ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 14, Number 24 March 15, 2005 In This Issue: "FASTER FOIA" in Sunshine Week We are writing to urge you to call your Senator, if he or she is on the Senate Judiciary Committee, about the "Faster FOIA" Act of 2005 (S. 589). The bill is on a fast track to be marked-up by the Judiciary Committee this week and the Committee should be urged to approve it this week -- during Sunshine Week. TALKING POINTS: The Faster FOIA Act would establish a 16-member Commission on Freedom of Information Act Processing Delays, or the purpose of conducting a study relating to methods to help reduce delays in processing requests submitted to Federal agencies under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the `Freedom of Information Act'). It is very non-controversial, has bi-partisan support, and would help to identify solutions for some of the problems with the Freedom of Information Act that lessen its effectiveness as a tool for open and accountable government. The bill allows for 3 commissioners each to be appointed by Chair and the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 3 each by the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Government Reform. Among the interesting provisions of the bill, it requires that, for each group of 3: (A) at least 1 shall have experience in submitting requests under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, to Federal agencies, such as on behalf of nonprofit research or educational organizations or news media organizations; and (B) at least 1 shall have experience in academic research in the fields of library science, information management, or public access to Government information. It is rare that these representatives of the public are participate directly on government Commissions, and we commend Senators Leahy and Cornyn for ensuring this participation in their bill. The Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are: REPUBLICANS Arlen Specter (PA), Chair Phone: (202) 224-4254; (215) 597-7200; Fax: (202) 228-1229 Orrin Hatch (UT) Phone: (202) 224-5251; (801) 524-4380; Fax: (202) 224-6331 Charles Grassley (IA) Phone: (202) 224-3744; (515) 288-1145; Fax: (202) 224-6020 Jon Kyl (AZ) Phone: (202) 224-4521; (602) 840-1891; Fax: (202) 224-2207 Mike DeWine (OH) Phone: (202) 224-2315; (614) 469-5186; Fax: (202) 224-6519 Jeff Sessions (AL) Phone: (202) 224-4124; (334) 244-7017; Fax: (202) 224-3149 Lindsey Graham (SC) Phone: (202) 224-5972; (864) 250-1417; Fax: (202) 224-3808 John Cornyn (TX) co-sponsor Phone: (202) 224-2934; (512) 469-6034; Fax: (202) 228-2856 Sam Brownback (KS) Phone: (202) 224-6521; (785) 233-2503; Fax: (202) 228-1265 Tom Coburn (OK) Phone: (202) 224-5754; (918) 581-7651; Fax: (202) 224-6008 DEMOCRATS Patrick Leahy (VT), Ranking Member and co-sponsor Phone: (202) 224-4242; (802) 863-2525; Fax: (202) 224-3479 Edward Kennedy (MA)Phone: (202) 224-4543; (617) 565-3170; Fax: (202) 224-2417 Joseph Biden (DE) Phone: (202) 224-5042; (302) 573-6345; Fax: (202) 224-0139 Herbert Kohl (WI) Phone: (202) 224-5653; (414) 297-4451; Fax: (202) 224-9787 Dianne Feinstein (CA) Phone: (202) 224-3841; (415) 393-0707; Fax: (202) 228-3954 Russ Feingold (WI) Phone: (202) 224-5323; (608) 828-1200; Fax: (202) 224-2725 Charles Schumer (NY) Phone: (202) 224-6542; (212) 486-4430; Fax: (202) 228-3027 Richard Durbin (IL) Phone: (202) 224-2152; (312) 353-4952; Fax: (202) 228-0400 ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Carol Ashworth, Don Essex, Joshua Farrelman, Erin Haggerty, Patrice McDermott and Miriam Nisbet. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Carrie Lowe, Kathy Mitchell, Carrie Russell. ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.