John Cornyn: “this week our country is celebrating the second annual National Sunshine Week, established last year by an extraordinary…”

“this week our country is celebrating the second annual National Sunshine Week, established last year by an extraordinary coalition of print, radio, television, and online media associations and outlets. And yesterday was national Freedom of Information Day--celebrated every year at a national conference held at the Freedom Forum's World Center in Arlington, VA, on James Madison's birthday. As we celebrate National Sunshine Week, it is an appropriate time to evaluate the significant progress of the past year toward reforming the Freedom of Information Act. But we must also recognize that we can--and should--certainly do more to preserve the open-government principles on which our great country was founded. At a time when Americans reportedly know more about the television show ``The Simpsons'' than they do about the five provisions of the first amendment--freedom of press, speech, religion, assembly, and petition for redress of grievances--or can name the three ``American Idol'' judges more readily than three first amendment provisions, Congress must do its utmost to preserve these protections while also educating the public about reform efforts.…”