| News
from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
HERSETH SUPPORTS FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REFORM Improves Access to Government Information Through FOIA March 15, 2007, Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth is supporting necessary reform of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to ensure greater and more timely access to government information. This week, Herseth helped pass H.R. 1309, the Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007. The original FOIA law was intended to provide transparency in government agencies. While it still serves this function, this new legislation will enhance the process of making government documents available to the public. “The Freedom of Information Act is an indispensable tool not only for ensuring a free press but also for allowing all our citizens access to information through their government,” said Herseth. “FOIA makes government more open to the press and the general public, and it is a cornerstone of a free society.” The new bill is intended to provide more timely disclosure of government documents through a variety of FOIA reforms. Specifically, it restores the presumption of disclosure to FOIA, helps FOIA requesters obtain timely responses and progress updates through a tracking system, improves transparency in agency compliance with FOIA and provides an alternative to litigation. Herseth added, “These smart steps are overdue, but still welcomed as good public policy as we continue to restore accountability and oversight to our federal government.” The Coalition for Journalists for Open Government has reported that the backlog of unfulfilled FOIA requests “hit a record 31% in 2005” and that backlog appears only to be growing as media organizations struggle with repeated delays and other problems. # # # Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Resources. In the 110th Congress, Herseth was appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
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