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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 653 (114th)

FOIA Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

2 February 2015

Last action

12 January 2016 · Introduced

Status

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Guinta, Frank C. [R-NH-1], Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12], Rep. Bucshon, Larry [R-IN-8], Rep. Byrne, Bradley [R-AL-1], Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3], Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Hurt, Robert [R-VA-5], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5], Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15], Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14], Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Rep. Ashford, Brad [D-NE-2], Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-15], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Bishop, Mike [R-MI-8], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Hensarling, Jeb [R-TX-5], Rescom. Pierluisi, Pedro R. [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17], Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10], Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3], Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2], Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4], Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Hice, Jody B. [R-GA-10], Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

Subjects

Budget

Source updated

10 August 2026

Budget

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Summary

FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2015 or the FOIA Act This bill makes changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to provide the public with greater access to information disclosable under such Act. The bill requires agencies, in administering FOIA, to: (1) make information disclosable under such Act available to the public in an electronic, publicly accessible format; and (2) make available to the public records of general interest that inform the public of the operations and activities of the government or that have been requested three or more times. The Office of Management and Budget is directed to ensure the operation of an online request portal that allows a member of the public to submit a FOIA request for records to any agency from a single website. The bill establishes a presumption of openness by prohibiting an agency from withholding information otherwise disclosable under FOIA unless: (1) the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would cause specific identifiable harm to an interest protected by an exemption to FOIA, or (2) disclosure is prohibited by law. The duties of the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) are expanded to require: (1) mediation services to resolve disputes between agencies and persons making FOIA requests; (2) annual reports on the activities of OGIS that are available in an electronic, publicly accessible format; and (3) annual public meetings on the review of agencies' FOIA policies, procedures, and compliance. The bill requires annual agency FOIA reports and the annual reports on FOIA of the Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Information Policy (OIP) to be made available in an electronic, publicly accessible format. Agencies are prohibited from assessing search or duplication fees if they have failed to comply with a statutory deadline for a FOIA response and did not submit a written notice to the requestor justifying the fees requested. The role of the Chief FOIA Officer at each agency is expanded to require officers to serve as the primary agency liaison between OGIS and OIP and to complete annual compliance determinations that review agency regulations, fee assessments, use of exemptions, dispute resolution services, and the timely processing of FOIA requests. The bill establishes a Chief FOIA Officers Council for developing recommendations for increasing compliance and efficiency, disseminating information about agency experiences, identifying initiatives to increase transparency and compliance, and promoting performance measures to ensure agency compliance with FOIA requirements. The Inspector General of each agency is required to: (1) periodically review compliance with FOIA requirements, including the timely processing of requests, assessment of fees and fee waivers, and the use of FOIA exemptions, and (2) make recommendations to the agency head, including recommendations for disciplinary action.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 2 February 2015

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 2 February 2015

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 2 February 2015

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 25 March 2015

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  5. 25 March 2015

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  6. 7 January 2016

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 294.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 7 January 2016

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-391.

    Source: Committee

  8. 7 January 2016

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-391.

    Source: Committee

  9. 11 January 2016

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  10. 11 January 2016

    Passed

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H249-252)

    Source: Floor

  11. 11 January 2016

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H249-252)

    Source: Floor

  12. 11 January 2016

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 653.

    Source: Floor

  13. 11 January 2016

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H249-255)

    Source: Floor

  14. 11 January 2016

    Floor

    Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

  15. 12 January 2016

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

11 official files

Referred in Senate (text)

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  • Referred in Senate (text)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 12 January 2016

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  • Referred in Senate (PDF)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 12 January 2016

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 11 January 2016

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 11 January 2016

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 11 January 2016

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 7 January 2016

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 7 January 2016

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  • Reported to House with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 7 January 2016

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 2 February 2015

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 2 February 2015

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 2 February 2015

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