Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act

The Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act declassifies certain documents about atrocities committed during World War II.

Full Text

SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.

: This title may be cited as the `Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act of 2000'.

SEC. 802. DESIGNATION.

: (a) DEFINITIONS- In this section:

:: (1) AGENCY- The term `agency' has the meaning given such term under section 551 of title 5, United States Code.

:: (2) INTERAGENCY GROUP- The term `Interagency Group' means the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group established under subsection (b).

:: (3) JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS- The term `Japanese Imperial Government records' means classified records or portions of records that pertain to any person with respect to whom the United States Government, in its sole discretion, has grounds to believe ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the experimentation on, and persecution of, any person because of race, religion, national origin, or political opinion, during the period beginning September 18, 1931, and ending on December 31, 1948, under the direction of, or in association with--

::: (A) the Japanese Imperial Government;

::: (B) any government in any area occupied by the military forces of the Japanese Imperial Government;

::: (C) any government established with the assistance or cooperation of the Japanese Imperial Government; or

::: (D) any government which was an ally of the Japanese Imperial Government.

:: (4) RECORD- The term `record' means a Japanese Imperial Government record.

: (b) ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERAGENCY GROUP-

:: (1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall designate the Working Group established under the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act (Public Law 105-246; 5 U.S.C. 552 note) to also carry out the purposes of this title with respect to Japanese Imperial Government records, and that Working Group shall remain in existence for 3 years after the date on which this title takes effect. Such Working Group is redesignated as the `Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group'.

:: (2) MEMBERSHIP- Section 2(b)(2) of such Act is amended by striking `3 other persons' and inserting `4 other persons who shall be members of the public, of whom 3 shall be persons appointed under the provisions of this Act in effect on October 8, 1998.'.

: (c) FUNCTIONS- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Interagency Group shall, to the greatest extent possible consistent with section 803--

:: (1) locate, identify, inventory, recommend for declassification, and make available to the public at the National Archives and Records Administration, all classified Japanese Imperial Government records of the United States;

:: (2) coordinate with agencies and take such actions as necessary to expedite the release of such records to the public; and

:: (3) submit a report to Congress, including the Committee on Government Reform and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, describing all such records, the disposition of such records, and the activities of the Interagency Group and agencies under this section.

: (d) FUNDING- There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title.

SEC. 803. REQUIREMENT OF DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS.

: (a) RELEASE OF RECORDS- Subject to subsections (b), (c), and (d), the Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group shall release in their entirety Japanese Imperial Government records.

: (b) EXEMPTIONS- An agency head may exempt from release under subsection (a) specific information, that would--

:: (1) constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

:: (2) reveal the identity of a confidential human source, or reveal information about an intelligence source or method when the unauthorized disclosure of that source or method would damage the national security interests of the United States;

:: (3) reveal information that would assist in the development or use of weapons of mass destruction;

:: (4) reveal information that would impair United States cryptologic systems or activities;

:: (5) reveal information that would impair the application of state-of-the-art technology within a United States weapon system;

:: (6) reveal United States military war plans that remain in effect;

:: (7) reveal information that would impair relations between the United States and a foreign government, or undermine ongoing diplomatic activities of the United States;

:: (8) reveal information that would impair the current ability of United States Government officials to protect the President, Vice President, and other officials for whom protection services are authorized in the interest of national security;

:: (9) reveal information that would impair current national security emergency preparedness plans; or

:: (10) violate a treaty or other international agreement.

: (c) APPLICATIONS OF EXEMPTIONS-

:: (1) IN GENERAL- In applying the exemptions provided in paragraphs (2) through (10) of subsection (b), there shall be a presumption that the public interest will be served by disclosure and release of the records of the Japanese Imperial Government. The exemption may be asserted only when the head of the agency that maintains the records determines that disclosure and release would be harmful to a specific interest identified in the exemption. An agency head who makes such a determination shall promptly report it to the committees of Congress with appropriate jurisdiction, including the Committee on the Judiciary and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Committee on Government Reform and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.

:: (2) APPLICATION OF TITLE 5- A determination by an agency head to apply an exemption provided in paragraphs (2) through (9) of subsection (b) shall be subject to the same standard of review that applies in the case of records withheld under section 552(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code.

: (d) RECORDS RELATED TO INVESTIGATIONS OR PROSECUTIONS- This section shall not apply to records--

:: (1) related to or supporting any active or inactive investigation, inquiry, or prosecution by the Office of Special Investigations of the Department of Justice; or

:: (2) solely in the possession, custody, or control of the Office of Special Investigations.