[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1620 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1620

 To establish the Commission on Freedom of Information Act Processing 
                                Delays.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 2005

    Mr. Sherman (for himself and Mr. Smith of Texas) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government 
                                 Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish the Commission on Freedom of Information Act Processing 
                                Delays.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. COMMISSION ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT PROCESSING DELAYS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Faster FOIA Act of 
2005''.
    (b) Establishment.--There is established the Commission on Freedom 
of Information Act Processing Delays (in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'') for the purpose of conducting a study relating to 
methods to help reduce delays in processing requests submitted to 
Federal agencies under section 552 of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the ``Freedom of Information Act'').
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 16 
        members of whom--
                    (A) 3 shall be appointed by the chairman of the 
                Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
                    (B) 3 shall be appointed by the ranking member of 
                the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
                    (C) 3 shall be appointed by the chairman of the 
                Committee on Government Reform of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (D) 3 shall be appointed by the ranking member of 
                the Committee on Government Reform of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (E) 1 shall be appointed by the Attorney General of 
                the United States;
                    (F) 1 shall be appointed by the Director of the 
                Office of Management and Budget;
                    (G) 1 shall be appointed by the Archivist of the 
                United States; and
                    (H) 1 shall be appointed by the Comptroller General 
                of the United States.
            (2) Qualifications of congressional appointees.--Of the 3 
        appointees under each of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) 
        of paragraph (1)--
                    (A) at least 1 shall have experience in submitting 
                requests under section 552 of title 5, United States 
                Code, to Federal agencies, such as on behalf of 
                nonprofit research or educational organizations or news 
                media organizations; and
                    (B) at least 1 shall have experience in academic 
                research in the fields of library science, information 
                management, or public access to Government information.
    (d) Study.--The Commission shall conduct a study to--
            (1) identify methods that--
                    (A) will help reduce delays in the processing of 
                requests submitted to Federal agencies under section 
                552 of title 5, United States Code; and
                    (B) ensure the efficient and equitable 
                administration of that section throughout the Federal 
                Government; and
            (2) examine whether the system for charging fees and 
        granting waivers of fees under section 552 of title 5, United 
        States Code, needs to be reformed in order to reduce delays in 
        processing requests.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Commission shall submit a report to Congress and the 
President containing the results of the study under this section, which 
shall include--
            (1) a description of the methods identified by the study;
            (2) the conclusions and recommendations of the Commission 
        regarding--
                    (A) each method identified; and
                    (B) the charging of fees and granting of waivers of 
                fees; and
            (3) recommendations for legislative or administrative 
        actions to implement the conclusions of the Commission.
    (f) Staff and Administrative Support Services.--The Comptroller 
General of the United States shall provide to the Commission such staff 
and administrative support services, including research assistance at 
the request of the Commission, as necessary for the Commission to 
perform its functions efficiently and in accordance with this section.
    (g) Information.--To the extent permitted by law, the heads of 
executive agencies, the Government Accountability Office, and the 
Congressional Research Service shall provide to the Commission such 
information as the Commission may require to carry out its functions.
    (h) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Commission shall serve 
without compensation for services performed for the Commission.
    (i) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission.
    (j) Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Commission.
    (k) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the 
submission of the report under subsection (e).
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