Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 1309, the Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007. Open and accountable government make up the cornerstones of good government. This legislation before us today seeks to strengthen these cornerstones. The Freedom of Information Act was signed into law over 40 years ago, in July 1966, enacted after 11 years of debate. FOIA established a statutory right of public access to executive branch information. FOIA provides that any person has the right to obtain Federal agency records. Originally, the act included nine categories of information protected from disclosure, and Congress has added additional exemptions over time. Balancing the need for open government with the needs to protect information vital to national security and personal privacy is a constant struggle. Federal Departments and agencies are operating in the post-9/11 information age and face 21st century security, information management, and resource challenges. As we seek to achieve this balance we must remember the words of Thomas Jefferson who said, 'Information is the currency of democracy.' FOIA is an essential tool to ensure that the citizens of our great Nation have access to information in the way that Thomas Jefferson envisioned.”