Government Information News 2003
15 December
ALA submitted comments on a proposed OMB Bulletin on Peer Review and Information
Quality. ALA expressed concern that the effect of this proposed bulletin would
be to delay the government's use and dissemination of information.
ALA commented on
- the proposed further expansion of the possibility for delays
in dissemination of information due to challenges to agency compliance with
information quality guidelines;
- the provision that would encourage agencies to conduct their
external peer review outside the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act;
- the scope and content of the proposed external peer review;
and
- the potential disqualification of reviewers who have " in recent years, advocated a position on the specific matter at issue."
a
pdf copy of the letter
3 Nov 2003
46 organizations wrote to Representatives Mark Green and Christopher Shays to
express their dismay at the discontinuation of the "Index of Congressional Research
Service Reports." This service had provided for public access to CRS reports
through portals on the two Members' web sites. The Index was a pilot on which
the plug has been pulled.
As the taxpayer-funded research arm of Congress, the Congressional
Research Service (CRS) provides research materials that are among the best produced
by the federal government.They explain, with fairness and clarity, the controversies
and complexities surrounding the most pressing issues of our day. While Members
have traditionally made individual reports available on an ad hoc basis, CRS
has long resisted providing direct public access to these materials, considering
them information prepared on the request of and for the use of Members.
A
pdf copy of the letter
10 Sep 2003
In a letter [pdf file]
to Members the Committee on House Administration pulled the plug on a pilot
program providing public access to a database of Congressional Research Services
reports, the "Index of Congressional Research Service Reports." This
service had provided for public access to CRS reports through portals on the
Members' web sites.
Under the new policy, Members will be able to select the particular
CRS reports they wish to offer on their web sites and to provide links to those
specific reports, which will be automatically updated.
This arrangement "maintains the direct relationship between
Members and their constituents by enabling Members to learn directly of constituent
concerns, and by providing constituents with information that Members personally
deem useful," according to the letter, and this " modified approach
also preserves the principle of selective dissemination and avoids legal and
institutional dangers posed by wholesale publication of CRS products."
As the taxpayer-funded research arm of Congress, the Congressional
Research Service (CRS) provides research materials that are among the best produced
by the federal government.They explain, with fairness and clarity, the controversies
and complexities surrounding the most pressing issues of our day. While Members
have traditionally made individual reports available on an ad hoc basis, CRS
has long resisted providing direct public access to these materials, considering
them information prepared on the request of and for the use of Members. Another
congressional agency, the General Accounting Office (GAO) routinely makes virtually
all of its reports directly available to the public, although they, too, are
done in response to requests from Members.
The Washington Office is looking into how many, if any, offices
are availing themselves of the new "service" and what they have selected
as the products "that are most suitable and appropriate for accesss by
their constituents" (as the letter puts it).
On November 11, 2003, 59 organizations and 3 individuals wrote
to Representatives Mark Green and Christopher Shays to express their dismay
at the discontinuation of the "Index of Congressional Research Service
Reports."
26 Aug 2003
Seventy-five organizations representing librarians, journalists, scientists,
environmental groups, privacy advocates, and others sent a letter to Homeland
Security Secretary Tom Ridge calling on the Department of Homeland Security
to allow public input on procedures for "safeguarding" and sharing a vaguely
defined set of information between firefighters, police officers, public health
researchers and federal, state, and local governments. The letter [see "Related
Files" below] asks Secretary Ridge to release a draft version of the new procedures
- which would not themselves contain classified information – for the
public to comment on. It also requests that DHS address public comments in writing
a final version.
16 June 2003
ALA filed comments with the Department of Homeland Security on its proposed
rule for implementing the Critical Infrastructure Information Protection program
created in the Homeland Security Act.
6 June 6 2003
The GPO and the OMB announced a new compact for government printing. According
to the press release put out by GPO, "both agencies seek to develop a mechanism
that will allow Federal agencies direct access to printing vendors" and "both
agencies seek to reduce the cost of Federal printing and to ensure the permanent
public access to all non-classified government publications."
Read the Press Release (PDF)
|
2003news