{"id":6260,"date":"2007-05-24T12:00:35","date_gmt":"2007-05-24T12:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/multiracial.com\/?p=6260"},"modified":"2017-02-14T10:24:54","modified_gmt":"2017-02-14T10:24:54","slug":"congressional-record-open-government-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/2007\/05\/24\/congressional-record-open-government-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressional Record: Open Government Act"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"quiet\">Congressional Record<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Senate &#8211; May 24, 2007<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<pre>[Pages S6829-S6830]\r\nFrom the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office\r\n[<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gpo.gov\/\">www.gpo.gov<\/a>]\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n                          OPEN GOVERNMENT ACT\r\n\r\n  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am deeply disappointed that the Senate \r\nmay not consider the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National \r\nGovernment Act,'' the OPEN Government Act, S. 849, before it adjourns \r\nfor the Memorial Day recess. The Judiciary Committee favorably reported \r\nthis bipartisan bill. We have filed a committee report on this \r\nimportant legislation. Regrettably, an anonymous Republican hold is \r\nstalling this important Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, legislation, \r\nneedlessly delaying long-overdue reforms to strengthen FOIA and to \r\nprotect the public's right to know.\r\n  It is both unfortunate and ironic that this bipartisan bill, which \r\npromotes sunshine and openness in our government, is being hindered by \r\na secret and anonymous hold. This is a good government bill that \r\nDemocrats and Republicans alike, can and should work together to enact. \r\nI hope that the Senator placing the secret hold on this bill will come \r\nforward, so that we can resolve any legitimate concerns, and the full \r\nSenate can promptly act on this legislation.\r\n  The OPEN Government Act is cosponsored by 10 Senators from both sides \r\nof the aisle. This bill is also endorsed by more than 100 business, \r\npublic interest, and news organizations from across the political and \r\nideological spectrum, including, the American Library Association, \r\nConservation Congress, the Liberty Coalition, OpenTheGovernment.org, \r\nthe Sunshine in Government Initiative, the Republican Liberty Caucus \r\nand Public Citizen.\r\n  I thank all of the cosponsors of this bill and commend Senator Cornyn \r\nas our lead Republican sponsor. I also thank the many open government \r\norganizations that are working tirelessly to encourage the Congress to \r\nenact this bill this year. This measure is cleared for passage on the \r\nDemocratic side. It should be passed without further delay.\r\n  The OPEN Government Act promotes and enhances public disclosure of \r\ngovernment information under FOIA, by helping Americans to obtain \r\ntimely responses to their FOIA requests and improving transparency in \r\nthe Federal Government's FOIA process. During the recent hearing that \r\nthe Judiciary Committee held on this legislation, we learned that, \r\nalthough FOIA remains an indispensable tool in shedding light on bad \r\npolicies and government abuses, this open government law is being \r\nhampered by excessive delays and lax FOIA compliance. Today, Americans \r\nwho seek information under FOIA remain less likely to obtain it than \r\nduring any other time in FOIA's 40-year history. This bill would help \r\nto reverse this trend and to restore the public's trust in their \r\ngovernment.\r\n  Senator Cornyn and I both know that open government is not a \r\nDemocratic issue or a Republican issue. It is an American issue. It is \r\nin this spirit that I urge the removal of the anonymous hold placed on \r\nthis bill. I also urge all Members of the Senate to join me in \r\nsupporting this important open government legislation.\r\n  We have received numerous letters of support from such organizations \r\nas the American Library Association, the National Press Club, Pubic \r\nCitizen, Sunshine in Government Initiative and OpenTheGovernment.org. I \r\nask unanimous consent that a letter in support sent to the majority and \r\nRepublican leaders of the Senate and endorsed by more than 100 \r\norganizations from across the political spectrum be printed in the \r\nRecord.\r\n  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in \r\nthe Record, as follows:\r\n                                                     May 17, 2007.\r\n     Hon. Harry Reid,\r\n      Hart Senate Office Building,\r\n     Washington, DC.\r\n     Hon. Mitch McConnell\r\n     Russell Senate Office Building,\r\n     Washington, DC.\r\n       Dear Senator Reid and Senator McConnell: We write on behalf \r\n     of the undersigned group of 100 business, public interest, \r\n     and historical groups and associations to endorse the OPEN \r\n     Government Act of 2007 (S. 849), as introduced by Senator \r\n     Patrick Leahy and Senator John Cornyn.\r\n       The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the public's most \r\n     significant tool for ensuring integrity and accountability \r\n     from the federal government. Unfortunately, FOIA's promise of \r\n     ensuring an open and accountable government has been \r\n     seriously undermined by the excessive processing delays that \r\n     FOIA requesters face across the government. The OPEN \r\n     Government Act would: Close loopholes in FOIA; Help the \r\n     public get timely responses to FOIA requests; and Improve \r\n     agency accountability and require better management of FOIA \r\n     programs.\r\n       The public's confidence in the executive branch has reached \r\n     a dramatic low point. The OPEN Government Act of 2007 would \r\n     demonstrate bipartisan congressional leadership to restore \r\n     public faith in government and to advance the ideals of \r\n     openness that our democracy embodies. The Senate Judiciary \r\n     Committee has reported favorably upon the bill without any \r\n     amendments. We urge you to support this legislation and help \r\n     it move quickly to the Senate floor for a vote.\r\n           Sincerely,\r\n       Alliance for Justice\r\n       America Association of Law Libraries\r\n       American Association of Small Property Owners\r\n       American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression\r\n       American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)\r\n       American Families United\r\n       American Library Association\r\n       Animal Welfare Institute\r\n       ASPCA\r\n       Assassination Archives and Research Center\r\n       Association of American Publishers\r\n       Bill of Rights Defense Committee\r\n       Biodiversity Conservation Alliance\r\n       Blancett Ranches, Aztec, NM\r\n       Californians Aware\r\n       Californians for Western Wilderness\r\n       Center for Democracy and Technology\r\n       Center for Energy Research\r\n       Center for National Security Studies\r\n       Citizen Action New Mexico\r\n       Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)\r\n       Common Cause\r\n       Community Recovery Services\r\n       Conservation Congress\r\n       Doctors for Open Government\r\n       DownsizeDC.org, Inc.\r\n       The E-Accountability\r\n       Foundation\/Parentadvocates.org\r\n       Electronic Frontier Foundation\r\n       Environmental Defense Institute\r\n       Environmental Integrity Project\r\n       Ethics in Government Group\r\n       Fernald Residents for Environmental Safety &amp; Health, Inc.\r\n       Florida First Amendment Foundation\r\n       Forest Guardians\r\n       Friends Committee on National Legislation\r\n       Friends of Animals\r\n       Friends of the Wild Swan\r\n       Georgia ForestWatch\r\n       Georgians for Open Government\r\n       Government Accountability Project\r\n       Great Basin Mine Watch\r\n       Gun Owners of America\r\n       HALT, Inc\r\n       The Health Integrity Project\r\n       HEAL Utah\r\n       The Humane Society of the United States\r\n       Idaho Sporting Congress, Inc.\r\n       Indiana Coalition for Open Government\r\n       The James Madison Project\r\n       Law Librarian Association of Greater New York\r\n       Law Librarians Association of Wisconsin\r\n       League of Women Voters of the U.S.\r\n       Liberty Coalition\r\n       Los Alamos Study Group\r\n       Maine Association of Broadcasters\r\n       Mine Safety and Health News\r\n       The Multiracial Activist\r\n       National Coalition Against Censorship\r\n       National Freedom ofInformation Coalition\r\n       National Security Archive\r\n       National Taxpayers Union\r\n       National Treasury Employees Union\r\n       National WhistIeblower Center\r\n       Natural Resources Defense Council\r\n       The New Grady Coalition\r\n       No FEAR Coalition\r\n       Northern California Association of Law Libraries\r\n       Northwest Environmental Advocates\r\n       Nuclear Watch New Mexico\r\n       Okanogan Highlands Bottling Company\r\n       OMB Watch\r\n       Open Society Policy Center\r\n       OpenTheGovernment.org\r\n       Oregon Natural Desert Association\r\n       Oregon Peace Works\r\n       Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc.\r\n       People For the American Way\r\n       Project On Government Oversight\r\n       Public Citizen\r\n       ReadtheBill.org Education Fund\r\n       Republican Liberty Caucus\r\n       Reynolds, Motl &amp; Sherwood, PLLP\r\n\r\n[[Page S6830]]\r\n\r\n       The Rutherford Institute\r\n       Sagebrush Sea Campaign\r\n       Semmelweis Society International\r\n       Snake River Alliance\r\n       Society of American Archivists\r\n       Society of Professional Journalists\r\n       Southern California Association of Law Libraries\r\n       Southwest Research and Information Center\r\n       The Student Health Integrity Project\r\n       Tax Analysts\r\n       Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive \r\n     Environment)\r\n       Union of Concerned Scientists\r\n       VA Whistleblowers Coalition\r\n       Western Environmental Law Center\r\n       Western Lands Project Western Resource Advocates\r\n       The Wilderness Society\r\n       Wild Wilderness\r\n       Wilderness Workshop.\r\n\r\n                          ____________________<\/pre>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crec\/2007\/05\/24\/CREC-2007-05-24-pt1-PgS6829.pdf\">https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crec\/2007\/05\/24\/CREC-2007-05-24-pt1-PgS6829.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Congressional Record Senate &#8211; May 24, 2007 &nbsp; [Pages S6829-S6830] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] OPEN GOVERNMENT ACT Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am deeply disappointed that the&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legislation"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p89tuq-1CY","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Government-Congress.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6260"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6261,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6260\/revisions\/6261"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}