H.R. 1309 — 110th Congress

Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007

Originated in the House · Introduced Mar 5, 2007 · Government Operations and Politics

Latest action

Mar 15, 2007

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

CRS summary

As of Mar 14, 2007

Passed House amended

Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to revise requirements for federal agency disclosures of information requested under that Act.

(Sec. 3) Prohibits a federal agency, in setting document duplication fees, from denying news media status to a news media representative solely on the absence of institutional associations of the requester and requires consideration of the requester's prior publication history. Requires such agency, if a requester has no prior publication history or current affiliation, to consider the requester's stated intent at the time the request is made to distribute information to a reasonably broad audience.

(Sec. 4) Provides that, for purposes of awarding attorney fees and litigation costs, a FOIA complainant has substantially prevailed in a legal proceeding to compel disclosure if such complainant obtained relief through either: (1) a judicial order, administrative action, or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or (2) a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party in a case in which the complainant's claim or defense was not frivolous.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) notify the Special Counsel of civil actions taken for arbitrary and capricious rejections of requests for agency records; and (2) submit annual reports to Congress on the number of such civil actions in the preceding year. Directs the Special Counsel to submit an annual report to Congress on investigations of agency rejections of FOIA requests.

(Sec. 6) Requires the 20-day period during which an agency must determine whether to comply with a FOIA request to begin on the date on which the request is first received by such agency. Prohibits the tolling of the 20-day period without the consent of the FOIA requester.

Requires an agency to refund fees for a FOIA request if the agency fails to comply with the 20-day period (applies to requests made one year after the enactment of this Act).

(Sec. 7) Requires agencies to establish: (1) a system to assign an individualized tracking number for FOIA requests and provide requesters with such tracking number within 10 days after receiving a request; and (2) a telephone line or Internet service that provides information on the status of a request. Makes this requirement effective one year after the enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 8) Requires any statutory exemption from disclosure under FOIA enacted after the date of enactment of this Act to cite directly to FOIA disclosure exemption provisions.

(Sec. 9) Revises annual agency reporting requirements on compliance with FOIA to require information on: (1) compliance of each principal component of an agency and for the agency overall; (2) FOIA denials based upon particular statutes; and (3) agency response times.

Requires agencies to make the raw statistical data used in reports electronically available to the public upon request.

(Sec. 10) Redefines "record" under FOIA to include any information maintained by a contractor for a federal agency.

(Sec. 11) Establishes in the National Archives an Office of Government Information Services under the supervision and direction of a National Information Advocate. Requires such Office to: (1) provide guidance to FOIA requesters; and (2) review agency FOIA policies and procedures and recommend policy changes to Congress.

(Sec. 12) Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress, not later than January 1 of each of the three years after the enactment of this Act, on the implementation and use of provisions for the protection of voluntarily shared critical infrastructure information under the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Requires such reports to be submitted in unclassified form, allowing a classified annex.

(Sec. 13) Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report to Congress on personnel policies related to FOIA.

(Sec. 14) Declares it to be the policy of the federal government to release information to the public in response to a FOIA request if the release is required by law or the release is allowed by law and the agency concerned does not reasonably foresee that disclosure would be harmful to an interest protected by an applicable exemption.

(Sec. 15) Requires agencies making partial FOIA disclosures to note the exemption or exemptions used to withhold information and to indicate the exemption used to delete information at the place in the record where the deletion is made.

Congressional Research Service, via api.congress.gov (public domain)

Roll-call votes

1 on record

Mar 14, 2007 · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Full roll call

Passed (308–117)

199 of 433 recorded votes are not yet matched to a member profile.

Yea308: 126 D · 42 R

MemberPartyState
PORTER, Jon C.NV
RAMSTAD, JamesMN
DICKS, Norman DeValoisWA
CASTLE, Michael NewboldDE
WELLER, Gerald C.IL
BARTLETT, Roscoe GardnerMD
BOREN, Daniel DavidOK
CHANDLER, A. B.KY
CARDOZA, Dennis A.CA
MOLLOHAN, Alan BowlbyWV
ALLEN, Thomas H.ME
PETERSON, JohnPA
WATT, Melvin L.NC
LEWIS, Charles JeremyCA
LaTOURETTE, Steven C.OH
SESTAK, JoePA
GILLMOR, Paul EugeneOH
ALEXANDER, RodneyLA
BERMAN, Howard LawrenceCA
EHLERS, Vernon JamesMI
STARK, Fortney Hillman (Pete), Jr.CA
GORDON, Barton JenningsTN
KLEIN, RonFL
JACKSON, Jesse L., Jr.IL
MOORE, DennisKS
ROTHMAN, StevenNJ
KILPATRICK, Carolyn CheeksMI
SHULER, HeathNC
HARE, PhilIL
WEXLER, RobertFL
REYES, SilvestreTX
BILBRAY, Brian P.CA
JOHNSON, Timothy V.IL
FRANK, BarneyMA
BROWN-WAITE, VirginiaFL
HOBSON, David LeeOH
MAHONEY, TimFL
OBEY, David RossWI
HALL, JohnNY
WATSON, Diane EdithCA
WILSON, CharlieOH
LAMPSON, Nicholas V.TX
KAGEN, StevenWI
TAUSCHER, Ellen O'KaneCA
ELLSWORTH, BradIN
TANNER, John S.TN
SHAYS, Christopher H.CT
DAVIS, Thomas M., IIIVA
KUCINICH, DennisOH
HOOLEY, DarleneOR
McCOTTER, Thaddeus GeorgeMI
MILLER, BradNC
FERGUSON, MichaelNJ
TAYLOR, Gary EugeneMS
ORTIZ, Solomon P.TX
SOLIS, Hilda L.CA
BOUCHER, Frederick C.VA
RODRIGUEZ, Ciro D.TX
OBERSTAR, James LouisMN
BEAN, Melissa L.IL
BOYD, F. Allen, Jr.FL
LANTOS, Thomas PeterCA
MILLENDER-MCDONALD, JuanitaCA
TOWNS, EdolphusNY
SALAZAR, JohnCO
MURTHA, John Patrick, Jr.PA
DELAHUNT, BillMA
McHUGH, John MichaelNY
HINCHEY, Maurice DunleaNY
BERKLEY, ShelleyNV
HARMAN, Jane L.CA
WOOLSEY, Lynn C.CA
HERSETH SANDLIN, StephanieSD
GILCHREST, Wayne ThomasMD
MARSHALL, JimGA
YOUNG, Charles WilliamFL
DAVIS, ArturAL
REHBERG, DennyMT
PAUL, Ronald ErnestTX
SPACE, ZackOH
BACA, JoeCA
MURPHY, PatrickPA
BOSWELL, Leonard L.IA
INSLEE, Jay RobertWA
PLATTS, ToddPA
SKELTON, Isaac Newton, IVMO
WU, DavidOR
ABERCROMBIE, NeilHI
BOYDA, NancyKS
HULSHOF, KennyMO
REGULA, Ralph StrausOH
PICKERING, Charles W. (Chip), Jr.MS
DAVIS, LincolnTN
GOODE, Virgil H., Jr.VA
KILDEE, Dale EdwardMI
COSTELLO, Jerry FrancisIL
ACKERMAN, Gary LeonardNY
SUTTON, BettyOH
CRAMER, Robert E. (Bud), Jr.AL
HOLDEN, Thomas TimothyPA
ROSS, Michael AveryAR
CARNAHAN, RussMO
MEEK, Kendrick B.FL
POMEROY, Earl Ralph, IIIND
ALTMIRE, JasonPA
ETHERIDGE, Bobby R.NC
STUPAK, Bart T.MI
KENNEDY, Patrick JosephRI
EMERSON, Jo AnnMO
SNYDER, Victor F.AR
JEFFERSON, William JenningsLA
JINDAL, BobbyLA
MITCHELL, Harry E.AZ
BURTON, Danny LeeIN
ARCURI, MichaelNY
WEINER, Anthony D.NY
HODES, PaulNH
ENGLISH, Philip SheridanPA
JONES, Stephanie TubbsOH
FILNER, BobCA
EDWARDS, Thomas ChesterTX
BERRY, Robert MarionAR
ANDREWS, Robert ErnestNJ
WALSH, James T.NY
GIFFORDS, GabrielleAZ
EMANUEL, RahmIL
HERGER, Walter WilliamCA
McNULTY, Michael RobertNY
GALLEGLY, Elton W.CA
MELANCON, Charles J.LA
HILL, Baron P.IN
PAYNE, Donald MilfordNJ
WYNN, Albert RussellMD
OLVER, John WalterMA
GONZALEZ, Charles A.TX
BONNER, Jr., Josiah RobinsAL
CARSON, Julia MayIN
BAIRD, BrianWA
TIAHRT, ToddKS
CARNEY, ChrisPA
Ed PastorDemocratAZ
Raúl M. GrijalvaDemocratAZ
Adam B. SchiffDemocratCA
Anna G. EshooDemocratCA
Barbara LeeDemocratCA
Brad ShermanDemocratCA
Doris O. MatsuiDemocratCA
Grace F. NapolitanoDemocratCA
Henry A. WaxmanDemocratCA
Jerry McNerneyDemocratCA
Jim CostaDemocratCA
Linda T. SánchezDemocratCA
Lois CappsDemocratCA
Loretta SanchezDemocratCA
Lucille Roybal-AllardDemocratCA
Maxine WatersDemocratCA
Michael M. HondaDemocratCA
Mike ThompsonDemocratCA
Sam FarrDemocratCA
Susan A. DavisDemocratCA
Xavier BecerraDemocratCA
Zoe LofgrenDemocratCA
Diana DeGetteDemocratCO
Ed PerlmutterDemocratCO
Mark UdallDemocratCO
Christopher MurphyDemocratCT
Joe CourtneyDemocratCT
John B. LarsonDemocratCT
Rosa L. DeLauroDemocratCT
Alcee L. HastingsDemocratFL
Corrine BrownDemocratFL
Debbie Wasserman SchultzDemocratFL
Kathy CastorDemocratFL
David ScottDemocratGA
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr.DemocratGA
John BarrowDemocratGA
John LewisDemocratGA
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.DemocratGA
Mazie K. HironoDemocratHI
Bruce L. BraleyDemocratIA
David LoebsackDemocratIA
Bobby L. RushDemocratIL
Daniel LipinskiDemocratIL
Danny K. DavisDemocratIL
Janice D. SchakowskyDemocratIL
Luis V. GutiérrezDemocratIL
Joe DonnellyDemocratIN
Peter J. ViscloskyDemocratIN
John A. YarmuthDemocratKY
Edward J. MarkeyDemocratMA
James P. McGovernDemocratMA
John F. TierneyDemocratMA
Michael E. CapuanoDemocratMA
Richard E. NealDemocratMA
Stephen F. LynchDemocratMA
C. A. Dutch RuppersbergerDemocratMD
Chris Van HollenDemocratMD
Elijah E. CummingsDemocratMD
John P. SarbanesDemocratMD
Steny H. HoyerDemocratMD
Michael H. MichaudDemocratME
John Conyers, Jr.DemocratMI
John D. DingellDemocratMI
Sander M. LevinDemocratMI
Betty McCollumDemocratMN
Collin C. PetersonDemocratMN
Keith EllisonDemocratMN
Timothy J. WalzDemocratMN
Emanuel CleaverDemocratMO
Wm. Lacy ClayDemocratMO
Bennie G. ThompsonDemocratMS
David E. PriceDemocratNC
G. K. ButterfieldDemocratNC
Mike McIntyreDemocratNC
Carol Shea-PorterDemocratNH
Albio SiresDemocratNJ
Bill Pascrell, Jr.DemocratNJ
Frank Pallone, Jr.DemocratNJ
Rush HoltDemocratNJ
Tom UdallDemocratNM
Brian HigginsDemocratNY
Carolyn B. MaloneyDemocratNY
Carolyn McCarthyDemocratNY
Charles B. RangelDemocratNY
Eliot L. EngelDemocratNY
Gregory W. MeeksDemocratNY
Jerrold NadlerDemocratNY
José E. SerranoDemocratNY
Joseph CrowleyDemocratNY
Kirsten E. GillibrandDemocratNY
Louise McIntosh SlaughterDemocratNY
Nita M. LoweyDemocratNY
Nydia M. VelázquezDemocratNY
Steve IsraelDemocratNY
Timothy H. BishopDemocratNY
Yvette D. ClarkeDemocratNY
Marcy KapturDemocratOH
Tim RyanDemocratOH
Earl BlumenauerDemocratOR
Peter A. DeFazioDemocratOR
Allyson Y. SchwartzDemocratPA
Chaka FattahDemocratPA
Michael F. DoyleDemocratPA
Robert A. BradyDemocratPA
James R. LangevinDemocratRI
James E. ClyburnDemocratSC
Jim CooperDemocratTN
Steve CohenDemocratTN
Al GreenDemocratTX
Eddie Bernice JohnsonDemocratTX
Gene GreenDemocratTX
Henry CuellarDemocratTX
Lloyd DoggettDemocratTX
Rubén HinojosaDemocratTX
Sheila Jackson LeeDemocratTX
Jim MathesonDemocratUT
James P. MoranDemocratVA
Robert C. "Bobby" ScottDemocratVA
Peter WelchDemocratVT
Adam SmithDemocratWA
Jim McDermottDemocratWA
Rick LarsenDemocratWA
Gwen MooreDemocratWI
Ron KindDemocratWI
Tammy BaldwinDemocratWI
Nick J. Rahall IIDemocratWV
John BoozmanRepublicanAR
Dana RohrabacherRepublicanCA
Howard P. "Buck" McKeonRepublicanCA
Ken CalvertRepublicanCA
Ander CrenshawRepublicanFL
Ileana Ros-LehtinenRepublicanFL
Tom LathamRepublicanIA
Michael K. SimpsonRepublicanID
Mark KirkRepublicanIL
Peter J. RoskamRepublicanIL
Jerry MoranRepublicanKS
Charles W. Boustany Jr.RepublicanLA
Candice S. MillerRepublicanMI
Dave CampRepublicanMI
Mike RogersRepublicanMI
Roy BluntRepublicanMO
Sam GravesRepublicanMO
Walter B. JonesRepublicanNC
Adrian SmithRepublicanNE
Jeff FortenberryRepublicanNE
Christopher H. SmithRepublicanNJ
Frank A. LoBiondoRepublicanNJ
Rodney P. FrelinghuysenRepublicanNJ
Michael R. TurnerRepublicanOH
Patrick J. TiberiRepublicanOH
Steve ChabotRepublicanOH
Greg WaldenRepublicanOR
Charles W. DentRepublicanPA
Jim GerlachRepublicanPA
Tim MurphyRepublicanPA
John J. Duncan, Jr.RepublicanTN
John Abney CulbersonRepublicanTX
Kevin BradyRepublicanTX
Louie GohmertRepublicanTX
Michael C. BurgessRepublicanTX
Michael T. McCaulRepublicanTX
Ted PoeRepublicanTX
Rob BishopRepublicanUT
Frank R. WolfRepublicanVA
Cathy McMorris RodgersRepublicanWA
David G. ReichertRepublicanWA
Shelley Moore CapitoRepublicanWV

Nay117: 64 R

MemberPartyState
DAVIS, DavidTN
SHADEGG, John B.AZ
DRAKE, Thelma D.VA
PUTNAM, AdamFL
FOSSELLA, Vito JohnNY
MCCRERY, James O., IIILA
LAHOOD, Ray H.IL
FALLIN, MaryOK
AKIN, W. ToddMO
LINDER, John ElmerGA
RENZI, RickAZ
BUYER, Stephen EarleIN
DOOLITTLE, John TaylorCA
KUHL, John R. (Randy), Jr.NY
SALI, WilliamID
TANCREDO, Thomas G.CO
SOUDER, Mark EdwardIN
KELLER, RichardFL
MANZULLO, Donald A.IL
REYNOLDS, Thomas M.NY
INGLIS, Robert DurdenSC
BIGGERT, Judy BorgIL
RADANOVICH, George P.CA
MUSGRAVE, Marilyn NCO
SULLIVAN, JohnOK
WILSON, HeatherNM
KNOLLENBERG, JosephMI
SCHMIDT, JeanOH
DREIER, David TimothyCA
CANTOR, EricVA
BARRETT, James GreshamSC
STEARNS, Clifford BundyFL
CANNON, Christopher B.UT
CUBIN, Barbara L.WY
MACK, Connie, IVFL
EVERETT, Robert TerryAL
LEWIS, RonKY
WAMP, Zachary PaulTN
HOEKSTRA, PeterMI
FEENEY, TomFL
MYRICK, SueNC
LUNGREN, Daniel EdwardCA
DEAL, John NathanGA
HASTERT, John DennisIL
DIAZ-BALART, LincolnFL
BONO, MaryCA
WELDON, David JosephFL
DAVIS, Geoffrey C.KY
HUNTER, Duncan LeeCA
BAKER, Richard HughLA
PENCE, MikeIN
PRYCE, Deborah D.OH
HAYES, Robert CannonNC
Don YoungRepublicanAK
Mike RogersRepublicanAL
Robert B. AderholtRepublicanAL
Spencer BachusRepublicanAL
Jeff FlakeRepublicanAZ
Trent FranksRepublicanAZ
Darrell IssaRepublicanCA
Devin NunesRepublicanCA
Edward R. RoyceRepublicanCA
Gary G. MillerRepublicanCA
John CampbellRepublicanCA
Kevin McCarthyRepublicanCA
Doug LambornRepublicanCO
Gus M. BilirakisRepublicanFL
Jeff MillerRepublicanFL
John L. MicaRepublicanFL
Mario Diaz-BalartRepublicanFL
Vern BuchananRepublicanFL
Jack KingstonRepublicanGA
Lynn A. WestmorelandRepublicanGA
Phil GingreyRepublicanGA
Tom PriceRepublicanGA
Steve KingRepublicanIA
John ShimkusRepublicanIL
Ed WhitfieldRepublicanKY
Harold RogersRepublicanKY
Fred UptonRepublicanMI
Tim WalbergRepublicanMI
John KlineRepublicanMN
Michele BachmannRepublicanMN
Roger F. WickerRepublicanMS
Howard CobleRepublicanNC
Patrick T. McHenryRepublicanNC
Virginia FoxxRepublicanNC
Lee TerryRepublicanNE
Scott GarrettRepublicanNJ
Stevan PearceRepublicanNM
Dean HellerRepublicanNV
Peter T. KingRepublicanNY
Jim JordanRepublicanOH
John A. BoehnerRepublicanOH
Frank D. LucasRepublicanOK
Tom ColeRepublicanOK
Bill ShusterRepublicanPA
Joseph R. PittsRepublicanPA
Joe WilsonRepublicanSC
Marsha BlackburnRepublicanTN
Jeb HensarlingRepublicanTX
Joe BartonRepublicanTX
John R. CarterRepublicanTX
K. Michael ConawayRepublicanTX
Kenny MarchantRepublicanTX
Lamar SmithRepublicanTX
Mac ThornberryRepublicanTX
Pete SessionsRepublicanTX
Ralph M. HallRepublicanTX
Randy NeugebauerRepublicanTX
Sam JohnsonRepublicanTX
Bob GoodlatteRepublicanVA
J. Randy ForbesRepublicanVA
Doc HastingsRepublicanWA
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.RepublicanWI
Paul D. RyanRepublicanWI
Thomas E. PetriRepublicanWI

Not Voting8: 1 D · 1 R

MemberPartyState
BROWN, Henry Edward, Jr.SC
MEEHAN, Martin ThomasMA
SPRATT, John McKee, Jr.SC
KANJORSKI, Paul E.PA
DAVIS, Jo AnnVA
SAXTON, Hugh JamesNJ
George MillerDemocratCA
Kay GrangerRepublicanTX

Member pages currently show roll-call votes from the 119th Congress only. The “Member pages” column marks votes from that congress.