Government Secrecy Act of 1997

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Government Secrecy Act of 1997 - States that it is the purpose of this Act to promote the effective protection of classified information and the disclosure of information where there is not a well-founded basis for protection or where the costs of maintaining a secret outweigh the benefits. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the President, in accordance with this Act, to protect from unauthorized disclosure, information in the possession and control of the executive branch, when there is a demonstrable need to do so in order to protect the national security of the United States. Directs the President to ensure that the amount of information classified is the minimum necessary to protect the national security. Sets forth requirements for the establishment of standards and procedures for classifying and declassifying information. Requires each head of an agency that is responsible for the classification and declassification of information to submit to the Congress each year a report that describes the application of the classification and declassification standards and procedures of that agency during the preceding fiscal year. (Sec. 5) Directs the President to establish within an existing agency a…