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Code · STATUTE-COMPILATIONS · Protection and Reduction of Government Secrecy Act · Sec. 902

Sec. 902. FINDINGS

262 words·~1 min read·/statute-compilations/comps-1451/sec-902

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## SEC. 902 FINDINGS **[**[50 U.S.C. 3161](/us/usc/t50/s3161) nt**]** The Congress makes the following findings: ####
(1)During the Cold War an extensive secrecy system developed which limited public access to information and reduced the ability of the public to participate with full knowledge in the process of governmental decisionmaking. ####
(2)In 1992 alone 6,349,532 documents were classified and approximately three million persons held some form of security clearance. ####
(3)The burden of managing more than 6 million newly classified documents every year has led to tremendous administrative expense, reduced communication within the government and within the scientific community, reduced communication between the government and the people of the United States, and the selective and unauthorized public disclosure of classified information. ####
(4)It has been estimated that private businesses spend more than $14 billion each year implementing government mandated regulations for protecting classified information. ####
(5)If a smaller amount of truly sensitive information were classified the information could be held more securely. ####
(6)In 1970 a Task Force organized by the Defense Science Board and headed by Dr. Frederick Seitz concluded that “more might be gained than lost if our Nation were to adopt—unilaterally, if necessary—a policy of complete openness in all areas of information”. ####
(7)The procedures for granting security clearances have themselves become an expensive and inefficient part of the secrecy system and should be closely examined. ####
(8)A bipartisan study commission specially constituted for the purpose of examining the consequences of the secrecy system will be able to offer comprehensive proposals for reform.
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Sec. 902
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