,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #bebj  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #bd1 #bjad ,mr4  
,leahy 7= himself & ,mr4 ,cornyn7       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !     
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to improve !     
,fre$om ( ,in=mation ,act4  #a4 ,%ort   
title  ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,,foia 
,improvem5t ,act ( #bjad4  #b4 ,am5dm5ts
 to ,,foia ,section #eeb ( title #e1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9  
subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#b7-- 
7i7 9 ! matt] prec$+ subp>agraph 7,a71  
by /rik+ = public inspection & copy+ &  
ins]t+ = public inspection 9 an         
electronic =mat2  7ii7 by /rik+         
subp>agraph 7,d7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3     
7,d7 copies ( all records1 reg>dless (  
=m or =mat-- 7i7 t h be5 releas$ to any 
p]son "u p>agraph 7#c72 &  7ii7 7,i7 t  
because ( ! nature ( _! subject matt]1 !
 ag5cy det]m9es h become or are likely  
to become ! subject ( subsequ5t reque/s 
= sub/antially ! same records2 or       

7,,ii7 t h be5 reque/$ n less ?an #c    
times2 &  2 &  7iii7 9 ! undesignat$    
matt] foll[+ subp>agraph 7,e71 by /rik+ 
public inspection & copy+ curr5t &      
ins]t+ public inspection 9 an electronic
 =mat1 & curr5t2  7,b7 9 p>agraph       
7#d77;,a71 by /rik+ clause 7viii7 &     
ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7viii7 7,i7 ,except z 
provid$ 9 subclause 7,,ii71 an ag5cy    
%all n assess any se>* fees 7or 9 ! case
 ( a reque/] describ$ "u clause         
7ii77,,ii7 ( ?is subp>agraph1           
duplication fees7 "u ?is subp>agraph if 
! ag5cy has fail$ to comply ) any "t    
limit "u p>agraph 7#f74  7,,ii7 7aa7 ,if
 an ag5cy det]m9es t unusual            
circum/ances apply 7z ! t]m is def9$ 9  
p>agraph 7#f77;,b77 & ! ag5cy provides a
 timely writt5 notice to ! reque/] 9    
accordance ) p>agraph 7#f77;,b71 a      
failure describ$ 9 subclause 7,i7 is    
excus$ = an additional #aj days4 ,if !  
ag5cy fails to comply ) ! ext5d$ "t     
limit1 ! ag5cy may n assess any se>*    
fees 7or 9 ! case ( a reque/] describ$  

"u clause 7ii77,,ii7 ( ?is subp>agraph1 
duplication fees74  7bb7 ,if a c\rt     
det]m9es t exceptional circum/ances exi/
 7z t t]m is def9$ 9 p>agraph           
7#f77;,c771 a failure describ$ 9        
subclause 7,i7 %all be excus$ = ! l5g? (
 "t provid$ by ! c\rt ord]4  2  7,c7 9  
p>agraph 7#f7-- 7i7 9 subp>agraph       
7,a77i71 by /rik+ mak+ su* reque/ & all 
t foll[s ?r\gh det]m9ation2 & & ins]t+ !
 foll[+3 mak+ su* reque/ (--  7,i7 su*  
det]m9ation & ! reasons !re=e2  7,,ii7 !
 "r ( su* p]son to seek assi/ance f !   
,,foia ,public ,liaison ( ! ag5cy2 &    
7,,iii7 9 ! case ( an adv]se            
det]m9ation-- 7aa7 ! "r ( su* p]son to  
appeal to ! head ( ! ag5cy1 )9 a p]iod  
det]m9$ by ! head ( ! ag5cy t is n less 
?an #ij days aft] ! receipt ( su* adv]se
 det]m9ation2 &  7bb7 ! "r ( su* p]son  
to seek dispute resolution s]vices f !  
,,foia ,public ,liaison ( ! ag5cy or !  
,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices2 
&  2 &  7ii7 9 subp>agraph 7,b77ii71 by 
/rik+ ! ag5cy4 & ins]t+ ! ag5cy1 &      

notify ! reque/] ( ! "r ( ! reque/] to  
seek dispute resolution s]vices f !     
,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices42
 &  7,d7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3     
7#h7 ,an ag5cy-- 7,a7 %all-- 7i7 )hold  
in=mation "u ?is section only if-- 7,i7 
! ag5cy reasonably =esees t disclosure  
w\ld h>m an int]e/ protect$ by an       
exemption describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 or  
o!r provision ( law2 or  7,,ii7         
disclosure is prohibit$ by law2 &  7ii7 
7,i7 consid] :e!r p>tial disclosure (   
in=mation is possible :5ev] ! ag5cy     
det]m9es t a full disclosure ( a reque/$
 record is n possible2 &  7,,ii7 take   
reasonable /eps necess>y to segregate & 
release nonexempt in=mation2 &  7,b7 may
 n-- 7i7 )hold in=mation reque/$ "u ?is 
section m]ely because ! ag5cy c         
demon/rate1 z a te*nical matt]1 t !     
records fall )9 ! scope ( an exemption  
describ$ 9 subsection 7b72 or  7ii7     
)hold in=mation reque/$ "u ?is section  
because ! in=mation may be emb>rass+ to 
! ag5cy or because ( speculative or     

ab/ract conc]ns4  2  7#b7 9 subsection  
7b71 by am5d+ p>agraph 7#e7 to read z   
foll[s3  7#e7 int]-ag5cy or intra-ag5cy 
memor&ums or lett]s t w\ld n be         
available by law to a p>ty o!r ?an an   
ag5cy 9 litigation ) ! ag5cy1 if-- 7,a7 
9 ! case ( delib]ative process privilege
 or attorney "w-product privilege1 !    
ag5cy int]e/ 9 protect+ ! records or    
in=mation is n outweigh$ by a public    
int]e/ 9 disclosure2  7,b7 9 ! case (   
attorney-cli5t privilege1 ! ag5cy int]e/
 9 protect+ ! records or in=mation is n 
outweigh$ by a compell+ public int]e/ 9 
disclosure2 &  7,c7 ! reque/$ record or 
in=mation 0 creat$ less ?an #be ye>s    
be=e ! date on :i* ! reque/ 0 made2  2  
7#c7 9 subsection 7e7 7,a7 9 p>agraph   
7#a7-- 7i7 9 ! matt] prec$+ subp>agraph 
7,a71 by ins]t+ & to ! ,director ( !    
,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices  
aft] ,unit$ ,/ates2  7ii7 9 subp>agraph 
7,n71 by /rik+ & at ! end2  7iii7 9     
subp>agraph 7,o71 by /rik+ ! p]iod at ! 
end & ins]t+ a semicolon2 &  7iv7 by    

add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7,p7 ! numb] ( 
times ! ag5cy d5i$ a reque/ = records "u
 subsection 7c72 &  7,q7 ! numb] (      
records t 7 made available = public     
inspection 9 an electronic =mat "u      
subsection 7a77#b74  2  7,b7 by /rik+   
p>agraph 7#c7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#c7  
,ea* ag5cy %all make ea* su* report     
available = public inspection 9 an      
electronic =mat4 ,9 addition1 ea* ag5cy 
%all make ! raw /ati/ical data us$ 9 ea*
 report available 9 a timely mann] =    
public inspection 9 an electronic =mat1 
:i* %all be made available-- 7,a7 )\t   
*>ge1 lic5se1 or regi/ration requirem5t2
  7,b7 9 an aggregat$1 se>*able =mat2 & 
7,c7 9 a =mat t may be d[nload$ 9 bulk4 
2  7,c7 9 p>agraph 7#d7-- 7i7 by /rik+  
,gov]nm5t ,re=m & ,ov]sight & ins]t+    
,ov]sight & ,gov]nm5t ,re=m2  7ii7 by   
ins]t+ ,homel& ,security & be=e         
,gov]nm5tal ,affairs2 &  7iii7 by /rik+ 
,april & ins]t+ ,m>*2 &  7,d7 by /rik+  
p>agraph 7#f7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#f7  
7,a7 ,! ,attorney ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$     

,/ates %all submit to ! ,committee on   
,ov]sight & ,gov]nm5t ,re=m ( ! ,h\se ( 
,repres5tatives1 ! ,committee on        
,judici>y ( ! ,s5ate1 & ! ,presid5t a   
report on or be=e ,m>* #a ( ea* cal5d>  
ye>1 :i* %all include = ! prior cal5d>  
ye>-- 7i7 a li/+ ( ! numb] ( cases aris+
 "u ?is section2  7ii7 a li/+ (-- 7,i7  
ea* subsection1 & any exemption1 if     
applicable1 involv$ 9 ea* case aris+ "u 
?is section2  7,,ii7 ! disposition ( ea*
 case aris+ "u ?is section2 &  7,,iii7 !
 co/1 fees1 & p5alties assess$ "u       
subp>agraphs 7,e71 7,f71 & 7,g7 (       
subsection 7a77#d72 &  7iii7 a          
description ( ! ef=ts und]tak5 by !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,ju/ice to enc\rage ag5cy   
compliance ) ?is section4  7,b7 ,!      
,attorney ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all 
make-- 7i7 ea* report submitt$ "u       
subp>agraph 7,a7 available = public     
inspection 9 an electronic =mat2 &  7ii7
 ! raw /ati/ical data us$ 9 ea* report  
submitt$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 available =
 public inspection 9 an electronic =mat1

 :i* %all be made available-- 7,i7 )\t  
*>ge1 lic5se1 or regi/ration requirem5t2
  7,,ii7 9 an aggregat$1 se>*able =mat2 
&  7,,iii7 9 a =mat t may be d[nload$ 9 
bulk4  2  7#d7 9 subsection 7g71 9 !    
matt] prec$+ p>agraph 7#a71 by /rik+    
publicly available ^u reque/ & ins]t+   
available = public inspection 9 an      
electronic =mat2  7#e7 9 subsection     
7h7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by add+ at !
 end ! foll[+3 ,! head ( ! ,(fice %all  
be ! ,director ( ! ,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t   
,in=mation ,s]vices42  7,b7 9 p>agraph  
7#b71 by /rik+ subp>agraph 7,c7 & ins]t+
 ! foll[+3  7,c7 id5tify proc$ures &    
me?ods = improv+ compliance "u ?is      
section4  2  7,c7 by /rik+ p>agraph 7#c7
 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#c7 ,! ,(fice (   
,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices %all (f]  
m$iation s]vices to resolve disputes    
betwe5 p]sons mak+ reque/s "u ?is       
section & adm9i/rative ag5cies z a      
non-exclusive alt]native to litigation &
 may issue advisory op9ions at !        
discretion ( ! ,(fice or ^u reque/ ( any

 p>ty to a dispute4  2 &  7,d7 by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+3  7#d7 7,a7 ,n less   
frequ5tly ?an annually1 ! ,director ( ! 
,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices  
%all submit to ! ,committee on ,ov]sight
 & ,gov]nm5t ,re=m ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives1 ! ,committee on !      
,judici>y ( ! ,s5ate1 & ! ,presid5t--   
7i7 a report on ! f9d+s ( ! in=mation   
review$ & id5tifi$ "u p>agraph 7#b72    
7ii7 a summ>y ( ! activities ( ! ,(fice 
( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices "u      
p>agraph 7#c71 includ+-- 7,i7 any       
advisory op9ions issu$2 &  7,,ii7 !     
numb] ( times ea* ag5cy engag$ 9 dispute
 resolution ) ! assi/ance ( ! ,(fice (  
,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices or !      
,,foia ,public ,liaison2 &  7iii7       
legislative & regulatory recomm5dations1
 if any1 to improve ! adm9i/ration ( ?is
 section4  7,b7 ,! ,director ( ! ,(fice 
( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices %all    
make ea* report submitt$ "u subp>agraph 
7,a7 available = public inspection 9 an 
electronic =mat4  7,c7 ,! ,director ( ! 

,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices  
%all n be requir$ to obta9 ! prior      
approval1 comm5t1 or review ( any (fic] 
or ag5cy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,ju/ice1 ! ,ar*ivi/ ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates1 or ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t 
& ,budget be=e submitt+ to ! ,congress1 
or any committee or subcommittee !re(1  
any reports1 recomm5dations1 te/imony1  
or comm5ts1 if su* submissions include a
 /atem5t indicat+ t ! views express$    
!re9 are ^? ( ! ,director & d n         
necess>ily repres5t ! views ( !         
,presid5t4  7#e7 ,! ,director ( ! ,(fice
 ( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices may    
submit additional in=mation to ,congress
 & ! ,presid5t z ! ,director det]m9es to
 be appropriate4  7#f7 ,n less frequ5tly
 ?an annually1 ! ,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t     
,in=mation ,s]vices %all conduct a meet+
 t is op5 to ! public on ! review &     
reports by ! ,(fice & %all all[ int]e/$ 
p]sons to appe> & pres5t oral or writt5 
/atem5ts at ! meet+4  2 &  7#f7 by /rik+
 subsections 7i71 7j71 & 7k71 & ins]t+ !

 foll[+3  7i7 ,! ,gov]nm5t              
,acc\ntability ,(fice %all-- 7#a7       
conduct audits ( adm9i/rative ag5cies on
 compliance ) & implem5tation ( !       
requirem5ts ( ?is section & issue       
reports detail+ ! results ( su* audits2 
&  7#b7 catalog ! numb] ( exemptions    
describ$ 9 subsection 7b77#c7 & ! use ( 
su* exemptions by ea* ag5cy4  7j7 7#a7  
,ea* ag5cy %all designate a ,*ief ,,foia
 ,(fic] :o %all be a s5ior (ficial ( su*
 ag5cy 7at ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y or     
equival5t level74  7#b7 ,! ,*ief ,,foia 
,(fic] ( ea* ag5cy %all1 subject to !   
au?ority ( ! head ( ! ag5cy-- 7,a7 h    
ag5cy-wide responsibility = effici5t &  
appropriate compliance ) ?is section2   
7,b7 monitor implem5tation ( ?is section
 ?r\gh\t ! ag5cy & keep ! head ( !      
ag5cy1 ! *ief legal (fic] ( ! ag5cy1 & !
 ,attorney ,g5]al appropriately in=m$ ( 
! ag5cy's p]=mance 9 implem5t+ ?is      
section2  7,c7 recomm5d to ! head ( !   
ag5cy su* adju/m5ts to ag5cy practices1 
policies1 p]sonnel1 & fund+ z may be    

necess>y to improve its implem5tation ( 
?is section2  7,d7 review & report to ! 
,attorney ,g5]al1 ?r\gh ! head ( !      
ag5cy1 at su* times & 9 su* =mats z !   
,attorney ,g5]al may direct1 on !       
ag5cy's p]=mance 9 implem5t+ ?is        
section2  7,e7 facilitate public und]/&+
 ( ! purposes ( ! /atutory exemptions ( 
?is section by includ+ concise          
descriptions ( ! exemptions 9 bo? !     
ag5cy's h&book issu$ "u subsection 7g71 
& ! ag5cy's annual report on ?is        
section1 & by provid+ an ov]view1 :]e   
appropriate1 ( c]ta9 g5]al categories ( 
ag5cy records to :i* ^? exemptions      
apply2  7,f7 (f] tra9+ to ag5cy /aff    
reg>d+ _! responsibilities "u ?is       
section2  7,g7 s]ve z ! prim>y ag5cy    
liaison ) ! ,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t          
,in=mation ,s]vices & ! ,(fice (        
,in=mation ,policy2 &  7,h7 designate #a
 or m ,,foia ,public ,liaisons4  7#c7 ,!
 ,*ief ,,foia ,(fic] ( ea* ag5cy %all   
review1 n less frequ5tly ?an annually1  
all aspects ( ! adm9i/ration ( ?is      

section by ! ag5cy to ensure compliance 
) ! requirem5ts ( ?is section1 includ+--
 7,a7 ag5cy regulations2  7,b7          
disclosure ( records requir$ "u         
p>agraphs 7#b7 & 7#h7 ( subsection 7a72 
7,c7 assessm5t ( fees & det]m9ation (   
eligibility = fee waiv]s2  7,d7 ! timely
 process+ ( reque/s = in=mation "u ?is  
section2  7,e7 ! use ( exemptions "u    
subsection 7b72 &  7,f7 dispute         
resolution s]vices ) ! assi/ance ( !    
,(fice ( ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices  
or ! ,,foia ,public ,liaison4  7k7 7#a7 
,!re is e/abli%$ 9 ! executive bran* !  
,*ief ,,foia ,(fic]s ,c\ncil 7ref]r$ to 
9 ?is subsection z ! ,c\ncil74  7#b7 ,! 
,c\ncil %all be compris$ ( ! foll[+     
memb]s3 7,a7 ,! ,deputy ,director =     
,managem5t ( ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t &    
,budget4  7,b7 ,! ,director ( ! ,(fice (
 ,in=mation ,policy at ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,ju/ice4  7,c7 ,! ,director ( ! ,(fice (
 ,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices4  7,d7 ,!
 ,*ief ,,foia ,(fic] ( ea* ag5cy4  7,e7 
,any o!r (fic] or employee ( ! ,unit$   

,/ates z designat$ by ! ,co-,*airs4     
7#c7 ,! ,director ( ! ,(fice (          
,in=mation ,policy at ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,ju/ice & ! ,director ( ! ,(fice (      
,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices %all be ! 
,co-,*airs ( ! ,c\ncil4  7#d7 ,!        
,adm9i/rator ( ,g5]al ,s]vices %all     
provide adm9i/rative & o!r support = !  
,c\ncil4  7#e7 7,a7 ,! duties ( !       
,c\ncil %all include ! foll[+3 7i7      
,develop recomm5dations = increas+      
compliance & effici5cy "u ?is section4  
7ii7 ,dissem9ate in=mation ab\t ag5cy   
exp]i5ces1 ideas1 be/ practices1 &      
innovative approa*es relat$ to ?is      
section4  7iii7 ,id5tify1 develop1 &    
coord9ate initiatives to increase       
transp>5cy & compliance ) ?is section4  
7iv7 ,promote ! developm5t & use (      
common p]=mance measures = ag5cy        
compliance ) ?is section4  7,b7 ,9 p]=m+
 ! duties describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 !
 ,c\ncil %all consult on a regul> basis 
) memb]s ( ! public :o make reque/s "u  
?is section4  7#f7 7,a7 ,! ,c\ncil %all 

meet regul>ly & su* meet+s %all be op5  
to ! public unless ! ,c\ncil det]m9es to
 close ! meet+ = reasons ( national     
security or to discuss in=mation exempt 
"u subsection 7b74  7,b7 ,n less        
frequ5tly ?an annually1 ! ,c\ncil %all  
hold a meet+ t %all be op5 to ! public &
 p]mit int]e/$ p]sons to appe> & pres5t 
oral & writt5 /atem5ts to ! ,c\ncil4    
7,c7 ,n lat] ?an #aj bus9ess days be=e a
 meet+ ( ! ,c\ncil1 notice ( su* meet+  
%all be publi%$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/]4     
7,d7 ,except z provid$ 9 subsection 7b71
 ! records1 reports1 transcripts1       
m9utes1 app5dixes1 work+ pap]s1 drafts1 
/udies1 ag5da1 or o!r docum5ts t 7 made 
available to or prep>$ = or by ! ,c\ncil
 %all be made publicly available4  7,e7 
,detail$ m9utes ( ea* meet+ ( ! ,c\ncil 
%all be kept & %all conta9 a record ( ! 
p]sons pres5t1 a complete & accurate    
description ( matt]s discuss$ &         
conclusions rea*$1 & copies ( all       
reports receiv$1 issu$1 or approv$ by ! 
,c\ncil4 ,! m9utes %all be r$act$ z     

necess>y & made publicly available4  4  
#c4 ,review & issuance ( regulations    
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] 
! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! head (  
ea* ag5cy 7z def9$ 9 section #eea (     
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code7 %all     
review ! regulations ( su* ag5cy & %all 
issue regulations on proc$ures = !      
disclosure ( records "u section #eeb (  
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 9        
accordance ) ! am5dm5ts made by section 
#b4  7b7 ,requirem5ts ,! regulations (  
ea* ag5cy %all include proc$ures =      
engag+ 9 dispute resolution ?r\gh !     
,,foia ,public ,liaison & ! ,(fice (    
,gov]nm5t ,in=mation ,s]vices4  #d4     
,proactive disclosure ?r\gh records     
managem5t ,section #cajb ( title #dd1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by 
r$esignat+ p>agraphs 7#b7 & 7#c7 z      
p>agraphs 7#c7 & 7#d72 &  7#b7 by ins]t+
 aft] p>agraph 7#a7 ! foll[+3  7#b7     
proc$ures = id5tify+ records ( g5]al    
int]e/ or use to ! public t are         
appropriate = public disclosure1 & =    

po/+ su* records 9 a publicly accessible
 electronic =mat2  4  #e4 ,no additional
 funds au?oriz$ ,no additional funds are
 au?oriz$ to c>ry out ! requirem5ts (   
?is ,act or ! am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act4
 ,! requirem5ts ( ?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts 
made by ?is ,act %all be c>ri$ out us+  
am\nts o!rwise au?oriz$ or appropriat$4