TRANSMITTED HEREWITH FOR REFERRAL TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES IS A DRAFT BILL PREPARED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP95B00895R000200090031-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 24, 2008
• Sequence Number: 31
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/11/24: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200090031-1
Servic
D Administration Washington nC 20405
Honorable George Bush
President'of the Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. President:
Transmitted herewith for referral to the appropriate committees is
a draft bill prepared by the General Services Administration (GSA)
"To amend chapter 29 of title 44, United States Code, to clarify
authorities for determination of record status and adequacy of
documentation."
The proposed bill provides that the Administrator of General Services
will consult with the Archivist of the United States and the.head of
the creating Federal agency to determine whether a document, recording,
or other item created or received by the agency in the course of
conducting its business is a record. The bill also provides for
inspection of agency files by the Archivist of the United States
or his designee in order to ensure that items are properly classified
as records or non-record materials and that the agency is creating
and maintaining appropriate documentation of its programs.
The authority of the Administrator to determine whether an item is a
record is closely associated with his other records responsibilities
in chapters 21, 29, and 33 of title 44-to assist agencies with all
aspects of their records management programs, to authorize disposal
of records no longer needed for agency business that do not have
other values warranting their continued preservation; and to
accession those records determined by the Archivist of the United
States to be permanently valuable. The creating agency also has
a direct interest in this determination, as well ,as the necessary
program knowledge to assist the Administrator in making the
determination.
Inspection of agency files will be - made -in accordance with -procedures
negotiated between the agency and GSA's National Archives and Records
Service (NARS). NARS employees engaged in the inspection will be
required to have any necessary national security clearance and to
abide by the same restrictions governing privacy or confidentiality
of the records that apply to the agency's employees.
Approved For Release 2008/11/24: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200090031-1
 Approved For Release 2008/11/24: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200090031-1
The bill also provides a mechanism for resolving disagreements between
GSA and the agency regarding the determination of record status and/or
inspection procedures. When a dispute occurs, the matter will be .
referred to the Office of Management and Budget for a binding decision.
The Office of Management and Budget has advised that, from the standpoint
of the Administration's program, there is no objection to the submission
of the proposed legislation to Congress.
Sincerely,
Approved For Release 2008/11/24: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200090031-1