Floor Statement
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| Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay U.S. House of Representatives Floor Statement JUNE 27, 2007 |
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| SUPPORTING AMENDMENT BY REP. EMANUEL TO H.R. 2829 | ||
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MR. SPEAKER, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INFORMATION POLICY, CENSUS, AND NATIONAL ARCHIVES, I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MY COLLEAGUE FROM ILLINOIS, MR. EMANUEL. IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS, IN WHICH VARIOUS EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE VICE PRESIDENT'S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, I. LEWIS "SCOOTER" LIBBY, HAVE ACTED WITH RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR THE PROTECTION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION, I APPLAUD MR. EMANUEL’S LEADERSHIP IN INTRODUCING THIS AMENDMENT. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT IN LIGHT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT’S REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER 12958.EXECUTIVE ORDER 12958, AS AMENDED BY PRESIDENT BUSH IN MARCH 2003, REQUIRES THE INFORMATION SECURITY OVERSIGHT OFFICE (ISOO) WITHIN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH A UNIFORM SYSTEM TO PROTECT CLASSIFIED NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. IN 2004, THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT REFUSED TO SUBMIT TO AN ON-SITE INSPECTION. IN DOING SO, IT MADE THE ASTONISHING CLAIM THAT IT WAS NOT AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH ENTITY AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY THE EXECUTIVE ORDER. THE DIRECTOR OF THE ISOO WROTE THE VICE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE TO CONTEST THE CLAIM AND ALSO ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO EVALUATE THE VICE PRESIDENT’S ARGUMENT. THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REPEATEDLY IGNORED THESE COMMUNICATIONS. MOREOVER, WE LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT’S STAFF HAS PROPOSED AMENDING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE ISOO. CONGRESS SHOULD NOT TOLERATE THIS EFFORT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT TO EXEMPT HIS OFFICE FROM OVERSIGHT AND RETALIATE AGAINST THE AGENCY CHARGED WITH MAINTAINING OUR NATION’S MOST SENSITIVE SECRETS. THE VICE PRESIDENT IS MAKING A MOCKERY OF THE LAW AND OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. IF THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT INSISTS UPON DEFINING ITSELF AS NOT BEING AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH ENTITY, THEN CLEARLY IT SHOULD NOT BE FUNDED LIKE ONE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, AND YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. # # |
