[Congressional Record: May 24, 2007 (Senate)]
[Page S6829-S6830]
OPEN GOVERNMENT ACT
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am deeply disappointed that the Senate
may not consider the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National
Government Act,'' the OPEN Government Act, S. 849, before it adjourns
for the Memorial Day recess. The Judiciary Committee favorably reported
this bipartisan bill. We have filed a committee report on this
important legislation. Regrettably, an anonymous Republican hold is
stalling this important Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, legislation,
needlessly delaying long-overdue reforms to strengthen FOIA and to
protect the public's right to know.
It is both unfortunate and ironic that this bipartisan bill, which
promotes sunshine and openness in our government, is being hindered by
a secret and anonymous hold. This is a good government bill that
Democrats and Republicans alike, can and should work together to enact.
I hope that the Senator placing the secret hold on this bill will come
forward, so that we can resolve any legitimate concerns, and the full
Senate can promptly act on this legislation.
The OPEN Government Act is cosponsored by 10 Senators from both sides
of the aisle. This bill is also endorsed by more than 100 business,
public interest, and news organizations from across the political and
ideological spectrum, including, the American Library Association,
Conservation Congress, the Liberty Coalition, OpenTheGovernment.org,
the Sunshine in Government Initiative, the Republican Liberty Caucus
and Public Citizen.
I thank all of the cosponsors of this bill and commend Senator Cornyn
as our lead Republican sponsor. I also thank the many open government
organizations that are working tirelessly to encourage the Congress to
enact this bill this year. This measure is cleared for passage on the
Democratic side. It should be passed without further delay.
The OPEN Government Act promotes and enhances public disclosure of
government information under FOIA, by helping Americans to obtain
timely responses to their FOIA requests and improving transparency in
the Federal Government's FOIA process. During the recent hearing that
the Judiciary Committee held on this legislation, we learned that,
although FOIA remains an indispensable tool in shedding light on bad
policies and government abuses, this open government law is being
hampered by excessive delays and lax FOIA compliance. Today, Americans
who seek information under FOIA remain less likely to obtain it than
during any other time in FOIA's 40-year history. This bill would help
to reverse this trend and to restore the public's trust in their
government.
Senator Cornyn and I both know that open government is not a
Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It is an American issue. It is
in this spirit that I urge the removal of the anonymous hold placed on
this bill. I also urge all Members of the Senate to join me in
supporting this important open government legislation.
We have received numerous letters of support from such organizations
as the American Library Association, the National Press Club, Pubic
Citizen, Sunshine in Government Initiative and OpenTheGovernment.org. I
ask unanimous consent that a letter in support sent to the majority and
Republican leaders of the Senate and endorsed by more than 100
organizations from across the political spectrum be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
May 17, 2007.
Hon. Harry Reid,
Hart Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Mitch McConnell
Russell Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Reid and Senator McConnell: We write on behalf
of the undersigned group of 100 business, public interest,
and historical groups and associations to endorse the OPEN
Government Act of 2007 (S. 849), as introduced by Senator
Patrick Leahy and Senator John Cornyn.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the public's most
significant tool for ensuring integrity and accountability
from the federal government. Unfortunately, FOIA's promise of
ensuring an open and accountable government has been
seriously undermined by the excessive processing delays that
FOIA requesters face across the government. The OPEN
Government Act would: Close loopholes in FOIA; Help the
public get timely responses to FOIA requests; and Improve
agency accountability and require better management of FOIA
programs.
The public's confidence in the executive branch has reached
a dramatic low point. The OPEN Government Act of 2007 would
demonstrate bipartisan congressional leadership to restore
public faith in government and to advance the ideals of
openness that our democracy embodies. The Senate Judiciary
Committee has reported favorably upon the bill without any
amendments. We urge you to support this legislation and help
it move quickly to the Senate floor for a vote.
Sincerely,
Alliance for Justice
America Association of Law Libraries
American Association of Small Property Owners
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
American Families United
American Library Association
Animal Welfare Institute
ASPCA
Assassination Archives and Research Center
Association of American Publishers
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
Biodiversity Conservation Alliance
Blancett Ranches, Aztec, NM
Californians Aware
Californians for Western Wilderness
Center for Democracy and Technology
Center for Energy Research
Center for National Security Studies
Citizen Action New Mexico
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
Common Cause
Community Recovery Services
Conservation Congress
Doctors for Open Government
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
The E-Accountability
Foundation/Parentadvocates.org
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Environmental Defense Institute
Environmental Integrity Project
Ethics in Government Group
Fernald Residents for Environmental Safety & Health, Inc.
Florida First Amendment Foundation
Forest Guardians
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of Animals
Friends of the Wild Swan
Georgia ForestWatch
Georgians for Open Government
Government Accountability Project
Great Basin Mine Watch
Gun Owners of America
HALT, Inc
The Health Integrity Project
HEAL Utah
The Humane Society of the United States
Idaho Sporting Congress, Inc.
Indiana Coalition for Open Government
The James Madison Project
Law Librarian Association of Greater New York
Law Librarians Association of Wisconsin
League of Women Voters of the U.S.
Liberty Coalition
Los Alamos Study Group
Maine Association of Broadcasters
Mine Safety and Health News
The Multiracial Activist
National Coalition Against Censorship
National Freedom ofInformation Coalition
National Security Archive
National Taxpayers Union
National Treasury Employees Union
National WhistIeblower Center
Natural Resources Defense Council
The New Grady Coalition
No FEAR Coalition
Northern California Association of Law Libraries
Northwest Environmental Advocates
Nuclear Watch New Mexico
Okanogan Highlands Bottling Company
OMB Watch
Open Society Policy Center
OpenTheGovernment.org
Oregon Natural Desert Association
Oregon Peace Works
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc.
People For the American Way
Project On Government Oversight
Public Citizen
ReadtheBill.org Education Fund
Republican Liberty Caucus
Reynolds, Motl & Sherwood, PLLP
[[Page S6830]]
The Rutherford Institute
Sagebrush Sea Campaign
Semmelweis Society International
Snake River Alliance
Society of American Archivists
Society of Professional Journalists
Southern California Association of Law Libraries
Southwest Research and Information Center
The Student Health Integrity Project
Tax Analysts
Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive
Environment)
Union of Concerned Scientists
VA Whistleblowers Coalition
Western Environmental Law Center
Western Lands Project Western Resource Advocates
The Wilderness Society
Wild Wilderness
Wilderness Workshop.
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