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H.R. 1791 118th Congress House

Classified Documents Accountability Act

Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide civil penalties for unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material, to amend chapter … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide civil penalties for unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material, to amend chapter 22 of title 44, to include a certification process for Presidential records, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 24, 2023 Introduced by: Mike Quigley Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 24, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 24, 2023
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 24, 2023

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Classified Documents Accountability Act

This bill provides for civil penalties for the unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material and establishes a certification process for presidential records.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice to bring a civil action in U.S. district court and provides for a civil penalty of up to $500,000 per violation for the unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material.

An officer or employee from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) must be present in the Executive Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President to ensure proper logging and handling of presidential and vice-presidential records.

Any record of the President and Vice President shall be screened for classified material by NARA during the presidential transition and shall be retained by NARA.

The outgoing President and Vice President or designee must certify whether they have retained any classified records. The bill establishes penalties for noncompliance, including a limitation on funds for travel and a reduction in pension.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
LaHood, Darin
Illinois · Mar 24, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1791: Classified Documents Accountability Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-1791/
MLA
"H.R. 1791: Classified Documents Accountability Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-1791/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1791, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-1791/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1791: Classified Documents Accountability Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-1791/)
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