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Senate Judiciary Committee passes 2014 FOIA Improvements Act
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 11/20/2014 21:32:06
- In: FOI
The American Society of News Editors applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing S 2520, the FOIA Improvements Act of 2014, by voice vote in the morning of Nov. 20. ASNE has supported this bill since its introduction earlier this year and hopes that the entire Senate will move quickly to pass this legislation.
The American Society of News Editors applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing S 2520, the FOIA Improvements Act of 2014, by voice vote in the morning of Nov. 20. ASNE has supported this bill since its introduction earlier this year and hopes that the entire Senate will move quickly to pass this legislation.
“The federal Freedom of Information Act has long needed a tune up to ensure the law continues to serve the public's interest and provides individual citizens and the press a means for overseeing the affairs of their government,” said ASNE President Chris Peck of The Riverton (Wyo.) Ranger. “This bill will fix some very important problems that have become evident in recent years. We are especially happy to see additional support given to the Office of Government Information Services and welcome a centralized FOIA ‘portal,' both of which make it easier for those outside the corridors of power to participate in government.”
As the nation's largest trade association for editors of daily news outlets, ASNE's core mission includes promoting the First Amendment and newsgathering rights of reporters and editors. That is why ASNE welcomes this step forward for S 2520 and applauds the leadership shown by the bill's original co-sponsors, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Charles Grassley (R-IA), the Ranking Minority Member of the Judiciary Committee. ASNE invites its members to thank senators on the Judiciary Committee who passed S 2520 and to reach out to their senators to request a floor vote on S 2520 as soon as possible.
Please contact ASNE Legal Counsel Kevin M. Goldberg at 703-812-0462 or goldberg@fhhlaw.com if you have any questions or if you publish editorials or op-eds supporting S 2520.