Patrick Leahy: “On July 4, our Nation will celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the signing of the Freedom of Information Act, FOIA. While…”

“On July 4, our Nation will celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the signing of the Freedom of Information Act, FOIA. While we mark this important anniversary, the country also celebrates the enactment earlier this year of the first major reforms to FOIA in over a decade--the OPEN Government Act--which will reinvigorate and strengthen this vital open government law for many years to come. Now in its fourth decade, the Freedom of Information Act remains an indispensable tool for shedding light on bad policies and Government abuses. The act has helped to guarantee the public's 'right to know' for generations of Americans. Today, thanks to the reforms contained in the OPEN Government Act, which was signed into law on December 31, Americans who seek information under FOIA will experience a process that is much more transparent and less burdened by delays than it has been in the past. This is very good news. But there is still much more to be done to ensure that FOIA remains an effective tool for keeping our democracy open and free.”