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Congress·In Committee·about 1 month ago

Congress Proposes Releasing Secret FBI Records on Civil Rights Era Surveillance

Also known as: COINTELPRO Full Disclosure Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(1)
Federal Employee
Neutral

Creates a new Review Board with staff positions, and renames FBI headquarters, but also requires agencies to produce and disclose records.

State Impacts

District of ColumbiaDC
Mixed

The J. Edgar Hoover Building in DC would be renamed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Building.

Key Points

  • This bill, introduced by Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, would require the government to release all secret records from a 1950s-era FBI program called COINTELPRO. This program was used to illegally spy on, discredit, and disrupt American political groups, civil rights leaders, and advocacy organizations.
  • Most of these documents would be made public within six months. A new collection would be created at the National Archives so anyone can look at them, and the government would be required to digitize these files and put them online so they are easy for the public to search.
  • A new independent board of five experts, including historians and lawyers, would be formed to oversee the release of these records. This board would have the power to order the production of documents and hold hearings to make sure government agencies are not hiding information without a very good reason.
  • While the goal is total transparency, some information could stay secret if it would put someone's life in danger or significantly hurt national security. However, the bill requires that almost everything be fully released within 25 years, and it requires the government to notify victims or their families before their files are made public.
  • The bill would also change the name of the FBI's headquarters in Washington, D.C. It would no longer be named after J. Edgar Hoover, the director who started the surveillance program, and would instead be renamed the 'Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Building.'
Civil RightsCriminal Justice

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 22, 2026House

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

4 articles
The Hill·about 1 month ago

Task force holds hearing on declassification of Martin Luther King Jr. records

Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets Chairwoman Anna Paulina Luna opened a hearing focused on the release of federal records related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., where Rep. Summer Lee announced the introduction of the COINTELPRO Full Disclosure Act.

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JFK Facts·about 1 month ago

House Task Force Breaks New Ground on MLK Assassination Records

Rep. Summer Lee (D-Penn.) announced the introduction of the COINTELPRO Full Disclosure Act during a hearing on MLK records. The bill would require the public disclosure of all COINTELPRO records and establish a review board to ensure agencies comply with transparency mandates.

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Targeted News Service·25 days ago

ACLU Testifies on Need for Accountability in Government Surveillance Records

Kia Hamadanchy of the ACLU testified before the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, highlighting the 'darkest abuses' of COINTELPRO and supporting legislative efforts to ensure the full truth of government surveillance is part of the national record.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

To require the public disclosure of COINTELPRO records, to establish a COINTELPRO Records Collection, and to establish the COINTELPRO Records Review Board, and for other purposes.

Bill NumberHR 7220
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
D: 2

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.