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United States · Bill · S

S. 849 (110th)

OPEN Government Act of 2007

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

13 March 2007

Last action

—

Status

Held at the desk.

Sponsors

—

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

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Summary

Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 or the OPEN Government Act of 2007 - Amends Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provisions to prohibit a federal agency from denying a requester status as a news media representative for purposes of determining FOIA request processing fees solely on the absence of institutional association. Requires an agency to consider the requester's prior publication history or stated intent to distribute information to a reasonably broad audience. Provides that, for purposes of recovery of attorney fees and other litigation costs under FOIA, a complainant has substantially prevailed if the complainant has obtained relief through either: (1) a judicial order, an administrative action, or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or (2) a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party where the complainant's claim or defense was not frivolous. Directs the Attorney General to notify the Special Counsel of and report to Congress on civil actions taken for arbitrary and capricious rejections of requests for agency records. Prohibits the tolling of the time limit within which agencies determine whether to comply with a request for records without the consent of the party filing the request. Requires agencies to establish a system to assign an individual tracking number for FOIA requests and a telephone line or Internet service to provide information on the status of a request. Requires specific statutory citations for FOIA disclosure exemptions. Revises certain agency reporting requirements relating to FOIA requests. Establishes the Office of Government Information Services within the Administrative Conference of the United States to review, audit, and recommend policy changes to agency FOIA policies and procedures. Requires the: (1) Comptroller General to annually report on implementation of provisions for the protection of voluntarily shared critical infrastructure information; and (2) Office of Personnel Management to report on personnel policies related to FOIA.

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Documents

9 official files

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Sources

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