H.R. 1234: Electronic Message Preservation Act

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H.R. 1234: Electronic Message Preservation Act

113th Congress · introduced 2013-03-18 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 93.

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Official title

Electronic Message Preservation Act

Plain summary

Electronic Message Preservation Act - (Sec. 2) Requires the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations governing federal agency preservation of electronic messages that are federal records and to periodically review and amend such regulations as necessary. Requires such regulations to: (1) require the electronic capture, management, and preservation of such electronic records in accordance with the Federal Records Act; (2) require such records to be retrievable through electronic searches; (3) establish mandatory minimum functional requirements for electronic records management systems and a process to certify federal agency compliance with such requirements; (4) include timelines for federal agency compliance; and (5) include requirements for the capture, management, and preservation of other electronic records. Defines "electronic records management system" as software designed to manage electronic records, including by categorizing and locating records, ensuring that records are retained as long as necessary, identifying records that are due for disposition, and ensuring the storage, retrieval, and disposition of records. Requires: (1) the head of each federal agency, not later than four years after the enactment of this Act, to submit to the Archivist a report on agency compliance with regulations promulgated under this Act; and (2) the Archivist to report to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (the congressional oversight committees) on such compliance. Prohibits an officer or employee of an executive agency from creating or sending a record using a non-official electronic messaging account unless such officer or employee: (1) copies an official electronic messaging account of the officer or employee in the original creation or transmission of the record, or (2) forwards a complete copy of the record to such an official account within five days after the original creation or transmission of the record. (Sec. 3) Requires the Archivist to: (1) establish standards for the management of electronic presidential records during a President's term of office, including records management controls necessary for the capture, management, and preservation of electronic messages and for ensuring that electronic messages are readily accessible for retrieval through electronic searches; (2) certify annually whether electronic records management controls established by the President meet the requirements of the Presidential Records Act; and (3) report annually to the congressional oversight committees on the status of such certification. Requires the Archivist, one year after the conclusion of a President's term of office, to submit to the congressional oversight committees a report on: (1) the volume and format of electronic presidential records deposited into that President's archival depository, and (2) whether the electronic records management controls of that President meet requirements under this Act. Prohibits an officer or employee of an executive agency from creating or sending a presidential record using a non-official electronic messaging account unless such officer or employee: (1) copies an official electronic messaging account in the original creation or transmission of the record, or (2) forwards a complete copy of the record to such an account within five days.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

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Sources

• Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s))
• Congress.gov
• Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-113hr1234.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/113/hr>

Record fed-us-cong113-hr1234 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113