"Senate Passes FOIA Reform Bill"

"The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill to expand the public's access to government records, after a year of delay.

The Senate's move means both chambers have now passed similar proposals to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Differences will still need to be resolved before the measure makes it to President Obama's desk — potentially forcing the administration's hand on a bill it has previously lobbied against.

"If the president receives this bill, he'll sign it," Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) told The Hill. When pressed on whether he had received assurances, he said, "In my 40 years here, I've never said what the White House has told me.""

Mario Trujillo reports for The Hill March 15, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"White House: Obama Would Sign FOIA Bill" (Politico)

"Senate panel OKs bill requiring faster FOIA responses" (Greenville News)

"Fixing FOIA: Senate-Passed Bill Is A Good Start, But More Is Needed" (Electronic Frontier Foundation)

"It Took a FOIA Lawsuit to Uncover How the Obama Administration Killed FOIA Reform" (Vice News)