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Committee Report: The Citizen’s Guide to Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records

No one should be discouraged from making a request under either law. No special expertise is required. Using FOIA and the Privacy Act is as simple as writing a letter. This Citizen’s Guide explains the essentials.

Press Release
Cantor Solicits “Citizen CoSponsors” For The DATA Act

Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., today featured H.R. 2146, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act), in the release of the new “Citizen CoSponsor Project.” The project is described as “a dynamic communications platform that creates a more open, visible and participatory legislative process. Built on Facebook, Citizen CoSponsor will enable you to follow legislation that you’re interested in. You will then receive first-hand information and updates on the status of ...

Press Release
Oversight Releases FOIA Management Scorecard: Federal Government Earns a C –

WASHINGTON- When President Obama signed the Open Government Initiative on January 21, 2009, he said "the Freedom of Information Act is perhaps the most powerful instrument we have for making our government honest and transparent, and of holding it accountable. And I expect members of my administration not simply to live up to the letter but also the spirit of this law." But an evaluation released today by the House Oversight and Government Reform ...

Report
Report Card on Federal Government Efforts to Track and Manage FOIA Requests

As part of a broader effort to conduct oversight over FOIA to help improve government transparency, on January 25, 2011, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa sent a letter to 180 entities representing 100 government agencies requesting information about their FOIA tracking systems. The ability and willingness of agencies to submit this information (or lack thereof) served as the basis of an objective evaluation by committee staff of agency FOIA management.

Press Release
Fortress Holder: A Year of Justice Department Stonewalling, Visualized

Watch AG Holder Testify Tomorrow at FastAndFuriousInvestigation.com WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow, Attorney General Eric Holder will testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about the Justice Department's year-long effort to obstruct accountability for Operation Fast and Furious. Today, the committee released an infographic capturing the ...

Press Release
Issa Statement on Resignation of Arizona U.S. Attorney, Reassignment of ATF Director

(WASHINGTON) House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) today released the following statement regarding Department of Justice personnel changes involving Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke, ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory Hurley: "While the reckless disregard for safety that took place in Operation Fast and Furious certainly merits changes within the Department of Justice, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee ...

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Top Stimulus Watchdog Earl Devaney: Accountable, Open Gov't Depends on Open Data

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White House: Transparency Behind Closed Doors?

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Press Release
Issa Refers Rahm Emanuel and Jim Messina to Office of Special Counsel for Violating the Hatch Act

WASHINGTON. D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) has sent a referral and request for investigation to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel regarding Hatch Act violations committed by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina for their participation in the Sestak-Romanoff controversy. In ...

Press Release
Issa Calls Out Hypocrisy of Invoking Bush Administration Defense on “Romastek”

WASHINGTON. D.C. – With both the Obama Administration and numerous reports citing former Bush Administration officials, notably former Attorney General Michael Mukasey and ethics officer Richard Painter, exonerating the White House’s effort to use the guise of jobs or appointments to obtain the withdrawal of primary candidates from challenging incumbents, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) released the ...