s 109 41980 1173758400 false 1188939540 18 849 1373 110 300065

8/3/2007--Passed Senate amended. 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, whether or not the journalist is actually employed by the 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 provided that the complainant's claim is not insubstantial. (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 the number of such civil actions in the preceding year. Directs the Special Counsel to submit an annual report to Congress 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 on which the request is first received by the appropriate component of the agency, but in any event no later than 10 days after the request is first received by any component of the agency that is designated in the agency's FOIA regulations to receive FOIA requests. 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 that it has reasonably requested from the FOIA requester; 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 to the agency's request for information or clarification. Prohibits an agency from assessing search 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. (Sec. 7) Requires agencies to establish: (1) a system to assign an individualized tracking number for FOIA requests received that will take longer than 10 days to process and provide to each person making a request the tracking number assigned to the request; and (2) a telephone line or Internet service that provides information on the status of a request. Makes this requirement effective one year after the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 8) Requires any statutory exemption from disclosure under FOIA enacted after the date of enactment of this Act to cite directly to FOIA disclosure exemption provisions. (Sec. 9) Revises annual agency reporting requirements on compliance with FOIA to require information on: (1) FOIA denials based upon particular statutes; (2) agency response times and; (3) compliance of each principal component of an agency and for the agency overall. Requires agencies to make the raw statistical data used in reports electronically available to the public upon request. (Sec. 10) Redefines &quot;record&quot; under FOIA to include any information maintained by a contractor for a federal agency. (Sec. 11) 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 compliance with the FOIA; (2) monitor FOIA implementation; (3) recommend to the head of the agency such adjustments to agency practices, policies, personnel, and funding as may be necessary to improve its implementation of the FOIA; and (4) facilitate public understanding of the purposes of the FOIA's statutory exemptions. Requires agencies to designate at least one FOIA Public Liaison who shall be appointed by the Chief FOIA Officer. Requires the liaison to: (1) serve as an official to whom a FOIA requester can raise concerns about the service the FOIA requester has received 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. (Sec. 12) Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report to Congress on personnel policies related to FOIA.<br/>

1188939540 2007-09-04 Fri Nov 07 14:04:22 -0600 2008 introduced 41980 'act':8 '2007':10 'open':1 'effect':3 'govern':7 'nation':6 'promot':2 42539 short passed senate 41980 'act':3 '2007':5 'open':1 'govern':2 49499 short introduced 41980 '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 42263 official introduced 41980 'act':3 '2007':5 'open':1 'govern':2 42538 short passed senate 41980 'act':8 '2007':10 'open':1 'effect':3 'govern':7 'nation':6 'promot':2 49500 short action 41980 1188939540 Tue Sep 04 17:59:00 -0500 2007 127939 Held at the desk. L000174 1940-03-31 12917 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] 6689 N00009918 10271 Democrat 202-224-4242 Roman Catholic VT Patrick Leahy 4.11764705882353 http://leahy.senate.gov/ SenatorPatrickLeahy A000360 1940-07-03 7597 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] 4706 N00009888 11906 Republican 202-224-4944 Presbyterian TN Lamar Alexander 2.74418604651163 http://alexander.senate.gov/public/ lamaralexander B000711 1940-11-11 14986 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] 7342 N00006692 29557 Democrat 202-224-3553 Jewish CA Barbara Boxer 2.44081632653061 http://boxer.senate.gov SenatorBoxer B000944 1952-11-09 8016 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] 5172 N00003535 13762 Democrat 202-224-2315 Lutheran OH Sherrod Brown 3.5 http://brown.senate.gov/ SherrodBrownOhio C000141 1943-10-05 3263 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] 1503 N00001955 9632 Democrat 202-224-4524 Jewish MD Ben Benjamin Cardin 3.14705882352941 http://cardin.senate.gov/ SenatorCardin C000560 1948-03-14 3888 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] 1916 N00005601 11995 Republican 202-224-5754 OK Tom Thomas Coburn 4.55555555555556 http://coburn.senate.gov/public/ SenatorCoburn C001056 1952-02-02 14202 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] 6606 N00024852 33176 Republican 202-224-2934 Church of Christ TX John Cornyn 4.2093023255814 http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/ senjohncornyn D000563 1944-11-21 8155 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] 4484 N00004981 17147 Democrat 202-224-2152 Roman Catholic IL Dick Richard Durbin 3.75925925925926 http://durbin.senate.gov F000061 1953-03-02 3547 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] 1327 N00000036 13976 Democrat 202-224-5323 Jewish WI Russell Feingold 5.84684684684685 http://feingold.senate.gov SenRussFeingold I000055 1944-12-28 2543 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] 1245 Johnny N00002593 10367 Republican 202-224-3643 Methodist GA Johnny John Isakson 3.75675675675676 http://isakson.senate.gov K000148 1943-12-11 26671 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] 12201 N00000245 14659 Democrat 202-224-2742 Roman Catholic MA John Kerry 2.57943925233645 http://kerry.senate.gov/ L000550 1955-11-23 8590 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] 4550 N00005395 12114 Democrat 202-224-5824 Roman Catholic LA Mary Landrieu 1.875 http://landrieu.senate.gov/ M001170 1953-07-24 9390 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] 4460 N00027694 11920 Democrat 202-224-6154 MO Claire McCaskill 3.28333333333333 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 54830 Democrat United Church of Christ Barack Obama 3.71101871101871 S000033 1941-09-08 4002 332 Dirksen Senate Office Building http://sanders.senate.gov/comments/ 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] 1884 Bernie N00000528 9857 Independent 202-224-5141 Jewish VT Bernie Bernard Sanders 6.72413793103448 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 7305 Republican Latter Day Saints Gordon Smith 3.71428571428571 S000709 1930-02-12 13867 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] 6035 N00001604 19558 Democrat 202-224-4254 Jewish PA Arlen Specter 1.82442748091603 http://specter.senate.gov/ action 41980 1188939540 Tue Sep 04 17:59:00 -0500 2007 127939 Held at the desk. action 41980 1188925380 Tue Sep 04 14:03:00 -0500 2007 127938 Received in the House. action 41980 1186372800 Mon Aug 06 00:00:00 -0500 2007 127937 Message on Senate action sent to the House. vote 41980 1186113600 Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0500 2007 by Unanimous Consent 127092 pass Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. vote s vote 41980 1186113600 Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0500 2007 by Unanimous Consent 127936 pass Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR 9/4/2007 S11071-11073) vote s action 41980 1186113600 Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0500 2007 127091 Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. calendar 41980 1177905600 Mon Apr 30 00:00:00 -0500 2007 110160 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 127. action 41980 1177905600 Mon Apr 30 00:00:00 -0500 2007 110159 Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. With written report No. 110-59. Additional views filed. action 41980 1176350400 Thu Apr 12 00:00:00 -0500 2007 108243 Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. calendar 41980 1176350400 Thu Apr 12 00:00:00 -0500 2007 178090 Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. action 41980 1176350400 Thu Apr 12 00:00:00 -0500 2007 142862 Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-226. 10:00 a.m. action 41980 1175140800 Thu Mar 29 00:00:00 -0500 2007 106351 Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 2:00 p.m. action 41980 1174536000 Thu Mar 22 00:00:00 -0500 2007 142861 Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 10:00 a.m. action 41980 1173931200 Thu Mar 15 00:00:00 -0500 2007 142860 Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. Room to be announced. 10:00 a.m. action 41980 1173844800 Wed Mar 14 00:00:00 -0500 2007 96469 Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. introduced 41980 1173758400 Tue Mar 13 00:00:00 -0500 2007 96343 action 41980 1173758400 Tue Mar 13 00:00:00 -0500 2007 115640 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3066) action 41980 1173758400 Tue Mar 13 00:00:00 -0500 2007 106350 Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3066) action 41980 1173758400 Tue Mar 13 00:00:00 -0500 2007 96344 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.