Sec. 1503. Preserving records of electronic communications conducted related to official duties of positions in the public trust of the American people
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/bill/117/hr/1157/rh/section-1503A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that, as a matter of rule of law and transparency in a democratic government, all officers and employees of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development must preserve all records of communications conducted in their official capacities or related to their official duties with entities outside of the United States Government. It is further the sense of Congress that such practice should include foreign government officials or other foreign entities which may seek to influence United States Government policies and actions.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall publish in the Foreign Affairs Manual guidance implementing chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Federal Records Act ), to treat electronic messaging systems, software, and applications as equivalent to electronic mail for the purpose of identifying Federal records, and shall also publish in the Foreign Affairs Manual the statutory penalties for failure to comply with such guidance.
Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, no funds are authorized to be appropriated or made available to the Department of State under any Act to support the use or establishment of accounts on third-party messaging applications or other non-Government online communication tools if the Secretary does not certify to the relevant congressional committees that the Secretary has carried out this section. The prohibition described in this subsection shall not apply to warden or embassy security messages.