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HR 3785 104th Congress House

Background Security Records Act of 1996

Official title: To amend the law popularly known as the Presidential Records Act of 1978 and the law popularly known as Privacy Act, to ensure that Federal Bureau of Investiga… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the law popularly known as the Presidential Records Act of 1978 and the law popularly known as Privacy Act, to ensure that Federal Bureau of Investigation records containing sensitive background security information that are provided to the White House are properly protected for privacy and security.

Introduced: August 2, 1996 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative procedureArmed Forces and National SecurityCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCrime and Law Enforcement
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Criminal justice informationDepartment of JusticeExecutive Office of the PresidentFederal employeesGovernment paperworkLabor and EmploymentLawPresidential recordsPublic recordsRight of privacySecurity clearancesWhite House (Washington, D.C.)
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 22, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.
Jul 18, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1316)
Jul 11, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.
Jul 11, 1996
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 22, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Background Security Records Act of 1996 - Amends the Presidential Records Act of 1978 to direct that any record provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to the White House for providing background security information on any individual shall: (1) not be a presidential record; and (2) upon the conclusion of a President's term of office or upon conclusion of the last term, such record shall be returned to the FBI, subject to an exception.

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to maintain and periodically provide to the President and the FBI Director accurate lists of individuals who are employed in or detailed to the White House.

Amends the Privacy Act to require that any record provided by the FBI to the White House for providing background security information on an individual shall be maintained at the White House as an FBI record. Prohibits disclosure of a record containing sensitive background information on an individual by the FBI to the White House, except as specified.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Aug 2, 1996
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3785: Background Security Records Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3785/
MLA
"H.R. 3785: Background Security Records Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3785/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3785, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3785/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3785: Background Security Records Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-3785/)
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