,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cccb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,octob] #bc1 #bjac,mr4
 ,nadl] 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,petri1 ,mr4   
,cony]s1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,mr4 ,holt1    
,ms4 ,lee ( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,van ,holl51
 ,ms4 ,l(gr51 & ,mr4 ,mc,clintock7      
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y  ,a ,,bill 
,to provide safe1 fair1 & responsible   
proc$ures & /&>ds = resolv+ claims (    
/ate secret privilege4  #a4 ,%ort title 
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,/ate ,secrets
 ,protection ,act4  #b4 ,/ate secret    
privilege ,9 any civil action br\ght 9  
,f$]al or ,/ate c\rt1 ! ,gov]nm5t has a 
privilege to refuse to give in=mation & 
to prev5t any p]son f giv+ in=mation    
only if ! ,gov]nm5t %[s t public        
disclosure ( ! in=mation t ! ,gov]nm5t  
seeks to protect w\ld be reasonably     
likely to cause significant h>m to !    
national def5se or ! diplomatic         
relations ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  #c4       
,protection ( secrets  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!  

c\rt %all take /eps to protect s5sitive 
in=mation t comes be=e ! c\rt 9         
connection ) proce$+s "u ?is ,act4 ,^!  
/eps may include review+ evid5ce or     
plead+s & he>+ argum5ts ex p>te1 issu+  
protective ord]s1 plac+ mat]ial "u seal1
 & apply+ security proc$ures e/abli%$ "u
 ! ,classifi$ ,in=mation ,proc$ures ,act
 = classifi$ in=mation to protect !     
s5sitive in=mation4  7b7 ,9 cam]a       
proce$+s ,all he>+s & o!r proce$+s "u   
?is ,act may be conduct$ 9 cam]a1 z ne$$
 to protect in=mation t may be subject  
to ! privilege4  7c7 ,p>ticipation (    
c\nsel ,p>ticipation ( c\nsel 9 proce$+s
 "u ?is ,act may be limit$ if ! c\rt    
det]m9es t ! limitation is a necess>y   
/ep to protect in=mation ! ,gov]nm5t    
ass]ts is protect$ by ! privilege or t  
supports ! claim ( privilege4  7d7      
,gu>dian ad litem ,:]e c\nsel is exclud$
 f a proce$+1 ! c\rt %all h discretion  
to appo9t a gu>dian ad litem to repres5t
 ! abs5t litigant's int]e/s1 draw+1 9   
consultation ) ! exclud$ nongov]nm5tal  

p>ty1 f a previ\sly g5]at$ li/ (        
attorneys :o h be5 grant$ requir$       
security cle>ances 9 ! pa/ & h agre$ to 
s]ve 9 ?is capacity4 ,! gu>dian ad litem
 %all n discuss ! in=mation claim$ z    
privileg$ or its cont5t ) any           
nongov]nm5tal p>ty or nongov]nm5tal     
p>ty's c\nsel4  7e7 ,production (       
adequate sub/itute p5d+ resolution ( !  
claim ( privilege ,if1 at any po9t dur+ 
its consid]ation ( ! ,gov]nm5t's claim1 
! c\rt det]m9es t disclosure ( in=mation
 to a p>ty or c\nsel1 or disclosure (   
in=mation by a p>ty t already possesses 
x1 pres5ts a risk ( a h>m describ$ 9    
subsection 7a7 t _c be address$ ?r\gh   
less re/rictive means provid$ 9 ?is     
subsection1 ! c\rt may require !        
,gov]nm5t to produce an adequate        
sub/itute1 su* z a r$act$ v]sion1 summ>y
 ( ! in=mation1 or /ipulation reg>d+ !  
relevant facts1 if ! c\rt deems su* a   
sub/itute feasible4 ,! sub/itute mu/ be 
review$ & approv$ by ! c\rt & mu/       
provide c\nsel ) a sub/antially         

equival5t opportunity to assess &       
*all5ge ! ,gov]nm5t's claim ( privilege 
z w\ld ! protect$ in=mation4  #d4       
,ass]tion ( ! privilege  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!
 ,gov]nm5t may ass]t ! privilege 9      
connection ) any claim 9 a civil action 
to :i* x is a p>ty or may int]v5e 9 a   
civil action to :i* x is n a p>ty to d  
s4  7b7 ,support+ affidavits ,if !      
,gov]nm5t ass]ts ! privilege1 !         
,gov]nm5t %all provide ! c\rt ) an      
affidavit sign$ by ! head ( ! executive 
bran* ag5cy ) responsibility =1 &       
control ov]1 ! in=mation ass]t$ to be   
subject to ! privilege4 ,9 ! affidavit1 
! head ( ! ag5cy %all expla9 ! factual  
basis = ! claim ( privilege4 ,!         
,gov]nm5t %all make public an           
unclassifi$ v]sion ( ! affidavit4  #e4  
,prelim9>y proce$+s  7a7 ,prelim9>y     
review by c\rt ,once ! ,gov]nm5t has    
ass]t$ ! privilege1 & be=e ! c\rt makes 
any det]m9ations "u section #f1 ! c\rt  
%all und]take a prelim9>y review ( !    
in=mation ! ,gov]nm5t ass]ts is protect$

 by ! privilege & provide ! ,gov]nm5t an
 opportunity to seek protective measures
 "u ?is ,act4 ,aft] any initial         
protective measures are 9 place1 ! c\rt 
%all proce$ to ! consid]ation (         
additional prelim9>y matt]s "u ?is      
section4  7b7 ,consid]ation ( :e!r ,to  
appo9t special ma/] or exp]t witness ,! 
c\rt %all consid] :e!r ! appo9tm5t ( a  
special ma/] ) appropriate exp]tise or  
an exp]t witness1 or bo?1 w\ld          
facilitate ! c\rt's duties "u ?is ,act4 
7c7 ,index ( mat]ials ,! c\rt may ord] !
 ,gov]nm5t to provide a manageable index
 ( ! in=mation t ! ,gov]nm5t ass]ts is  
subject to ! privilege4 ,! index mu/    
correlate /atem5ts made 9 ! affidavit   
requir$ "u ?is ,act ) portions ( !      
in=mation ! ,gov]nm5t ass]ts is subject 
to ! privilege4 ,! index %all be        
specific en\gh to af=d ! c\rt an        
adequate f\ndation to review ! basis ( !
 ass]tion ( ! privilege by ! ,gov]nm5t4 
7d7 ,prehe>+ conf]5ces ,aft] ! prelim9>y
 review1 ! c\rt %all hold "o or m       

conf]5ces ) ! p>ties to-- 7#a7 det]m9e  
any /eps ne$$ to protect s5sitive       
in=mation2  7#b7 def9e ! issues pres5t$ 
by ! ,gov]nm5t's claim ( privilege1     
includ+ :e!r x is possible to all[ !    
p>ties to complete nonprivileg$ discov]y
 be=e det]m9+ :e!r ! claim ( privilege  
is valid2  7#c7 ord] disclosure to !    
c\rt ( any?+ ne$$ to assess ! claim1    
includ+ all in=mation ! ,gov]nm5t ass]ts
 is protect$ by ! privilege & o!r       
mat]ial relat$ to ! ,gov]nm5t's claim2  
7#d7 resolve any disputes reg>d+        
p>ticipation ( c\nsel or p>ties 9       
proce$+s relat+ to ! claim1 includ+     
access to ! ,gov]nm5t's evid5ce &       
argum5ts2  7#e7 set a s*$ule =          
completion ( discov]y relat$ to !       
,gov]nm5t's claim2 &  7#f7 take o!r /eps
 z ne$$1 su* z ord]+ c\nsel or p>ties to
 obta9 security cle>ances4  #f4         
,proc$ures & /&>d = assess+ ! privilege 
claim  7a7 ,he>+ ,! c\rt %all conduct a 
he>+ to det]m9e :e!r ! privilege claim  
is valid4  7b7 ,basis = rul+  7#a7      

,g5]ally ,! c\rt may n det]m9e t !      
privilege is valid until ! c\rt has     
review$-- 7,a7 except z provid$ 9       
p>agraph 7#b71 all ( ! in=mation t !    
,gov]nm5t ass]ts is privileg$2  7,b7 !  
affidavits1 evid5ce1 memor&a & o!r fil+s
 submitt$ by ! p>ties relat$ to !       
privilege claim2 &  7,c7 any o!r evid5ce
 t ! c\rt det]m9es x ne$s to rule on !  
privilege4  7#b7 ,sampl+ 9 c]ta9 cases  
,:]e ! volume ( in=mation ! ,gov]nm5t   
ass]ts is privileg$ precludes a timely  
review1 or ! c\rt o!rwise det]m9es a    
review ( all ( t in=mation is n         
feasible1 ! c\rt may sub/itute a        
suffici5t sampl+ ( ! in=mation if ! c\rt
 det]m9es t !re is no reasonable        
possibility t review ( ! additional     
in=mation w\ld *ange ! c\rt's           
det]m9ation on ! privilege claim & !    
in=mation review$ is suffici5t to enable
 ! c\rt to make ! indep5d5t assessm5t   
requir$ by ?is section4  7c7 ,/&>d ,9   
rul+ on ! validity ( ! privilege1 ! c\rt
 %all make an indep5d5t assessm5t ( :e!r

 ! h>m id5tifi$ by ! ,gov]nm5t1 z       
requir$ by section #b1 is reasonably    
likely to occur %\ld ! privilege n be   
upheld4 ,! c\rt %all weigh te/imony f   
,gov]nm5t exp]ts 9 ! same mann] z x     
does1 & along )1 any o!r exp]t te/imony4
  7d7 ,burd5 ( pro( ,! ,gov]nm5t %all h 
! burd5 ( pro( z to ! nature ( ! h>m & z
 to ! likelihood ( its occurr5ce4  #g4  
,effect ( c\rt det]m9ation  7a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,if ! c\rt det]m9es t ! privilege is n 
validly ass]t$1 ! c\rt %all issue       
appropriate ord]s reg>d+ ! disclosure ( 
! in=mation to a nongov]nm5tal p>ty &   
its admission at trial1 subject to ! o!r
 rules ( evid5ce1 ) ! "r to int]locutory
 appeal z provid$ 9 section #h = any su*
 ord]s4 ,if ! c\rt det]m9es t !         
privilege is validly ass]t$1 t in=mation
 %all n be disclos$ to a nongov]nm5tal  
p>ty or ! public4  7b7 ,nonprivileg$    
sub/itute  7#a7 ,c\rt consid]ation (    
sub/itute ,if ! c\rt f9ds t ! privilege 
is validly ass]t$ & x is possible to    
craft a nonprivileg$ sub/itute1 su* z ^?

 describ$ 9 section #c7;e71 = !         
privileg$ in=mation t w\ld provide !    
p>ties a sub/antially equival5t         
opportunity to litigate ! case1 ! c\rt  
%all ord] ! ,gov]nm5t to produce !      
sub/itute to ! satisfaction ( ! c\rt4   
7#b7 ,refusal to provide ,9 a civil     
action br\ght aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t1 if !   
c\rt ord]s ! ,gov]nm5t to provide a     
nonprivileg$ sub/itute = in=mation & !  
,gov]nm5t fails to comply1 9 addition to
 any o!r appropriate sanctions1 ! c\rt  
%all f9d aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t on ! factual 
or legal issue to :i* ! privileg$       
in=mation is relevant4 ,if ! action is n
 br\ght aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t1 ! c\rt %all  
weigh ! equities & make appropriate     
ord]s z provid$ 9 subsection 7d74  7c7  
,opportunity ,to complete discov]y ,!   
c\rt %all n resolve any issue or claim &
 %all n grant a motion to dismiss or    
motion = summ>y judgm5t bas$ on ! /ate  
secrets privilege & adv]sely to any p>ty
 aga9/ :om ! ,gov]nm5t's privilege claim
 has be5 upheld until t p>ty has _h a   

full opportunity to complete            
nonprivileg$ discov]y & to litigate !   
issue or claim to :i* ! privileg$       
in=mation is relevant )\t reg>d to t    
privileg$ in=mation4  7d7 ,appropriate  
ord]s 9 ! int]e/ ( ju/ice ,aft] review+ 
all available evid5ce1 & only aft]      
det]m9+ t privileg$ in=mation1 = :i* x  
is impossible to create a nonprivileg$  
sub/itute1 is necess>y to decide a      
factual or legal issue or claim1 ! c\rt 
%all weigh ! equities & make appropriate
 ord]s 9 ! int]e/ ( ju/ice1 su* z /rik+ 
! te/imony ( a witness1 f9d+ 9 favor (  
or aga9/ a p>ty on a factual or legal   
issue to :i* ! in=mation is relevant1 or
 dismiss+ a claim or c\nt]claim4 ,?is   
p>agraph does n p]mit an aw>d ( money   
damages aga9/ a p>ty bas$ 9 :ole or 9 "p
 on privileg$ in=mation t 0 n disclos$  
to t p>ty4  #h4 ,int]locutory appeal    
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! c\rts ( appeal %all h   
jurisdiction ( an appeal f a decision or
 ord] ( a di/rict c\rt det]m9+ t ! /ate 
secrets privilege is n validly ass]t$1  

sanction+ a refusal to provide an       
adequate or nonprivileg$ sub/itute      
requir$ "u ?is ,act1 or refus+          
protective /eps s\ght by ! ,gov]nm5t "u 
?is ,act p5d+ ! resolution ( ! claim (  
/ate secrets privilege4  7b7 ,appeal    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,an appeal tak5 "u ?is    
section ei!r be=e or dur+ trial %all be 
exp$it$ by ! c\rt ( appeals4  7#b7 ,dur+
 trial ,if an appeal is tak5 dur+ trial1
 ! di/rict c\rt %all adj\rn ! trial     
until ! appeal is resolv$ & ! c\rt (    
appeals-- 7,a7 %all he> argum5t on      
appeal z exp$iti\sly z possible aft]    
adj\rnm5t ( ! trial by ! di/rict c\rt2  
7,b7 may disp5se ) writt5 briefs o!r ?an
 ! support+ mat]ials previ\sly submitt$ 
to ! trial c\rt2  7,c7 %all r5d] its    
decision z exp$iti\sly z possible aft]  
argum5t on appeal2 &  7,d7 may disp5se )
 ! issuance ( a writt5 op9ion 9 r5d]+   
its decision4  #i4 ,report+  7a7 ,9     
g5]al ,consi/5t ) applicable au?orities 
& duties1 includ+ ^? conf]r$ by !       
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ^u !     

executive & legislative bran*es1 !      
,attorney ,g5]al %all report 9 writ+ to 
! ,p]man5t ,select ,committee on        
,intellig5ce ( ! ,h\se (                
,repres5tatives1 ! ,select ,committee on
 ,intellig5ce ( ! ,s5ate1 & ! *airm5 &  
rank+ m9ority memb]s ( ! ,committees on 
! ,judici>y ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives 
& ,s5ate on any case 9 :i* ! ,gov]nm5t  
invokes a /ate secrets privilege1 n lat]
 ?an #cj cal5d> days aft] ! date ( su*  
ass]tion4 ,ea* report submitt$ "u ?is   
subsection %all include all affidavits  
fil$ "u ?is ,act by ! ,gov]nm5t4  7b7   
,op]ation & effectiv5ess  7#a7 ,9 g5]al 
,! ,attorney ,g5]al %all deliv] to !    
committees ( ,congress describ$ 9       
subsection 7a7 a report conc]n+ !       
op]ation & effectiv5ess ( ?is ,act &    
includ+ sugge/$ am5dm5ts to ! ,act4     
7#b7 ,deadl9e ,! ,attorney ,g5]al %all  
submit ?is report n lat] ?an #a ye> aft]
 ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & e ye>  
!reaft] until ! date t is #c ye>s aft] t
 date ( enactm5t4 ,aft] ! date t is #c  

ye>s aft] t date ( enactm5t1 ! ,attorney
 ,g5]al %all submit a report "u p>agraph
 7#a7 z necess>y4  #aj4 ,rule (         
con/ruction ,?is ,act provides ! only   
privilege t may be ass]t$ 9 civil cases 
bas$ on /ate secrets & ! /&>ds &        
proc$ures set =? 9 ?is ,act apply to any
 ass]tion ( ! privilege4  #aa4          
,application ,?is ,act applies to claims
 p5d+ on or aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act4 ,a c\rt also may relieve a p>ty  
or its legal repres5tative f a f9al     
judgm5t1 ord]1 or proce$+ t 0 bas$1 9   
:ole or 9 "p1 on ! /ate secrets         
privilege if-- 7#a7 ! motion = relief is
 fil$ ) ! r5d]+ c\rt )9 "o ye> ( ! date 
( enactm5t ( ?is ,act2  7#b7 ! und]ly+  
judgm5t1 ord]1 or proce$+ f :i* ! p>ty  
seeks relief 0 ent]$ aft] ,janu>y #a1   
#bjjb2 &  7#c7 ! claim on :i* !         
judgem5t1 ord]1 or proce$+ is bas$ is-- 
7,a7 aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t2 or  7,b7 arises 
out ( conduct by p]sons act+ 9 !        
capacity ( a ,gov]nm5t (fic]1 employee1 
or ag5t4