House Members Denied Classified Continuity Information

July 27, 2007 -- Today, Committee on Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight Chairman Christopher P. Carney (D-PA), and Homeland Security Committee member Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Frances Townsend, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism regarding the rejection of a request by the Committee to allow Congressman DeFazio to view classified portions related to federal emergency continuity plans in the “Homeland Security Presidential Directive-20”.

According to the letter, "Initially, White House staff agreed to provide the Committee with a copy of this important document for Mr. DeFazio's review. However, on July 18, 2007, White House staff informed the Committee that the request had been reconsidered and rejected. In fact the Committee staff was told the document is 'close hold,' and 'frankly we are not willing to share it'."

The letter requests the classified annexes by August 2, or if it is determined that the documents will not be provided, a written response explaining the rational for that decision is requested under House rules by August 3.