50 U.S. Code § 3355 - Findings

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) It is in the national interest to establish an effective, coordinated, and cost-effective means by which records on specific subjects of extraordinary public interest that do not undermine the national security interests of the United States may be collected, retained, reviewed, and disseminated to Congress, policymakers in the executive branch, and the public.

(2) Ensuring, through such measures, public access to information that does not require continued protection to maintain the national security interests of the United States is a key to striking the balance between secrecy essential to national security and the openness that is central to the proper functioning of the political institutions of the United States.

(Pub. L. 106–567, title VII, § 702, Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 2856.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly set out in a note under section 3161 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–567, title VII, § 710, Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 2864, as amended by Pub. L. 108–458, title I, § 1102(f), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3700; Pub. L. 110–53, title VI, § 602(4), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 336; Pub. L. 112–235, § 2(c), Dec. 28, 2012, 126 Stat. 1626; Pub. L. 113–126, title III, § 311, July 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 1399; Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXVII, § 6741(b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2239, provided that:

“This title [enacting this subchapter] shall take effect on the date that is 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2000].”

Short Title

For short title of title VII of Pub. L. 106–567, which enacted this subchapter, as the “Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000”, see section 701 of Pub. L. 106–567, set out as a note under section 3301 of this title.

Status of Board

Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXVII, § 6741(c), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2239, provided that:

“Notwithstanding section 710(b) of the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–567; 50 U.S.C. 3161 note) as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019]—

“(1) the Public Interest Declassification Board shall be deemed to not have terminated for purposes of the appointment of members to the Board;

“(2) section 703(h) of such Act [50 U.S.C. 3355a(h)] shall not apply with respect to the period beginning on December 31, 2018, and ending on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act; and

“(3) the length of the terms of the members serving on the Board as of December 30, 2018, shall be calculated by not counting the period specified in paragraph (2).”

[Prior to being struck out by Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXVII, § 6741(b)(1), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2239, section 710(b) of the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–567, title VII), referred to in the introductory provisions of section 6741(c) of Pub. L. 116–92, set out above, provided that:

“The provisions of this title shall expire on December 31, 2018.”

Section 710 of the Act was formerly set out in a note under section 3161 of this title, and was editorially transferred and is now set out as an Effective Date note above.]