A bipartisan effort to reform the Freedom of Information Act took a major step forward Thursday when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill addressing well-known problems with the transparency law.
Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, re-introduced the reform bill Monday after their attempt to update FOIA practices narrowly failed at the end of the 113th Congress.
Both the House and Senate passed similar versions of FOIA reform legislation but were unable to vote on a compromise measure before the session ended.
“I’m pleased to continue my partnership with Senator Leahy to improve this important law as we work together with our colleagues in the House to promote greater accountability for the American people from their government,” Cornyn said in a statement Monday.
Leahy also turned his attention to the House’s parallel effort to reform the law.
“I urge the Senate to quickly take up and pass this bill and for the House to follow suit so we can show the American people — in a bipartisan fashion — that we are committed to advancing their interest above special interest, no matter who holds control of Congress or the White House,” he said Monday.
Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Elijah Cummings, D-Md., introduced similar legislation in the House Monday that is expected to draw the same bipartisan support that ensured its passage last year.
The measure is headed to the Senate floor for a vote of the full chamber. If passed, it would codify the “presumption of openness” that Attorney General Eric Holder asked agencies to assume in 2009.
