[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 86 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10874]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

 

FOIA-Requester Community Conference

SUMMARY: On October 4, 1993, President Clinton asked that each Federal 
department and agency renew its commitment to the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA), its underlying principles of government 
openness, and its sound administration. Also on October 4, 1993, 
Attorney General Reno asked the Federal agencies to ensure that the 
principle of openness in government is applied in every disclosure and 
nondisclosure decision made under FOIA. Subsequently, in the attached 
memorandum, all component agencies within the U.S. Department of Labor 
(DOL) were directed to take the appropriate steps to ensure that they 
are in compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the Freedom of 
Information Act. 5 U.S.C. 552.
    The Department of Labor is fully committed to these directives, 
and, in an effort to implement this Administration's policy, is 
scheduling a conference to discuss the DOL's internal handling and 
processing of FOIA requests with its FOIA-requester community.

TIME AND PLACE: The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 19, 1994, 
from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Auditorium of the Frances Perkins 
Department of Labor Building, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20210.

AGENDA: The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
    (1) Welcome and introduction of DOL panel and representatives from 
various components of DOL;
    (2) Overview of DOL's process for handling FOIA/PA requests;
    (3) Question/Answer Session;
    (4) Closing Remarks.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The meeting will be open to the public. Seating, 
however, is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served 
basis. Disabled individuals should contact Barbara Walker on (202) 219-
8188, no later than Tuesday, May 9, 1994, if special accommodations are 
needed. Persons wishing to make presentations to the panel should 
contact Ms. Walker in advance of the meeting; arrangements can be made 
for distribution of any written materials by those wishing to address 
the panel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Miriam McD. Miller, Co-Counsel for Administrative Law, U.S. Department 
of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, room N-2428, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-8188.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 2nd day of May, 1994.
Robert B. Reich,
Secretary of Labor.

Memorandum for the Executive Staff

    From: Robert B. Reich.
    Subject: The Freedom Information Act.

    Date: November 17, 1993.

    The President has recently declared his strong commitment to the 
basic purposes of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Like President 
Clinton, I believe that this Act is a vital part of a participatory 
system of government. I enthusiastically join the President and pledge 
to renew this Department's commitment to openness in government and to 
the sound administration of the FOIA.
    Attorney General Reno has issued the attached memorandum 
implementing the President's mandate. I have asked the Solicitor of 
Labor to take the necessary steps to ensure that each official and 
employee of this Department reflects this new spirit of government 
openness and accountability. Specifically, I have asked Solicitor 
Williamson to do the following:
    (1) Provide guidance to all DOL agencies on the President's and 
Attorney General's memoranda;
    (2) Prepare the report, requested by Attorney General Reno, 
describing the extent of any present FOIA backlog as well as any FOIA 
staffing difficulties. The Justice Department has asked that this 
report be submitted by early November; and
    (3) Periodically report to me on the progress made by DOL agencies 
to examine and improve their procedures with the objective of making 
our handling of FOIA requests more customer-friendly, including 
enhanced use of electronic information systems.
    I ask that each component of the Department cooperate fully with 
the Solicitor as the first step to renew our efforts to keep the public 
informed while at the same time protecting information only when it is 
legally justified and necessary to protect an important Labor 
Department interest, or the interests of private entities or 
individuals.
    Please join me in reinventing this Department's enhanced 
communication with the public. Let us commit this Department to seek 
more ways to distribute information without being requested to do so, 
to withhold documents only when it is necessary to protect an important 
interest, and to handle each request for records in a customer-friendly 
manner.

Attachments

    Note: The memorandum from Attorney General Reno is not included 
in this document.

[FR Doc. 94-10874 Filed 5-4-94; 8:45 am]
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