FOIA

October 13, 2009 -- Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter issued the following statement, after learning the House-Senate Conference Committee of the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill had added a provision exempting controversial detainee abuse photos from FOIA laws.

Last June, Rep. Slaughter led the effort to stop the White House and some members of Congress from passing a law that would make any detainee photos taken in recent years “exempt” from the Freedom of Information Act. But the measure had support in the Senate and was added in conference this week.

“I’m disappointed that this anti-Democratic provision would be added to the conference report late in the process, even after the House flatly rejected it,” Slaughter said.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- September 30, 2009 – On Wednesday, open government advocates from more than 40 organizations, including the Vermont Press Association and the Vermont Coalition for Open Government, presented Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy with a certificate of appreciation for his work to advance open and transparent government.

The certificate, which was presented before the start of an oversight hearing on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), recognized Leahy “for his work on behalf of open and transparent government through his modernization, defense, and oversight of the Freedom of Information Act.” (See below for photo information.)    » read more »

Sierra Club and allies requested disclosure via FOIA on June 19

June 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released information regarding the locations of 44 "high hazard potential" coal combustion waste facilities (or coal ash impoundments), previously kept a secret from the public. On June 19, 2009, Sierra Club and its allies filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to force EPA to make these sites known to the public.

Coal ash impoundments were placed on the list based on the potential for harm to surrounding communities in the event of an accident, but at the request of the Department of Homeland Security and the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA previously refused to release the information.    » read more »

March 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder issued comprehensive new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) guidelines today that direct all executive branch departments and agencies to apply a presumption of openness when administering the FOIA. The new guidelines, announced in a memo to heads of executive departments and agencies, build on the principles announced by President Obama on his first full day in office when he issued a presidential memorandum on the FOIA that called on agencies to "usher in a new era of open government."    » read more »

Move Would Run Afoul Of Newly Enacted OPEN Government Act

WASHINGTON (Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008) – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) says funds for the Office of Government Information Services authorized under the newly enacted OPEN Government Act will be shifted to the Department of Justice, according to White House aides.    » read more »

House Passes OPEN Government Bill, Sending Long-Awaited FOIA Reforms To White House

WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007) – Legislation to implement the first reforms to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in more than a decade will head to the President’s desk for signature after the House of Representatives today passed important legislation to increase government transparency and bring more openness to the federal government.    » read more »

Leahy, Cornyn, Kyl Call On House To Swiftly Pass FOIA Reform Legislation

WASHINGTON -- Dec. 14, 2007 – The Senate Friday unanimously passed revised legislation to improve and strengthen the Freedom of Information Act – the law that protects the public’s right to know what their government is doing. The Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National (OPEN) Government Act was reintroduced by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and passed by the Senate.    » read more »

Urge Senate And House To Swiftly Pass FOIA Improvement Bill To Increase Government Transparency

WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007) – Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) Tuesday introduced bipartisan, revised legislation to increase government transparency and provide the first major reforms to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in more than a decade.    » read more »

November 19, 2007 -- "This step is well merited and profoundly positive -- reflecting my office's continued battle in the courts and elsewhere to compel greater accountability and necessary disclosure by these organizations. Their failure to comply with moral and legal obligations -- which I have sought to enforce in court -- is a sound reason for terminating their contracts.

"I am hopeful that this step will lead to more effective and transparent healthcare coverage for citizens who depend on it.    » read more »

September 10, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of making telephone calls and sending letters to 27,667 Wisconsin applicants for disaster assistance. The calls and letters are to inform them that a recent court order has directed the agency to send the addresses of their disaster-damaged homes to certain newspapers in Florida that sued FEMA to get the information.    » read more »

Aug. 6, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Legislation passed just before Congress left town for its August recess makes long-overdue changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that will speed agency responses to records requests and help open the government to average citizens, Public Citizen said today.

The Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act (S. 849), known as the OPEN Government Act, passed the Senate by unanimous consent on Friday night. Similar legislation passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly in March.    » read more »

Aug. 1, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public Citizen today sent a letter to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) urging the senator to allow a key open government measure to proceed. Kyl has blocked the bill for months.    » read more »

August 3, 2007 -- Mr. LEAHY: Mr. President, I am pleased that the Senate has passed the Leahy-Cornyn Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act” (the “OPEN Government Act”), S.849, before adjourning for the August recess. This important Freedom of Information Act legislation will strengthen and reinvigorate FOIA for all Americans.    » read more »

Bipartisan OPEN Government Bill Could Clear Senate Before August Recess

In remarks on the Senate Floor Friday morning, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced a breakthrough in negotiations on the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act (OPEN Government Act) authored by Leahy and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas). Leahy and Cornyn have been working with Senators over the past few months on moving the bipartisan legislation through the Senate.

Below are Senator Leahy’s remarks as well as information on the bill.    » read more »

July 3, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC - As the 41st birthday of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) approaches, a coalition of groups urged the U.S. Congress to pass a bill - currently locked behind a closed door - that would reform the FOIA and make it work better for the public. The OPEN Government Act (S. 849) would enact common-sense reforms to the FOIA and put in place incentives for federal agencies to process FOIA requests from the public in a timely manner.    » read more »