Pelosi: Presidential Library Bills Show Commitment to Accountability and Transparency
January 7, 2009
Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today after the House passed two key government reform bills: the Presidential Records Act Amendments, which restores meaningful public access to presidential records by nullifying a 2001 executive order by President Bush, and the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act, which requires the disclosure of big donors to presidential libraries. Both passed by overwhelming margins, with strong bipartisan support.
"The New Direction Congress enacted sweeping ethics, lobbying and earmark reforms because Americans deserve a government that is open, honest, and accountable to its citizens. Today, we continue our reform efforts by ensuring meaningful and timely access to presidential records and the disclosure of big money donations to presidential libraries.
"If we are to have a government of, by and for the people, then the people must have access to the information they need to question government actions and to hold their elected officials accountable. These two critical bills will assist citizens in this process and I look forward to our new President signing them into law."