A bill to amend section 552 of title 5, United States Code, known as the Freedom of Information Act.

Summary

Requires Federal agencies, under the Freedom of Information Act, to maintain, promptly publish, and distribute (by sale or otherwise) copies of a current index providing identifying information for the public as to any matter, issued, adopted, or promulgated after July 4, 1967 and required by the Act to be made available or published. States that Federal agencies upon any request for records which reasonably describes such records, and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees to the extent authorized by statute, and procedure to be followed, shall make the records promptly available to any person. Sets forth the procedure for Federal agencies to follow upon receipt of any request for records made under the Act. Permits a Federal district court to examine the contents of any agency records in camera to determine whether such records or any part thereof shall be withheld under any of the exemptions set forth in the Act. Provides that the United States or a Federal agency shall serve a responsive pleading to any complaint made under the Act within 20 days after the service upon the United States attorney of the pleading in which such complaint is made, unless the court otherwise directs for good cause shown. Allows the court to assess against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under the Act in which the United States has not prevailed. Exempts from provisions of the Act matters that are authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of the national defense or foreign policy. Requires each Federal agency on or before March 1 of each year to submit a report covering the previous year to the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Government Operations and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. (Amends 5 U.S.C. 552)

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Documents

3 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 22 November 1974

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• Public Law

  summary · EN · 21 November 1974

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 31 January 1974

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