s 93 48160 1197608400 false 1199077200 14 2488 5413 110 300065

12/31/2007--Public Law. (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.) 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 revise requirements for federal agency disclosures of information requested under that Act. (Sec. 3) Provides definitions of &quot;representative of the news media&quot; and &quot;news&quot; for purposes of request processing fees. Regards a freelance journalist as working for a news-media entity if the journalist can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that entity. (Sec. 4) Provides that, for purposes of awarding attorney fees and litigation costs, a FOIA complainant has substantially prevailed in a legal proceeding to compel disclosure if such complainant obtained relief through either: (1) a judicial order or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or (2) a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the agency if the complainant's claim is not insubstantial. Prohibits the Treasury's Claims and Judgment Fund from being used to pay reasonable attorney fees in cases where the complainant has substantially prevailed. Requires fees to be paid only from funds annually appropriated for authorized purposes for the federal agency against which a claim or judgment has been rendered.<br/>(Sec. 5) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) notify the Special Counsel of civil actions taken for arbitrary and capricious rejections of requests for agency records; and (2) submit annual reports to Congress on such civil actions. Directs the Special Counsel to submit an annual report on investigations of agency rejections of FOIA requests. (Sec. 6) Requires the 20-day period during which an agency must determine whether to comply with a FOIA request to begin on the date the request is received by the appropriate component of the agency, but no later than 10 days after the request is received by any component that is designated to receive FOIA requests in the agency's FOIA regulations. Prohibits the tolling of the 20-day period by the agency, except: (1) that the agency may make one request to the requester for information and toll the 20-day period while it is awaiting such information; or (2) if necessary to clarify with the requester issues regarding fee assessment. Ends the tolling period on the agency's receipt of the requester's response. Prohibits an agency from assessing search or duplication fees if it fails to comply with time limits, provided that no unusual or exceptional circumstances apply to the processing of the request. Requires each agency to make available its FOIA Public Liaison, who shall assist in the resolution of any disputes between the requester and the agency.<br/>(Sec. 7) Requires agencies to establish: (1) a system to assign an individualized tracking number for each FOIA request received that will take longer than 10 days to process; and (2) a telephone line or Internet service that provides information on the status of a request. (Sec. 8) Revises annual reporting requirements on agency compliance with FOIA to require information on: (1) FOIA denials based upon particular statutes; (2) response times; and (3) compliance by the agency and by each principal component thereof. Requires agencies to make the raw statistical data used in reports electronically available to the public upon request. (Sec. 9) Redefines &quot;record&quot; under FOIA to include any information maintained by an agency contractor. (Sec. 10) Establishes within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) an Office of Government Information Services to: (1) review compliance with FOIA policies; (2) recommend policy changes to Congress and the President; and (3) offer mediation services between FOIA requesters and administrative agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation. Authorizes the Office to issue advisory opinions if mediation has not resolved the dispute. Requires each agency to designate a Chief FOIA Officer, who shall: (1) have responsibility for FOIA compliance; (2) monitor FOIA implementation; (3) recommend to the agency head adjustments to agency practices, policies, personnel, and funding to improve implementation of FOIA; and (4) facilitate public understanding of the purposes of FOIA's statutory exemptions. Requires agencies to designate at least one FOIA Public Liaison, who shall be appointed by the Chief FOIA Officer, to: (1) serve as an official to whom a FOIA requester can raise concerns about service from the FOIA Requester Center; and (2) be responsible for assisting in reducing delays, increasing transparency and understanding of the status of requests, and assisting in the resolution of disputes.<br/>(Sec. 11) Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report to Congress on personnel policies related to FOIA. (Sec. 12) Sets forth requirements to describe exemptions authorizing deletions of material provided under FOIA.<br/>

1199077200 2007-12-31 Fri Nov 07 17:28:02 -0600 2008 introduced 48160 'act':3 '2007':5 'open':1 'govern':2 55750 true short passed senate 48160 'act':3 '2007':5 'open':1 'govern':2 55752 false short passed house 48160 'act':8 '2007':10 'open':1 'effect':3 'govern':7 'nation':6 'promot':2 56036 false short enacted 48160 'act':3 '2007':5 'open':1 'govern':2 56826 false short passed senate 48160 'act':8 '2007':10 'open':1 'effect':3 'govern':7 'nation':6 'promot':2 55753 false short enacted 48160 'act':8 '2007':10 'open':1 'effect':3 'govern':7 'nation':6 'promot':2 56827 false short introduced 48160 '5':17 '552':14 'act':29 'bill':2 'code':20 'open':8 'titl':16 'unit':18 'refer':22 'state':19 'access':5 'common':21 'govern':10 'inform':28 'promot':4 'purpos':33 'account':6 'freedom':26 'section':13 'strengthen':12 55754 false official passed house 48160 'act':3 '2007':5 'open':1 'govern':2 56035 false short introduced 48160 'act':8 '2007':10 'open':1 'effect':3 'govern':7 'nation':6 'promot':2 55751 false short signed 48160 1199077200 Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0600 2007 141716 Signed by President. L000174 1940-03-31 14079 433 Russell Senate Office Building http://leahy.senate.gov/contact.cfm 202-224-3479 Patrick 'd':4 'vt':5 'sen':1 'leahi':3,7,9 'patrick':2,6,8 M 300065 Leahy Patrick_Leahy J. Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT] 7168 N00009918 11680 Democrat 202-224-4242 Roman Catholic VT Patrick Leahy 3.45238095238095 http://leahy.senate.gov/ SenatorPatrickLeahy A000360 1940-07-03 8382 455 Dirksen Senate Office Building http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home 202-228-3398 Lamar 'r':4 'tn':5 'sen':1 'lamar':2,6,8 'alexand':3,7,9 M 300002 Alexander Lamar_Alexander Sen. Lamar Alexander [R, TN] 5083 N00009888 13883 Republican 202-224-4944 Presbyterian TN Lamar Alexander 2.83333333333333 http://alexander.senate.gov/public/ lamaralexander B000711 1940-11-11 16505 112 Hart Senate Office Building http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm 202-224-0454 Barbara 'd':4 'ca':5 'sen':1 'boxer':3,7,9 'barbara':2,6,8 F 300011 Boxer Barbara_Boxer Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA] 7972 N00006692 34620 Democrat 202-224-3553 Jewish CA Barbara Boxer 2.30322580645161 http://boxer.senate.gov SenatorBoxer B000944 1952-11-09 9044 713 Hart Senate Office Building http://brown.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-6321 Sherrod 'd':4 'oh':5 'sen':1 'brown':3,7,9 'sherrod':2,6,8 M 400050 Brown Sherrod_Brown Sen. Sherrod Brown [D, OH] 5679 N00003535 16152 Democrat 202-224-2315 Lutheran OH Sherrod Brown 3.43373493975904 http://brown.senate.gov/ SherrodBrownOhio C000141 1943-10-05 3676 509 Hart Senate Office Building http://cardin.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm 202-224-1651 Benjamin 'd':4 'md':5 'sen':1 'cardin':3,7,9 'benjamin':2,6,8 M 400064 Cardin Benjamin_L._Cardin L. Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D, MD] 1711 N00001955 11380 Democrat 202-224-4524 Jewish MD Ben Benjamin Cardin 2.62790697674419 http://cardin.senate.gov/ SenatorCardin C000560 1948-03-14 4953 172 Russell Senate Office Building http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorCoburn.Home 202-224-6008 Thomas 'r':4 'ok':5 'sen':1 'thoma':2,6,8 'coburn':3,7,9 M 400576 Coburn Tom_Coburn A. Sen. Thomas Coburn [R, OK] 2386 N00005601 14778 Republican 202-224-5754 OK Tom Thomas Coburn 4.59259259259259 http://coburn.senate.gov/public/ SenatorCoburn C001056 1952-02-02 15655 517 Hart Senate Office Building http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm 202-228-2856 John 'r':4 'tx':5 'sen':1 'john':2,6,8 'cornyn':3,7,9 M 300027 Cornyn John_Cornyn Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX] 7173 N00024852 36381 Republican 202-224-2934 Church of Christ TX John Cornyn 4.20689655172414 http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/ senjohncornyn D000563 1944-11-21 10035 309 Hart Senate Office Building http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm 202-228-0400 Richard 'd':4 'il':5 'sen':1 'durbin':3,7,9 'richard':2,6,8 M 300038 Durbin Richard_Durbin J. Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL] 5122 N00004981 20309 Democrat 202-224-2152 Roman Catholic IL Dick Richard Durbin 3.60810810810811 http://durbin.senate.gov F000061 1953-03-02 3909 506 Hart Senate Office Building http://feingold.senate.gov/contact_opinion.html 202-224-2725 Russell 'd':4 'wi':5 'sen':1 'russel':2,6,8 'feingold':3,7,9 M 300042 Feingold Russell_Feingold D. Sen. Russell Feingold [D, WI] 1471 N00000036 16373 Democrat 202-224-5323 Jewish WI Russell Feingold 5.38686131386861 http://feingold.senate.gov SenRussFeingold I000055 1944-12-28 3134 120 Russell Senate Office Building http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm 202-228-0724 John 'r':4 'ga':5 'sen':1 'john':2,6,9 'johnni':8 'isakson':3,7,10 M 400194 Isakson Johnny_Isakson H. Sen. John Isakson [R, GA] 1485 Johnny N00002593 11821 Republican 202-224-3643 Methodist GA Johnny John Isakson 4.29787234042553 http://isakson.senate.gov K000148 1943-12-11 28460 218 Russell Senate Office Building http://kerry.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm 202-224-8525 John 'd':4 'ma':5 'sen':1 'john':2,6,8 'kerri':3,7,9 M 300060 Kerry John_Kerry Forbes Sen. John Kerry [D, MA] 13053 N00000245 17544 Democrat 202-224-2742 Roman Catholic MA John Kerry 2.17142857142857 http://kerry.senate.gov/ K000352 1942-04-25 10330 730 Hart Senate Office Building http://kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm 202-224-2207 Jon 'r':4 'az':5 'jon':2,6,8 'kyl':3,7,9 'sen':1 M 300062 Kyl Jon_Kyl Sen. Jon Kyl [R, AZ] 5381 N00006406 13563 Republican 202-224-4521 Presbyterian AZ Jon Kyl 3.296875 http://kyl.senate.gov/ SenJonKyl L000550 1955-11-23 10305 328 Hart Senate Office Building http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm 202-224-9735 Mary 'd':4 'la':5 'sen':1 'mari':2,6,8 'landrieu':3,7,9 F 300063 Landrieu Mary_Landrieu L. Sen. Mary Landrieu [D, LA] 5412 N00005395 13985 Democrat 202-224-5824 Roman Catholic LA Mary Landrieu 1.86075949367089 http://landrieu.senate.gov/ M001170 1953-07-24 10450 717 Hart Senate Office Building http://mccaskill.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-6326 Claire 'd':4 'mo':5 'sen':1 'clair':2,6,8 'mccaskil':3,7,9 F 412243 McCaskill Claire_McCaskill Sen. Claire McCaskill [D, MO] 4855 N00027694 13691 Democrat 202-224-6154 MO Claire McCaskill 3.29333333333333 http://mccaskill.senate.gov/ O000167 1961-08-04 28998 Barack 'obama':2,4,6 'barack':1,3,5 M 400629 Obama Barack_Obama Barack Obama 8812 N00009638 56857 Democrat United Church of Christ Barack Obama 3.69512195121951 S000033 1941-09-08 5243 332 Dirksen Senate Office Building http://sanders.senate.gov/contact/ 202-228-0776 Bernard 'vt':5 'sen':1 'berni':8 'sander':3,7,10 'bernard':2,6,9 M 400357 Sanders Bernard_Sanders Sen. Bernard Sanders [I, VT] 2295 Bernie N00000528 12033 Independent 202-224-5141 Jewish VT Bernie Bernard Sanders 6.44736842105263 http://sanders.senate.gov/ SenatorSanders S001142 1952-05-25 5160 Gordon 'smith':2,4,6 'gordon':1,3,5 M 300090 Smith Gordon_Smith Harold Gordon Smith 1881 N00007815 7824 Republican Latter Day Saints Gordon Smith 3.71428571428571 S000709 1930-02-12 15400 711 Hart Senate Office Building http://specter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm 202-228-1229 Arlen 'd':4 'pa':5 'sen':1 'arlen':2,6,8 'specter':3,7,9 M 300092 Specter Arlen_Specter Sen. Arlen Specter [D, PA] 6612 N00001604 22093 Democrat 202-224-4254 Jewish PA Arlen Specter 1.81168831168831 http://specter.senate.gov/public/ enacted 48160 1199077200 Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0600 2007 141735 Became Public Law No: 110-175. signed 48160 1199077200 Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0600 2007 141716 Signed by President. topresident 48160 1198213200 Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 -0600 2007 141685 Presented to President. topresident 48160 1198040400 Wed Dec 19 00:00:00 -0600 2007 141209 Presented to President. vote 48160 1198012680 Tue Dec 18 17:18:00 -0600 2007 by voice vote 140793 pass On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. vote2 h action 48160 1198011780 Tue Dec 18 17:03:00 -0600 2007 140791 Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. action 48160 1198011780 Tue Dec 18 17:03:00 -0600 2007 140792 Considered under suspension of the rules. action 48160 1198011780 Tue Dec 18 17:03:00 -0600 2007 156019 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2488. topresident 48160 1197954000 Tue Dec 18 00:00:00 -0600 2007 141208 Cleared for White House. action 48160 1197916140 Mon Dec 17 14:29:00 -0600 2007 140641 Received in the House. action 48160 1197867600 Mon Dec 17 00:00:00 -0600 2007 140642 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. action 48160 1197608400 Fri Dec 14 00:00:00 -0600 2007 140640 Message on Senate action sent to the House. vote 48160 1197608400 Fri Dec 14 00:00:00 -0600 2007 by Unanimous Consent 140639 pass Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. vote s introduced 48160 1197608400 Fri Dec 14 00:00:00 -0600 2007 140638