Jason Chaffetz: “I appreciate the good, bipartisan work. It was through a lot of labor and a lot of listening to what the public needs…”

“I appreciate the good, bipartisan work. It was through a lot of labor and a lot of listening to what the public needs and to what the media needs. I do think this will make the Freedom of Information Act better as it is the spirit by which we operate in this country. I urge the bill's passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Washington, DC, January 8, 2016. Hon. Jason Chaffetz, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Chaffetz: On January 7, 2016, your committee ordered H.R. 653, the ``FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2015,'' reported. As you know, H.R. 653 contains several provisions that implicate the work of agencies within the jurisdiction of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The bill addresses how elements of the Intelligence Community (IC), as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947, may protect sensitive information from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). On the basis of your consultations with the Committee, I understand that H.R. 653 has been crafted to avoid compelling the disclosure of any properly classified information, or other information where disclosure would adversely affect intelligence sources and methods protected by an existing FOIA exemption. In particular, I understand that H.R.…”