REVIEW.— 
During the review by Government offices and pending review activ-
ity by the Review Board, each Government office shall retain cus-
tody of its assassination records for purposes of preservation, secu-
rity, and efficiency, unless— 
(1) the Review Board requires the physical transfer of 
records for purposes of conducting an independent and impar-
tial review; 
(2) transfer is necessary for an administrative hearing or 
other Review Board function; or 
(3) it is a third agency record described in subsection 
(cX2)(C). 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26,1992 
106 STAT. 3447 
(c) REVIEW.—(1) Not later than 300 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, each Government office shall review, identify 
and organize each assassination record in its custody or possession 
for disclosure to the public, review by the Review Board, and 
transmission to the Archivist. 
(2) In carrying out paragraph (1), a Government office shall— 
(A) determine which of its records £ure assassination 
records; 
(B) determine which of its assassination records have been 
officially disclosed or pubUcly available in a complete and 
unredactedform; 
(C)(i) determine which of its assassination records, or par-
ticular information contained in such a record, was created 
by a third agency or by another Government office; and 
(ii) transmit to a third agency or other Grovemment office 
those records, or particular information contained in those 
records, or complete and accurate copies thereof; 
(DXi) determine whether its assassination records or par-
ticular information in assassination records are covered by 
the standards for postponement of public disclosure under this 
Act; and 
(ii) specify on the identification aid required by subsection 
(d) the appUcable postponement provision contained in section 
6; 
(E) or^amze and make available to the Review Board all 
assassination records identified under subparagraph (D) the 
pubUc disclosure of which in whole or in part may be postponed 
under this Act; 
(F) organize and make available to the Review Board any 
record concerning which the office has any imcertainty as to 
whether the record is an assassination record governed by 
this Act; 
(G) give priority to— 
(i) the identification, review, and transmission of all 
assassination records pubUcly available or disclosed as of 
the date of enactment of this Act in a redacted or edited 
form; and 
(ii) the identification, review, and transmission, under 
the standards for postponement set forth in this Act, of 
assassination records tiiat on the date of enactment of 
this Act are the subject of litigation under section 552 
of title 5, Unitcid States Code; and 
(H) make available to the Review Board any additional 
information and records that the Review Board has reason 
to believe it requires for conducting a review under this Act. 
(3) The Director of each archival depository estabUshed under 
section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, sh£dl have as a priority 
the expedited review for pubUc disclosure of assassination records 
in the possession and custody of the depository, and shall make 
such records available to tiie Review Board as required by this 
Act. 
(d) IDENTIFICATION AIDS.—(IXA) Not later than 45 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Archivist, in consultation 
with the appropriate Government offices, shall prepare and make 
available to all Government offices a standard form of identification 
or finding aid for use with each assassination record subject to 
review under this Act. 
106 STAT. 3448 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
Public 
information. 
Federal 
Register, 
publication. 
(B) The Archivist shall ensure that the identification aid pro-
gram is established in such a manner as to result in the creation 
of a uniform system of electronic records by Grovemment offices 
that are compatible with each other. 
(2) Upon completion of an identification aid, a Government 
office shall— 
(A) attach a printed copy to the record it describes; 
(B) transmit to the Ileview Board a printed copy; and 
(C) attach a printed copy to each assassination record it 
describes when it is transmitted to the Archivist. 
(3) Assassination records which are in the possession of the 
National Archives on the date of enactment of this Act, and which 
have been publicly available in their entirety without redaction, 
shall be made available in the Collection without any additional 
review by the Review Board or another authorized office under 
this Act, and shall not be required to have such an identification 
aid unless required by the Archivist. 
(e) TRANSMISSION TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.—Each Govern-
ment office shall— 
(1) transmit to the Archivist, and make immediately avail-
able to the pubhc, all assassination records that can be publicly 
disclosed, including those that are publicly available on the 
date of enactment of this Act, without any redaction, adjust-
ment, or withholding under the standards of this Act; and 
(2) transmit to the Archivist upon approval for postpone-
ment by the Review Board or upon completion of other action 
authorized by this Act, all assassination records the public 
disclosure of which has been postponed, in whole or in part, 
under the standards of this Act, to become part of the protected 
Collection. 
(f) CUSTODY OF POSTPONED ASSASSINATION RECORDS.—An 
assassination record the public disclosure of which has been post-
poned shall, pending transmission to the Archivist, be hela for 
reasons of security and preservation by the originating body until 
such time as the information security program has been established 
at the National Archives as required in section 4(e)(2). 
(g) PERIODIC REVIEW OF POSTPONED ASSASSINATION RECORDS.— 
(1) All postponed or redacted records shall be reviewed periodically 
by the originating agency and the Archivist consistent with the 
recommendations of the Review Board under section 9(c)(3)(B). 
(2)(A) A periodic review shall address the public disclosure 
of additional assassination records in the Collection under the 
standards of this Act. 
(B) All postponed assassination records determined to require 
continued postponement shall require an unclassified 
written 
description of tne reason for such continued postponement. Such 
description shall be provided to the Archivist and published in 
the Federal Re^ster upon determination. 
(C) The periodic review of postponed assassination records shall 
serve to downgrade and declassify security classified information. 
(D) Each assassination record shall be publicly disclosed in 
fiiU, and available in the Collection no later than the date that 
is 25 years afi^er the date of enactment of this Act, unless the 
President certifies, as required by this Act, that— 
(i) continued postponement is made necessary by an identi-
fiable harm to the military defense, intelligence operations, 
law enforcement, or conduct of foreign relations; and 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3449 
(ii) the identifiable harm is of such gravity that it outweighs 
the pubUc interest in disclosure, 
(h) FEES FOR COPYING.—^Executive branch agencies shall— 
(1) charge fees for copying assassination records; and 
(2) grant waivers of sucn fees pursuant to the standards 
established by section 552(a)(4) of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 6. GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF 44 USC 2107 
RECORDS. 
note. 
Disclosure of assassination records or particular information 
in assassination records to the pubUc may be postponed subject 
to the Umitations of this Act if there is clear and convincing evidence 
t h a t ^ 
(1) the threat to the miUtary defense, intelligence oper-
ations, or conduct of foreign relations of the United States 
posed by the pubUc disclosure of the assassination is of such 
gravity that it outweighs the public interest, and such pubhc 
disclosure would reveal— 
(A) an intelligence agent whose identity currently 
requires protection; 
(B) an intelligence source or method which is currently 
utilized, or reasonably expected to be utiHzed, by the United 
States Grovemment and which has not been of&ciallv dis-
closed, the disclosure of which would interfere wim the 
conduct of intelligence activities; or 
(C) any other matter currently relating to the military 
defense, intelligence operations or conduct of foreign rela-
tions of the United States, the disclosure of which would 
demonstrably impair the national security of the United 
States; 
(2) the public disclosure of the assassination record would 
reveal the name or identity of a living person who provided 
confidential information to the United States and would pose 
a substantial risk of harm to that person; 
(3) the public disclosure of the assassination record could 
reasonably be expected to constitute £in unwarranted invasion 
of personal privacy, and that invasion of privacy is so substan-
tial that it outweighs the public interest; 
(4) the public disclosure of the assassination record would 
compromise the existence of an understanding of confidentiality 
currently requiring protection between a (jovemment agent 
and a cooperating individual or a foreign government, and 
public disclosure would be so harmful that it outweighs the 
public interest; or 
(5) the public disclosure of the assassination record would 
reveal a security or protective procedure currently utiHzed, 
or reasonably expected to be utilized, by the Secret Service 
or another Grovemment agency responsible for protecting Gov-
ernment officials, and public disclosure would be so harmful 
that it outweighs the public interest. 
SEC. 7. ESTABUSHMENl' AND POWERS OF THE ASSASSINATION 44 USC 2107 
RECORDS REVIEW BOARD. 
note. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—^There is established as an independent 
agency a board to be known as the Assassinations Records Review 
Board. 
(b) APPOINTMENT.—-(1) The President, by and with the advice 
President, 
and consent of the Senate, shall appoint, without regard to poHtical 
106 STAT. 3450 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
affiliation, 5 citizens to serve as members of the Review Board 
to ensure and facilitate the review, transmission to the Archivist, 
and public disclosure of Grovemment records related to the assas-
sination of President John F, Kennedy. 
(2) The President shall make nominations to the Review Board 
not later than 90 calendar days after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(3) If the Senate votes not to confirm a nomination to the 
Review Board, the President shall make an additional nomination 
not later than 30 days thereafter. 
(4)(A) The President shall make nominations to the Review 
Board after considering persons recommended by the American 
Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, 
the Society of American Archivists, and the American Bar Associa-
tion. 
(B) If an organization described in subparagraph (A) does not 
recommend at least 2 nominees meeting the qualifications stated 
in paragraph (5) by the date that is 45 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the President shall consider for nomination 
the persons recommended by the other organizations described in 
subparagraph (A). 
(C) The President may request an organization described in 
subparagraph (A) to submit additional nominations. 
(5) Persons nominated to the Review Board— 
(A) shall be impeirtial private citizens, none of whom is 
presently employed by any branch of the Grovemment, and 
none of whom shall have had any previous involvement with 
any official investigation or inquiry conducted by a Federal, 
State, or local government, relating to the assassination of 
President John F. Kennedy; 
(B) shsdl be distinguished persons of high national profes-
sional reputation in their respective fields who are capable 
of exercising the independent and objective judgment necessary 
to the fulfillment of their role in ensuring and facilitating 
the review, transmission to the public, and public disclosure 
of records related to the assassination of President John F. 
Kennedy and who possess an appreciation of the value of such 
material to the public, scholars, and government; and 
(C) shall include at least 1 professional historian and 1 
attorney. 
(c) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—(1) All Review Board nominees 
shall be granted the necessary security clearances in an accelerated 
manner subject to the standard procedures for gremting such clear-
ances. 
(2) All nominees shall qualify for the necessary security clear-
ance prior to being considered for confirmation by the Committee 
on Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
(d) CONFIRMATION HEARINGS.—(1) The Committee on Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate shall hold confirmation hearings within 
30 days in which the Senate is in session afl«r the nomination 
of 3 Review Board members. 
Reports. 
(2) The Committee on Grovemmental Affieiirs shall vote on the 
nominations within 14 days in which the Senate is in session 
after the confirmation hearings, and shall report its results to 
the full Senate immediately. 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3451 
(3) The Senate shall vote on each nominee to confirm or reject 
within 14 days in which the Senate is in session after reported 
by the Committee on Grovemmental Affairs. 
(e) VACANCY.—^A vacancy on the Review Board shall be filled 
in the same manner as specified for original appointment within 
30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy. 
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—The Members of the Review Board shall 
elect one of its members as chairperson at its initial meeting. 
(g) REMOVAL OF REVIEW BOARD MEMBER.—(1) No member of 
the Review Board shall be removed from office, other than— 
(A) by impeachment and conviction; or 
(B) by the action of the President for inefficiency, neglect 
of duty, malfeasance in office, physical disabiUty, mental 
incapacity, or any other condition that substantially impairs 
the performance of the member's duties. 
(2)(A) If a member of the Review Board is removed from office, 
and that removal is by the President, not later than 10 days 
after the removal the President shall submit to the Committee 
on Government Operations of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
specifying the facts found and the grounds for the removal. 
(B) The President shall pubhsh in the Federal Register a report 
Federal 
submitted under paragraph (2)(A), except that the President may, 
^j^^[ion 
if necessary to protect the rights of a person named in the report 
president, 
or to prevent undue interference with any pending prosecution, 
Reports, 
postpone or refirain from publishing any or all of the report until 
the completion of such pending cases or pursuant to privacy protec-
tion requirements in law. 
(3)(A) A member of the Review Board removed from office 
may obtain judicial review of the removal in a civil action com-
menced in the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia. 
(B) The member may be reinstated or granted other appropriate 
relief by order of the court. 
(h) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—(1) A member of the Review 
Board shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member 
is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Review Board. 
(2) A member of the Review Board shall be allowed reasonable 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
title 5, United States Code, while away from the member's home 
or regular place of business in the performance of services for 
the Review Board. 
(i) DUTIES OF THE REVIEW BOARD.—(1) The Review Board shall 
consider and render decisions on a determination by a Government 
office to seek to postpone the disclosure of assassination records. 
(2) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Review Board shall 
consider and render decisions— 
(A) whether a record constitutes an assassination record; 
and 
(B) whether an assassination record or particular informa-
tion in a record qualifies for postponement of disclosure under 
this Act. 
106 STAT. 3452 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
(j) POWERS.—(1) The Review Board shall have the authority 
to act in a manner prescribed under this Act including authority 
to— 
(A) direct Grovemment offices to complete identification 
aids and organize assassination records; 
(B) direct Grovemment offices to transmit to the Archivist 
assassination records as required under this Act, including 
segregable portions of assassination records, and substitutes 
and summaries of assassination records that can be publicly 
disclosed to the fullest extent; 
(C)(i) obtain access to assassination records that have been 
identified and organized by a Grovemment office; 
(ii) direct a Grovemment office to make available to the 
Review Board, and if necessary investigate the facts surround-
ing, additional information, records, or testimony from individ-
u£ds, which the Review Board has reason to believe is required 
to fiilfiU its functions and responsibihties under this Act; and 
(iii) request the Attorney Greneral to subpoena private per-
sons to compel testimony, records, and other information rel-
evant to its responsibilities under this Act; 
(D) require any Grovemment office to account in writing 
for the destruction of any records relating to the assassination 
of President John F. Kennedy; 
(E) receive information from the public regarding the 
identification and public disclosure of assassination records; 
and 
(F) hold hearings, administer oaths, and subpoena wit-
nesses and documents. 
(2) A subpoena issued under paragraph (l)(C)(iii) may be 
enforced by any appropriate Federal court acting pursuant to a 
lawful request of the Review Board. 
(k) WITNESS IMMUNITY.—^The Review Board shall be considered 
to be an agency of the United States for purposes of section 6001 
of title 18, United States Code. 
(1) OVERSIGHT.—(1) The Committee on Government Operations 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Grovem-
mental Affairs of the Senate shall have continuing oversight juris-
diction with respect to the official conduct of the Review Board 
and the disposition of postponed records after termination of the 
Review Board, and shall have access to any records held or created 
by the Review Board. 
(2) The Review Board shall have the duty to cooperate with 
the exercise of such oversight jurisdiction. 
(m) SUPPORT SERVICES.—^The Administrator of the Greneral 
Services Administration shall provide administrative services for 
the Review Board on a reimbursable basis. 
(n) INTERPRETIVE REGULATIONS.—^The Review Board may issue 
interpretive regulations. 
(o) TERMINATION AND WINDING UP.—(1) The Review Board 
and the terms of its members shall terminate not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, except that the 
Review Board may, by majority vote, extend its term for an addi-
tional 1-year period if it has not completed its work within that 
2-year period. 
Reports. 
(2) Upon its termination, the Review Board shall submit reports 
to the President and the Congress including a complete and accurate 
PUBUC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26,1992 
106 STAT. 3453 
accounting of expenditures during its existence, and shall complete 
all other reporting requirements under this Act. 
(3) Upon termination and winding up, the Review Board shall 
transfer all of its records to the Archivist for inclusion in the 
Collection, and no record of the Review Board shall be destroyed. 
SEC. 8. ASSASSINATION RECORDS REVIEW BOARD PERSONNEL. 
44 USC 2107 
(a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—(1) Not later than 45 days after 
"°**' 
the initial meeting of the Review Board, the Review Board shall 
appoint one citizen, without regard to poUtical affiliation, to the 
position of Executive Director. 
(2) The person appointed as Executive Director shall be a 
private citizen of integrity and impartiality who is a distinguished 
professional and who is not a present employee of any branch 
of the Government and has had no previous involvement with 
any official investigation or inquiry relating to the assassination 
of President John F. Kennedy. 
(3XA) A candidate for Executive Director shall be granted the 
necessary security clearances in an accelerated manner subject 
to the standard procedures for mmting such clearances. 
(B) A candidate shall quaufy for the necessary security clear-
ance prior to being approved by the Review Board. 
(4) The Executive Director shall— 
(A) serve as principal haison to Government offices; 
(B) be responsible for the administration and coordination 
of the Review Board's review of records; 
(C) be responsible for the administration of all official 
activities conducted by the Review Board; and 
(D) have no authority to decide or determine whether any 
record should be disclosed to the pubUc or postponed for disclo-
sure. 
(5) The Executive Director shall not be removed for reasons 
other than by a msyority vote of the Review Board for cause on 
the grounds of inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, 
physical disability, mental incapacity, or any other condition that 
subst£uitially impairs the performance of the responsibilities of the 
Executive Director or the staff of the Review Board. 
(b) STAFF.—(1) The Review Board may, in accordance with 
the civil service laws but without regard to civil service law and 
regulation for competitive service as defined in subchapter 1, chap-
ter 33 of title 5, United States Code, appoint and terminate addi-
tional personnel as are necessary to enaole the Review Board and 
its Executive Director to perform its duties. 
(2) A person appointed to the staff of the Review Board shall 
be a private citizen of integrity and impartiality who is not a 
present employee of any branch of the Government and who has 
had no previous involvement with any official investigation or 
inquiry relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 
(3)(A) A candidate for staff shall be granted the necessary 
security clearances in an accelerated manner subject to the standard 
procedures for granting such clearances. 
(B) A candidate for the staff shall qualify for the necessaiy 
security clearance prior to being approved by the Review Board. 
(c) COMPENSATION.—The Review Board shall fix the com-
pensation of the Executive Director and other personnel in accord-
ance with title 5, United States Code, except that the rate of 
pay for the Executive Director and other personnel may not exceed 
publication. 
106 STAT. 3454 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
5316 of that title. 
(d) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—(1) The Review Board shall have 
the authority to create advisory committees to assist in fulfilUng 
the responsibiUties of the Review Board imder this Act. 
(2) Any advisory committee created by the Review Board shall 
be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
44 use 2107 
SEC. 9. REVIEW OF RECORDS BY THE ASSASSINATION RECORDS 
note. 
REVIEW BOARD. 
(a) CUSTODY OF RECORDS REVIEWED BY BOARD.—Pending the 
outcome of the Review Board's review activity, a Government office 
shedl retain custody of its assassination records for purposes of 
preservation, security, and efficiency, unless— 
Federal 
(1) the Review Board requires the physical transfer of 
**^*®r.' 
records for reasons of conducting an independent and impartial 
review; or 
(2) such transfer is necessary for an administrative hearing 
or other official Review Board function. 
(b) STARTUP REQUIREMENTS.—The Review Board shall— 
(1) not later than 90 days after the date of its appointment, 
publish a schedule for review of all assassination records in 
the Federal Register; and 
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, begin its review of assassination records imder 
this Act. 
(c) DETERMINATIONS OF THE REVIEW BOARD.—<1) The Review 
Board shall direct that all assassination records be transmitted 
to the Archivist and disclosed to the pubUc in the Collection in 
the absence of clear and convincing evidence that— 
(A) a Grovemment record is not an assassination record; 
or 
(B) a Government record or particular information within 
an assassination record qualifies for postponement of public 
disclosure imder this Act. 
(2) In approving postponement of pubUc disclosure of an assas-
sination record, the Review Board shall seek to— 
(A) provide for the disclosure of segregable parts, sub-
stitutes, or summaries of such a record; and 
(B) determine, in consultation with the originating body 
and consistent with the standards for postponement under this 
Act, which of the following alternative forms of disclosure shall 
be made by the originating body: 
(i) Any reasonably segregable particular information 
in an assassination record. 
(ii) A substitute record for that information which is 
postponed. 
(iii) A summary of an assassination record. 
(3) With respect to each assassination record or particular 
information in assassination records the public disclosure of which 
is postponed pursuant to section 6, or for which only substitutions 
or summaries have been disclosed to the public, the Review Board 
shall create and transmit to the Archivist a report containing— 
(A) a description of actions by the Review Board, the origi-
nating body, the President, or any Government office (including 
a justification of any such action to postpone disclosure of 
any record or part of any record) and of any official proceedings 
PUBUC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3455 
conducted by the Review Board with regard to specific assas-
sination records; and 
(B) a statement, based on a review of the proceedings 
and in conformity with the decisions reflected therein, des-
ignating a recommended specified time at which or a specified 
occurrence following which the material may be appropriately 
disclosed to the public under this Act. 
(4XA) Following its review and a determination that an assas-
sination record shaU be pubUcly disclosed in the Collection or post-
poned for disclosure and held in the protected Collection, the Review 
Board shall notify the head of the originating body of its determina-
tion and pubUsh a copy of the determination in the Federal Register 
within 14 days after uie determination is made. 
(B) Contemporaneous notice shall be made to the President 
for Review Board determinations regarding executive branch assas-
sination records, and to the oversight committees designated in 
this Act in the case of legislative branch records. Such notice 
shall contain a written unclassified justification for public disclosure 
or postponement of disclosure, including an explanation of the 
application of any standards contained in section 6. 
(d) PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY OVER REVIEW BOARD DETERMINA-
TION.— 
(1) PUBUC DISCLOSURE OR POSTPONEMENT OF DISCLO-
SURE.—After the Review Board has made a formal determina-
tion concerning the pubUc disclosure or postponement of disclo-
sure of an executive branch assassination record or information 
within such a record, or of any information contained in an 
assassination record, obtained or developed solely within the 
executive branch, the President shall have the sole and 
nondelegable authority to require the disclosure or postpone-
ment of such record or information under the standards set 
forth in section 6, and the President shall provide the Review 
Board with an unclassified written certification specifying the 
President's decision within 30 days after the Review Board's 
determination and notice to the executive branch agency as 
required under this Act, stating the justification for the Presi-
dent's decision, including the applicable grounds for postpone-
ment under section 6, accompanied by a copy of the identifica-
tion aid required uiLder section 4. 
(2) PERIODIC REVIEW.—Any executive branch assassination 
record postponed by the President shall be subject to the 
requirements of periodic review, downgrading and declassifica-
tion of classified information, and public disclosure in the collec-
tion set forth in section 4. 
(3) RECORD OF PRESIDENTIAL POSTPONEMENT.—The Review 
Board shall, upon its receipt, pubUsh in the Federal Register 
a copy of any unclassified written certification, statement, and 
other materials transmitted by or on behalf of the President 
with regard to postponement of assassination records. 
(e) NOTICE TO PUBLIC.—^Every 30 calendar days, beginning 
on the date that is 60 calendar days after the date on which 
the Review Board first approves the postponement of disclosure 
of an assassination record, the Review Board shall pubHsh in the 
Federal Register a notice that summarizes the postponements 
approved by the Review Board or initiated by the President, the 
House of Representatives, or the Senate, including a description 
Federal 
Register, 
publication. 
Federal 
R^pster, 
publication. 
Federal 
RM^ister, 
publication. 
106 STAT. 3456 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
of the subject, originating agency, length or other physical descrip-
tion, and each ground for postponement that is relied upon. 
(f) REPORTS BY THE REVIEW BOARD.—(1) The Review Board 
shall report its activities to the leadership of the Congress, the 
Committee on Government Operations of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, 
the President, the Archivist, and the head of any Government 
office whose records have been the subject of Review Board activity. 
(2) The first report shall be issued on the date that is 1 
year aifler the date of enactment of this Act, £uid subsequent reports 
every 12 months thereafter until termination of the Review Board. 
(3) A report under paragraph (1) shall include the following 
information: 
(A) A financial report of the expenses for all official activi-
ties and requirements of the Review Board and its personnel. 
(B) The progress made on review, transmission to the 
Archivist, £uid pubUc disclosure of assassination records. 
(C) The estimated time and volume of assassination records 
involved in the completion of the Review Board's performance 
under this Act. 
(D) Any special problems, including requests and the level 
of cooperation of Government offices, with regard to the ability 
of the Review Board to operate as required by this Act. 
(E) A record of review activities, including a record of 
postponement decisions by the Review Board or other related 
actions authorized by this Act, suid a record of the volume 
of records reviewed and postponed. 
(F) Suggestions and requests to Congress for additional 
legislative authority needs. 
(G) An appendix containing copies of reports of postponed 
records to the Archivist required under section 9(c)(3) made 
since the date of the preceding report under this subsection. 
(4) At least 90 calendar days before completing its work, the 
Review Board shall provide written notice to the President and 
Congress of its intention to terminate its operations at a specified 
date. 
44 u s e 2107 
SEC. 10. DISCLOSURE OF OTHER MATERIALS AND ADDITIONAL 
note. 
STUDY. 
(a) MATERIALS UNDER SEAL OF COURT.— 
(1) The Review Board may request the Attorney General 
to petition any court in the United States or abroad to release 
any information relevant to the assassination of President John 
F. Kennedy that is held under seal of the court. 
(2XA) The Review Board may request the Attorney General 
to petition any court in the United States to release any 
information relevant to the assassination of President John 
F. Kennedy that is held under the ii\jimction of secrecy of 
a grand jury. 
(B) A request for disclosiu*e of assassination materials 
under this Act shall be deemed to constitute a showing of 
particularized need under Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Crimi-
nal Procedure. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—^It is the sense of the Congress that— 
(1) the Attorney General should assist the Review Board 
in good fsdth to unseal any records that the Review Board 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26, 1992 
106 STAT. 3457 
determines to be relevant and held under seal by a court 
or under the injunction of secrecy of a grand jury; 
(2) the Secretary of State should contact the Grovemment 
of the RepubUc of Russia and seek the disclosure of all records 
of the government of the former Soviet Union, including the 
records of the Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti (KGB) 
and the Glajmoye Rassvedyvatelnoye Upravleniye (GRU), rel-
evant to the assassination of President Kennedy, and contact 
any other foreign government that may hold information rel-
evant to the assassination of President Kennedy and seek dis-
closure of such information; and 
(3) all Executive agencies should cooperate in full with 
the Review Board to seek the disclosure of all information 
relevant to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy 
consistent with the pubUc interest. 
SEC. 11. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 
44 USC 2107 
(a) PRECEDENCE OVER OTHER LAW.—When this Act requires ^°*^' 
transmission of a record to the Archivist or public disclosure, it 
shall take precedence over any other law (except section 6103 
of the Internal Revenue Code), judicial decision construing such 
law, or common law doctrine that would otherwise prohibit such 
transmission or disclosure, with the exception of deeds governing 
access to or transfer or release of gifts and donations of records 
to the United States Grovemment. 
(b) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.—Nothing in this Act shall 
be construed to ehminate or limit any right to file requests with 
any executive agency or seek judicial review of the decisions pursu-
ant to section 552 of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—^Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to preclude judicial review, under chapter 7 of title 5, United 
States Code, of final actions taken or required to be taken under 
this Act. 
(d) EXISTING AUTHORITY.—^Nothing in this Act revokes or limits 
the existing authority of the President, any executive agency, the 
Senate, or the House of Representatives, or any other entity of 
the Government to publicly disclose records in its possession. 
(e) RULES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.— 
To the extent that any provision of this Act establishes a procedure 
to be followed in the Senate or the House of Representatives, 
such provision is adopted— 
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
and House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed to 
be part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable 
only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House, 
ana it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is 
inconsistent with such rules; and 
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either 
House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the procedure 
of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the 
same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. 
SEC. 12. TERMINATION OF EFFECT OF ACT. 
44 USC 2107 
(a) PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE REVIEW BOARD.—The provi- "
°
*
® 
sions of this Act that pertain to the appointment and operation 
of the Review Board shall cease to be effective when the Review 
Board and the terms of its members have terminated pursuant 
to section 7(o). 
106 STAT. 3458 
PUBLIC LAW 102-526—OCT. 26,1992 
(b) OTHER PROVISIONS.—^The remaining provisions of this Act 
shall continue in effect until such time as me Archivist certifies 
to the President and the Congress that all assassination records 
have been made available to the pubUc in accordance with this 
Act. 
44 u s e 2107 
SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^There are authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as are necessary to carry out this Act, to remain available 
until expended. 
(b) INTERIM FUNDING.—^Until such time as funds are appro-
priated pursuant to subsection (a), the President may use such 
sums as are avsdlable for discretionary use to carry out this Act. 
44 use 2107 
SEC. 14. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any 
person or circimistance is held invaUd, the remainder of this Act 
and the application of that provision to other persons not similarly 
situated or to other circumstances shall not be affected by tiie 
invaUdation. 
Approved October 26,1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3006 (H.J. Res. 
454): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-625, Pt. 1 (eomm. on Government Operations) and Pt. 2 
(Oomm. on the Judiciary) both accompanying H.J. Res. 454. 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 102-328 (Oomm. on Governmental AfTurs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
July 27, considered and passed Senate. 
Aug. 11,12, H.J. Res. 454 considered and passed House. 
Sept. 30, S. 3006 considered and passed House. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 28 (1992): 
Oct. 26, Presidential statement.