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ACTION ALERT: Congressional effort to nullify Executive Order



Many of you are familiar with SAA's efforts to rescind Bush's Executive
Order on presidential records (see our website, www.archivists.org for more
information).  Today's NCC Update contains this important call to action:

2.  NCC ACTION ITEM: EXECUTIVE ORDER NULLIFICATION LEGISLATION
In addition to the lawsuit filed by the Public Citizen that challenges
provisions of President Bush's recent Executive Order 13233 relating to
implementation of the Presidential Records Act (see "Lawsuit Challenges
Bush Presidential Records Executive Order" in "NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol.
7, #48, November 29, 2001), Congress now is initiating its own action to
nullify the executive order.

Last November, the House Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial
Management and Intergovernmental Relations conducted an oversight hearing
entitled, The Implementation of the Presidential Records Act of 1978 (see
"Reagan Papers/New Executive Order - Topics of Congressional Hearing" in
NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 7, #46, November 9, 2001). During the hearing
it became apparent that both Republicans and Democrats were critical of the
presidential order.  In December, a number of interested parties met with
minority Democratic Committee staff to discuss possible legislation that
would overturn the E.O.  Given the strong bi-partisan concern over E.O.
13233 and its draconian effects, it seemed plausible that a bi-partisan
legislative effort could be successful.

After consultation with majority staff, it was agreed to postpone
introduction of legislation until the full Committee on Government Reform
holds a hearing on the issue.  That hearing - designed to give the issue
more visibility and prominence - is expected to take place in the near
future.  To this end, the two key legislative players, Committee Chair Dan
Burton (R-IN) and ranking Democrat Henry Waxman (D-CA) have agreed that
they will introduce legislation - the Access to Presidential Records Act -
at the hearing or shortly thereafter.  The legislation will be simple and
straightforward and will state that President Bush's Executive Order 13233
shall have no force or effect.

With Congress now swinging into action, YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!  It is NOW
time for the historical and archival community to TAKE ACTION.  Please
contact your members of Congress and encourage them to be "original
cosponsors" of the Burton/Waxman legislation.  A simple phone call to the
member of the House of Representatives that represents you will do: the
Capitol switchboard telephone number is (202) 224-3121. The message you
need to communicate is simple: Request that your Representative become an
original co-sponsor of Congressman Dan Burton and Henry Waxman's "Access to
Presidential Records Act."  Request that your Representative write you a
letter in response to your request.  Our goal is to see the legislation
introduced with well over 100 House members as co-sponsors - the higher the
number, the stronger the message will be to the Bush
Administration.  PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Susan E. Fox, CAE
Executive Director
Society of American Archivists
527 S. Wells St., 5th Floor
Chicago, IL  60607
312-922-0140
fax:  312-347-1452
sfox@archivists.org
www.archivists.org

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The mission of the Society of American Archivists is to serve the
educational and informational needs of our members and to provide leadership
to ensure the identification, preservation, and use of the nation's historic
record.

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