Politics

Presidential Records Act Amendments and Presidential And Library Donation Reform Act Pass

By Karina

Today, the House passed two key government reform bills that were passed by the House in the 110th Congress but were never acted upon in the Senate: the Presidential Records Act Amendments, which restores meaningful public access to presidential records by nullifying a 2001 Bush executive order, and the Presidential Records Act Amendments Presidential Library Donation Reform Act, which requires the disclosure of big donors to presidential libraries.

Oversight Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns:

Speaker Pelosi on passage of the legislation:

The New Direction Congress enacted sweeping ethics, lobbying and earmark reforms because Americans deserve a government that is open, honest, and accountable to its citizens. Today, we continue our reform efforts by ensuring meaningful and timely access to presidential records and the disclosure of big money donations to presidential libraries.

If we are to have a government of, by and for the people, then the people must have access to the information they need to question government actions and to hold their elected officials accountable. These two critical bills will assist citizens in this process and I look forward to our new President signing them into law.

Learn more about HR 35, the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2009, and HR 36, the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2009.

Full post as published by The Gavel on January 07, 2009 (boomark / email).