[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6289 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6289
To direct the Librarian of Congress to make available to the public the
bulk legislative summary and status data used to provide the
information posted on the THOMAS website, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 29, 2010
Mr. Foster introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Librarian of Congress to make available to the public the
bulk legislative summary and status data used to provide the
information posted on the THOMAS website, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Legislative Data Transparency and
Public Access Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Since its launch in 1995, the Web site THOMAS has been
an important source of free public information on Federal
legislation.
(2) In the years since the introduction of THOMAS, the
Internet has evolved into what is commonly referred to as Web
2.0, which encourages the reuse of open source information
though collaboration, interactivity, and data standardization.
(3) Allowing the public to download the THOMAS Web site's
bulk legislative summary and status data will enable
independent Web sites and outside watchdog groups to use the
data in new and innovative ways that make the proceedings of
Congress easier to follow and government more transparent.
(4) In its 2007 report on Congressional Information and the
Internet, the Open House Project recommended that Congress
``make available to the public a well-supported database of all
bill status and summary information currently accessible
through the Library of Congress.''
(5) The Open House Project also noted that ``Six states
already publish the status of their state legislation in a
structured data format: Connecticut, Illinois . . . Minnesota,
Oregon, Texas and Virginia.''
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Library of Congress should work toward improving public access to all
THOMAS data, including the text of legislation, in bulk.
SEC. 3. PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF BULK LEGISLATIVE DATA.
(a) Public Availability Through Internet.--As soon as practicable,
the Librarian of Congress, in consultation with the Director of the
Congressional Research Service, the Public Printer, the Clerk of the
House of Representatives, and the Secretary of the Senate, shall make
available to the public through the Internet the bulk legislative
summary and status data used by the Librarian to provide the
information the Librarian posts on the THOMAS Web site.
(b) Method and Manner of Availability.--In making available the
bulk legislative data required under subsection (a), the Librarian
shall ensure the following:
(1) The data is available in a searchable, sortable, and
downloadable manner.
(2) The data available for downloading shall include status
and summary information on legislation.
(3) The data is provided in a structured, nonproprietary
format.
(4) The data is available free of charge.
(5) The data is updated continuously in a timely manner.
(6) The database involved includes the following supporting
information:
(A) A roster showing each Member of Congress
(including each Delegate and Resident Commissioner to
the Congress), the Member's committee assignments, and
the ZIP Codes included in each Member's congressional
district.
(B) Such other supporting information as the
Librarian considers appropriate.
(7) The data is provided in a manner consistent with the
standards developed and published under subsection (c).
(c) Development of Standards.--Prior to making available the bulk
legislative data described in subsection (a), the Librarian of
Congress, in consultation with the individuals described in such
subsection, shall develop and publish standards for the downloading and
public availability of the data, and shall update such standards at
such frequency as the Librarian considers appropriate.
SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THOMAS.
(a) Advisory Committee.--There is hereby established in the Library
of Congress the Advisory Committee on THOMAS (hereafter in this section
referred to as the ``Advisory Committee'').
(b) Members.--
(1) Appointment.--The Advisory Committee shall consist of
16 members appointed as follows:
(A) Seven individuals appointed by the Librarian of
Congress who have expertise in disciplines such as
legislative access, Internet technology, and open
government, and who shall include representatives of
academia, the nonprofit sector, the for-profit sector,
and users of the THOMAS Web site.
(B) Four individuals appointed by the Librarian of
Congress who are employees of the Federal government
with expertise in access to government information and
Internet technology.
(C) The Law Librarian of Congress (or the Law
Librarian's designee).
(D) The Clerk of the House of Representatives (or
the Clerk's designee).
(E) The Secretary of the Senate (or the Secretary's
designee).
(F) The Public Printer (or the Public Printer's
designee).
(G) The Director of the Congressional Research
Service (or the Director's designee).
(2) Deadline for appointments.--The Librarian of Congress
shall appoint the members described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B) of paragraph (1) not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(3) Term of service; vacancies.--Members of the Advisory
Committee shall serve for a term of 3 years, and may be
appointed to additional terms. Any vacancy in the Advisory
Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(4) No compensation.--Members of the Advisory Committee
shall serve without pay, but shall receive travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title
5, United States Code. Members of the Advisory Committee who
are full-time officers or employees of the United States may
not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason
of their service on the Commission.
(c) Support From Librarian of Congress.--The Librarian of Congress
shall provide the Advisory Board with the administrative, professional,
and technical support required by the Advisory Board to carry out its
responsibilities under this section.
(d) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall meet on a regular basis
at the call of a majority of its members. Meetings shall be open to the
public.
(e) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall--
(1) review progress toward making all of the data of the
THOMAS Web site available in bulk; and
(2) provide general advice to the Librarian of Congress on
improving digital access and THOMAS services.
(f) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Advisory Committee
shall submit a report on its activities to the Committee on House
Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Rules and Administration of the Senate, and shall include in the report
such recommendations as the Advisory Committee considers appropriate.
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