Senate committee moves on sensitive but unclassified information

A Senate Committee approved a draft version of a bill last week establishing a new process for handling and designating sensitive but unclassified government information.

The bill, approved by a voice vote on Sept. 23, establishes a new office at the National Archives and Records Administration to “develop and issue policies and procedures ‘governing the designation, safeguarding and dissemination of controlled unclassified information,’” according to Congress Daily.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee still has to take a final vote on the bill, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Lieberman.

Ever since the earliest days after Sept. 11, 2001, open-government advocates have been troubled by the pile-up of sensitive but unclassified information, and increasing agency reluctance to release it. In May, President Bush issued new, broad standards for dealing with the information.

The bill has not been published or recieved a bill number yet.