John Cornyn

July Fourth marks 50th anniversary of Freedom of Information Act

FOIFT2016-07-01T15:17:13-05:00

Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into the law the landmark federal Freedom of Information Act on the Fourth of July. President Barack Obama on Thursday signed an update to the law, adding new transparency measures. A reluctant Johnson signed the original legislation July 4, 1966, without fanfare. News Industry leaders and members of both parties in Congress had pressed for the law, which took effect in 1967. Johnson's signing statement distributed to news reporters in San Antonio who were covering the president during a Texas trip shows toned down commentary by Johnson about the law, according to the [...]

July Fourth marks 50th anniversary of Freedom of Information ActFOIFT2016-07-01T15:17:13-05:00

Cornyn-Leahy updated FOIA bill expected to become law

FOIFT2016-06-14T16:30:21-05:00

By Todd J. Gillman The Dallas Morning News Originally published June 14, 2016 WASHINGTON – The Freedom of Information Act turns 50 years old next month, and just in time to celebrate, Congress has sent the president an update co-authored by Texas Sen. John Cornyn. “A healthy democracy requires an open and transparent government, and this bill will help ensure all Americans have better access to their government,” said Cornyn, the deputy Republican leader, who teamed up with Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy on the effort. The White House said in March that President Barack Obama would sign the bill into law [...]

Cornyn-Leahy updated FOIA bill expected to become lawFOIFT2016-06-14T16:30:21-05:00

U.S. House backs bill to update FOIA as report faults Obama administration

FOIFT2016-01-12T16:00:23-06:00

By Matthew Daly Associated Press via U.S. News and World Report Originally published Jan. 11, 2016 WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved legislation Monday making it easier to obtain government records, as a new congressional report concluded that the freedom of information process under the Obama administration is broken and in need of serious change. The bill, approved by a voice vote, would require government agencies to make information available to the public online. It also would require agencies to adopt a presumption in favor of disclosing records rather than keeping them secret. The vote came as Republicans on the House [...]

U.S. House backs bill to update FOIA as report faults Obama administrationFOIFT2016-01-12T16:00:23-06:00

U.S. Senate Judiciary to move on FOIA reform sponsored by Cornyn, Leahy

FOIFT2015-02-03T23:54:23-06:00

By Mario Trujillo The Hill Originally published Feb. 3 ,2015 The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider an update to the law managing the public’s access to government records in one of its first legislative acts this year. Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday will hold a markup of the FOIA Improvement Act, which unanimously passed the Senate last year but failed to make it to President Obama’s desk. Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vt.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, on Monday re-introduced the bill to update the Freedom of Information Act along with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). One of the largest changes [...]

U.S. Senate Judiciary to move on FOIA reform sponsored by Cornyn, LeahyFOIFT2015-02-03T23:54:23-06:00

How the Cornyn-Leahy transparency bill suddenly died in Congress

FOIFT2014-12-16T14:33:46-06:00

By Josh Hicks Washington Post Originally published Dec. 16, 2014 Nothing comes easy for the current Congress, which has already left its mark as one of the least productive in U.S. history. The Fighting 113th has agreed in principle on the need to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act, a key government-transparency law that guarantees public access to federal records. But House leaders last week shrugged off an opportunity to schedule the Senate’s FOIA Improvement Act for a vote, despite bipartisan prodding from Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who sponsored similar House legislation. The House and Senate approved their [...]

How the Cornyn-Leahy transparency bill suddenly died in CongressFOIFT2014-12-16T14:33:46-06:00

12 Next

CONTACT INFO

TEXAS FOI NEWS

QUICK LINKS

MENU

RESOURCES

Contact Info

Latest News