Senate Unanimously Passes FOIA Changes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – The Senate unanimously passed legislation making much-needed changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Wednesday night. The bill, the Faster FOIA Act, creates an advisory panel to review backlogs of FOIA requests and recommend ways to streamline and expedite FOIA responses to Congress and the president.

The following can be attributed to Laura W. Murphy, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office:

“An accountable government is an effective government and the Faster FOIA Act will help to keep and hold our government accountable. FOIA is an invaluable tool that has led to greater government transparency and this bill will serve to strengthen that tool. As we have seen, sunshine is the best disinfectant and this bill will help to shine a few more rays into our government. We urge the House to follow the Senate’s lead and pass the Faster FOIA Act.”