William L. Clay: “Mr. Speaker, during subcommittee hearings last week, the Archivist of the United States, Allen Weinstein, testified that…”

“Mr. Speaker, during subcommittee hearings last week, the Archivist of the United States, Allen Weinstein, testified that Executive Order 13233 has ``added to the endemic problem of delay that NARA faces from the PRA in the processing of Presidential records.'' Tom Blanton of the National Security Archive testified that the order already has added 5 years to the response time for records from the Reagan library and violates the letter and spirit of the PRA. Presidential historian Robert Dallek urged Congress to rescind the order, stating, ``President Bush's order carries the potential for an incomplete and distorted understanding of past Presidential decisions, especially about controversial actions with significant consequences.'' ``It is understandable,'' said Dr. Dallek, ``that every President and his heirs wants to put the best possible face on his administration, but an uncritical or limited reconstruction of our Nation's history does nothing to serve its long-term national interest.'' Mr. Speaker, the long-term national interest demands that the American people know how and why important decisions are made at the highest level of our government.”