The Senate passed the bipartisan "Faster FOIA Act" earlier this year. Now, one of its two sponsors, Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) is urging the House of Representatives to pass the Act.
I strongly disagree with Senator Leahy. I believe the act does absolutely nothing to make the FOIA faster -- what it does is create a commission to come up with ideas to make the FOIA faster. As amended in the Senate, It also would make the commission investigate issues surrounding political appointees being involved with FOIA requests. It, in and of itself does nothing to make FOIA faster nor does the bill even fund the commission.
What I would suggest is that Senator Leahy and his co-sponsor, Sen. Cornyn (R-Tx) hold hearings and write actual legislation that make FOIA faster. This legislation is the act they could then urge the House of Representatives to pass.
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