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HR 1234 113th Congress House

Electronic Message Preservation Act

Official title: To amend title 44, United States Code, to require preservation of certain electronic records by Federal agencies, to require a certification and reports relati… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title 44, United States Code, to require preservation of certain electronic records by Federal agencies, to require a certification and reports relating to Presidential records, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 18, 2013 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightDigital mediaGovernment information and archives
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
National Archives and Records AdministrationPresidential administrations
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 25, 2013
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 93.
Jun 25, 2013
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 113-128.
Mar 20, 2013
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Mar 20, 2013
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 18, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Mar 18, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 25, 2013

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 93.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1234: Electronic Message Preservation Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1234/
MLA
"H.R. 1234: Electronic Message Preservation Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1234/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1234, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1234/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1234: Electronic Message Preservation Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1234/)
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