Congress Could Still Pass FOIA Reform

There is still a chance that Congress could pass legislation strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) before it adjourns. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a fix-FOIA bill (S 2520) November 20, 2014, setting up the possibility of full-Senate floor action.

The bill (S 2520) unanimously approved by Senate Judiciary is the product of bipartisan work by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and cosponsor John Cornyn (R-TX). The House passed a similar bill (HR 1211) by an overwhelming 410-20 margin on February 25, 2014. But the two versions would still need to be reconciled.

The Society of Environmental Journalists has urged Congress and the President to support such legislation.

• "‘Do-Nothing Congress’ Poised to Enact Historic FOIA Reform," PBS MediaShift, November 25, 2014, by Alexander Howard.
• "FOIA Reform Support Needed Now!" OpenTheGovernment.org.
• Previous Story: WatchDog of November 19, 2014.