H.R. 1233 would amend federal law regarding the preservation, storage, and management of federal records. The legislation would amend the Presidential Records Act to establish a process for reviewing Presidential records. The bill also would update archival laws to accommodate the government’s use of electronic and digital communications. Finally, H.R. 1233 would require the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to prevent unauthorized access or removal of government records.
According to NARA, most provisions in the bill would codify and expand current practices. Executive Orders and Presidential memoranda have directed NARA and agencies to better manage government records. Consequently, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1233 would have no significant cost over the next five years. The bill could affect direct spending by agencies not funded through annual appropriations; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. CBO estimates, however, that any net increase in spending by those agencies would not be significant. Enacting H.R. 1233 would not affect revenues.
H.R. 1233 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.