Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007

To promote openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes.

3/5/2007--Introduced.
Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 or the OPEN Government Act of 2007 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to prohibit a federal agency from denying a requester status as a news media representative for purposes of determining FOIA request processing fees solely on the absence of institutional association. Requires an agency to consider the requester's prior publication history or stated intent to distribute information to a reasonably broad audience. Provides that, for purposes of recovery of attorney fees and other litigation costs under FOIA, a complainant has substantially prevailed if the complainant has obtained relief through either:
(1) a judicial order, an administrative action, or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or
(2) a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party in a case in which the complainant's claim or defense was not frivolous. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Special Counsel of and report to Congress on civil actions taken for arbitrary and capricious rejections of requests for agency records. Prohibits the tolling of the time limit within which agencies determine whether to comply with a request for records without the consent of the party filing the request. Requires agencies to establish systems to track requests. Adds requirements for reports by agencies to the Attorney General on such requests. Establishes the Office of Government Information Services in the National Archives to:
(1) provide, as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation, guidance to FOIA requesters;
(2) review policies and procedures by administrative agencies under FOIA; and
(3) recommend to Congress and the President policy changes to improve FOIA's administration. Requires the:
(1) Comptroller General to annually report on implementation of provisions for the protection of voluntarily shared critical infrastructure information; and
(2) Office of Personnel Management to report on personnel policies related to FOIA.


... morehide bill summarySee Full Bill Text

Sponsor

• Rep. Lamar Smith [R, TX-21]

Committees

• House Oversight and Government Reform
• 1 more
  • House Oversight and Government Reform
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Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.1326

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
March 05, 2007

Show All Actions (5 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Mar 27, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives.
• Mar 05, 2007: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• Mar 05, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E460)
• Introduced on Mar 05, 2007.
• Mar 05, 2007: Introductory remarks on measure. (CR E460)

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Related Bills:

• H.R.1309
• S.849
• S.2427
• S.2488

Related Issue Areas:

• Government information
• Actions and defenses
• Administrative fees
• Administrative procedure
• 50 more
• Administrative remedies
• Budgets
• Business
• Business records
• Civil liberties
• Communications
• Congress
• Congressional investigations
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Consent decrees
• Counterterrorism
• Data banks
• Disciplining of employees
• Electronic government information
• Employee training
• Executive departments
• Executive reorganization
• Federal employees
• Federal officials
• Freedom of information
• Government contractors
• Government employees
• Government paperwork
• Government publicity
• Government statistics
• Governmental investigations
• Identification devices
• Infrastructure
• Infrastructure (Economics)
• Internet
• Job training
• Judicial review
• Law
• Legal fees
• Legislation
• Mass media
• National Archives and Records Administration
• Performance measurement
• Personnel management
• Position classification
• Promotions
• Public contracts
• Public records
• Salaries
• Technology
• Telecommunication
• Telephone
• Terrorism
• User charges
• Web sites

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

March 04, 2007 HR 1326, To promote openness in Government by strengthening ...

HR 1326 would promote openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act)....

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