Transparency in Government Act 2008

TITLE VII - Strengthening FOIA

Summary:

Requires executive branch agencies to make all materials that make up a completed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) response to be in a publicly available, free of charge, in a structured, searchable, sortable, downloadable database or in a format searchable by text on the agency's Web site.

Agencies may not extend their time for responding to a FOIA request for more than 60 days past the original due date


  1. Sec. 701. Digital access to completed FOIA responses. (4 Comments)

    1. Each agency is required to make available all materials contained in the agency's completed response to a FOIA request in a structured database; searchable, sortable, downloadable database; or in a format searchable by text as appropriate.

      1. All information is presumed to be available in an electronic format as described above unless the agency demonstrates that excessive cost would place an undue burden on the agency.

    2. All information provided under subparagraph (a) above shall be made available to the public electronically, free of charge through each agency's Web site.

    Recent comments on Sec. 701

    (View all 4 comments | Add a comment)
    1. Clayton:

      In addition to these provisions, I would like to see a proactive approach to document provision. Something like: WHEREAS: All data collected by the Federal Government belongs to the people of the United States. All existing databases created for internal use must be reviewed by an outside commission which will either: 1) Make the databases publicly available for academic commercial ...

      April 15, 2008

    2. Wendell Cochran, American University:

      This section does not go far enough: FOIA should be expanded to cover three critical areas: 1) Administrative records and offices of Congress (Clerk of House, Secretary of Senate, Sergeant of Arms, etc.) 2) Administrative Office of the Courts 3) Groups such as the Clinton Health Care and the Bush Energy Policy organizations

      April 7, 2008

    3. Tim Jones, Electronic Frontier Foundation:

      It would be great if this bill could ressurect the Faster FOIA Act of 2007, which pased the Senate a few years ago and would establish a study commission to finally investigate and propose solutions to the problem of excessive agency processing delays. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-541

      April 1, 2008

  2. Sec. 702. Limitations on extensions for agency response. (1 Comment)

    The Freedom of Information Act, 5 USC 552(a)(6)(B) is amended to provide that, when an agency determines that unusual circumstances exist that prevent the agency from responding to a FOIA request within the time limits prescribed, the agency may provide written notice setting forth the unusual circumstances for extending the date on which a determination is expected to be dispatched. No such notice shall specify a date that would result in an extension for more than ten working days per extension, and the total number of extensions must not be greater than 60 days past the original date due.

    Recent comment on Sec. 702

    (View 1 comment | Add a comment)
    1. James Jacobs (free government information):

      Ashcroft FOIA memorandum http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foiapost/2001foiapost19.htm must be repealed. James Jacobs, http://freegovinfo.info

      March 31, 2008

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