Legislation Committee

About the Committee | Issues -- Current Congress |  Issues -- Past Congresses |  GODORT Resolutions | Advocacy Resources | Related Links

   Important Legislation/Issues - Past Congresses

109th Congress | 108th Congress | 107th Congress | 106th Congress | 105th Congress

   Important Legislation/Issues in the 109th Congress

EPA Libraries' Funding
Open Access to Government Information
PubChem
GPO FY2006 Appropriations
GPO and the Federal Depository Library Program
Sensitive' Information
Privatization of Government Information Classification of Government Information
Removal of Government Information
Gov't Secrecy & Information Security
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
E-Government

   EPA Libraries' Funding

• "Budget Cut Would Shutter EPA Libraries" (Christopher Lee, The Washington Post, May 15, 2005)
• "FY2007 EPA Budget Proposes a $2 Million Cut to the Libraries of the EPA" (ALA Washington Office)
• "Budget Cuts Imperil EPA Library System" (Ted Agres, The Scientist, March 10, 2006)
• Proposed Cuts to EPA Libraries ( ALAWON, March 9, 2006)
• "Bush Axing Libraries While Pushing for More Research" (News Release, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, February 10, 2006) 

   Open Access to Government Information

• "Bill Seeks Access to Tax-Funded Research" (Rick Weiss, The Washington Post, May 3, 2006)
• S. 2695: Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006
• " Government Health Researchers Pressed to Share Data at No Charge" (Rick Weiss, Washington Post, March 10, 2006)
• Report on the NIH Public Access Policy (January 2006)

   PubChem

• Letter from the President of the ACS to Members; an update on the NIH issue (August 23, 2005)
• The American Chemical Society and NIH's PubChem (University of California, Office of Scholarly Communication)
• "A Cauldron Bubbles: PubChem and the American Chemical Society" (by Miriam A. Drake, Information Today, June 6, 2005)
• American Chemical Society calling on Congress to shut down the NIH's PubChem (American Library Association)
• Support for NIH's PubChem Database - May 24, 2005 letter from the Open Access Working Group
• American Chemical Society (ACS) and PubChem (Chemical Abstracts Service web site, May 23, 2005) - [pdf document]
• Database Debate: NIH's PubChem chemical structure database draws ACS's concern (Susan Morrisey, Chemical and Engineering News, April 25, 2005)

   GPO FY2006 Appropriations

• FY06 Legislative Branch Appropriations update ( ALAWON, August 29, 2005)
• ALA/AALL/SLA letter in support of GPO's FY2006 Appropriations Request (April 21, 2005)
• "Congress Finalizes Appropriations Reorganization Plan" ( ALAWON, March 3, 2005)
• "House Appropriations Committee Approves Appropriations Reorganization While Senate Considers Alternatives" ( ALAWON, February 17, 2005)
• "House Appropriations Chairman Announces Final Details of Subcommittee Reorganization - Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee Eliminated" ( ALAWON, February 10, 2005)

   GPO and the Federal Depository Library Program

• National Library Legislation Day, May 3-4 2005: Contact Your Member Regarding the Benefits of the FDLP!
• OMB Report to Congress: "Organizations Complementing Federal Agency Dissemination Programs" (April 15, 2005)
• "Call for Oversight on GPO Initiatives" ( ALAWON, January 27, 2005)
• Action Alert: Stop GPO's Abrupt Plan to Eliminate Print Distribution of Important Government Information to Our Nation's Federal Depository Libraries" (AALL, January 26, 2005)
• Talking Points re: GPO's FY2006 Appropriations Request
• "GPO seeks tools to harvest overlooked documents on the Web" (Mary Mosquera, Government Computer News, January 3, 2005)
• Solicitation and Statement of Work for Web Harvesting (FedBizOpps, December 30, 2004)
• GPO Annual Report 2004
• GPO's Strategic Vision for the 21st Century (December 13, 2004)

Back to Top

   'Sensitive' Information (also includes Other Categories of Unclassified but Restricted Information)

• "Congress urged to help make more 'sensitive' information public" (Chris Strohm, GovExec.com, May 11, 2006)
• "Agencies Told to Standardize 'Sensitive but Unclassified'" ( Secrecy News, December 20, 2005)
• "A Selected Bibliography on 'Sensitive but Unclassified' and Similarly Designated Information Held by the Federal Government" (Sara E. Kelly, LLRX.com, December 17, 2005)
• "Sensitive but Unclassified Information," Centers for Disease Control, July 22, 2005 (via Secrecy News, August 2, 2005)
• "In war's name, public loses information" (Charlie Savage, The Boston Globe, April 24, 2005)
• "Transportation Agency Hides Vital Data as 'Sensitive Security Information'" ( OMB Watcher, April 4, 2005)
• "U.S. Efforts to Hide Sensitive Data Pit 9/11 Concerns Against Safety" (Christopher Drew et al, The New York Times, March 5, 2005)
• "Emerging Threats: Overclassification and Pseudo-Classification" (Hearing, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, House Committee on Government Reform; March 2, 2005)
• "Homeland Security Dropping Pledge of Secrecy for Workers" (Christopher Lee, Washington Post, January 13, 2005)
• "DHS: No More Non-Disclosure Agreements for Unclassified" ( Secrecy News, January 12, 2005)
• "Searches and gag orders: Homeland Security's unprecedented campaign cloaks unclassified info" (Eileen Sullivan, Federal Times, December 6, 2004)
• "Unions Protest DHS Secrecy Pledge" (Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, November 30, 2004)
• "Homeland Security Employees Required to Sign Secrecy Pledge" (Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, November 16, 2004) [See a copy of the nondisclosure agreement, provided by the Federation of American Scientists]
• "Laws and Regulations Governing the Protection of Sensitive but Unclassified Information" (Federal Research Division, Library of Congress via the Federation of American Scientists, September 2004) [pdf format]
• For more information, please see Important Legislation/Issues in Previous Congresses, Sensitive Information, Critical Infrastructure Information, Access to Government Information, Government Secrecy/Information Security,

Back to Top

   Privatization of Government Information

• "U.S. Privatisation Plan for Open-Access Journal Challenged" (Steve Gibb, Intellectual Property Watch, November 16, 2005)
• "ALA/MLA Comments on the Proposed Privatization of Environmental Health Perspectives"
• "Potential Privatization of the Journal "Environmental Health Perspectives;" Request for Comment (70 FR 54951, September 19, 2005)
• "GSA confirms data charges" ( FCW.com, December 28, 2004)
• "GSA: No worries about procurement data" (Michael Hardy, FCW.com, August 2, 2004)
• For more information, please see Important Legislation/Issues in Previous Congresses, Privatization of Government Information

Back to Top

   Classification of Government Information

• "Costs to classify information continue to rise" (Chris Strohm, GovExec.com, May 31, 2005)
• " 2004 Report on Cost Estimates for Security Classification Activities" (Information Security Oversight Office, National Archives and Records Administration)
• "The Age of Missing Information: The Bush administration's campaign against openness" (Steven Aftergood, Slate, March 17, 2005)

Back to Top

   Removal/Elimination of Government Information

• "EPA Gets an Earful on Plan to Reduce Toxic Reporting" ( OMB Watcher, January 24, 2006)
• "Dismantling the Public's Right to Know: The Environmental Protection Agency's Systematic Weakening of the Toxics Release Inventory" (OMB Watch publication, December 1, 2005)
• "The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to go Forward with Proposal to Remove Aeronautical Data from Public Access" (NGA News Release 05-17, November 29, 2005)
• Toxics Release Inventory Burden Reduction Proposed Rule (70 FR 57822, October 4, 2005)
• "EPA Proposes Burden Reduction Rule for the Toxics Release Inventory" (September 21, 2005)  [other related documents linked from beSpacific.com]
• "NGA reviewing public comments" (Frank Tiboni, FCW.com, July 18, 2005)
• "Feds' weather information could go dark" (Robert P. King, Palm Beach Post, April 21, 2005)
• "Annual Terror Report Won't Include Numbers" (Susan B. Glasser, The Washington Post, April 19, 2005)
• S. 786, National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005 (introduced April 14, 2005)
• "Land Management takes site down" (Aliya Sternstein, FCW.com, April 14, 2005)
• "Industry Challenge Prompts Removal of EPA Database" (OMBWatch, January 27, 2005)
• "Shhh...someone might hear you: Access to government information sharply curtailed under Ashcroft" (Alex Johnson, MSNBC, November 18, 2004)
• "Announcement of Intent to Initiate the Process to Remove Aeronautical Information from Public Sale and Distribution" (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Notice)  (69 FR 67546, November 18, 2004)
• For more information & articles published prior to November 2004, please see Important Legislation/Issues in Previous Congresses: Access to Government Information, Government Secrecy/Information Security, PubSCIENCE

Back to Top

   Government Secrecy & Information Security

• "Quantitative Indicators of Secrecy in the Federal Government: Secrecy Report Card 2005" (OpenTheGovernment.org)
• "Increase in the Number of Documents Classified by the Government" (Scott Shane, The New York Times, July 3, 2005) [Reg. required]
• "NRC to restore docs following security review" (Dibya Sarkar, FCW.com, June 13, 2005)
• "Congress Cloaks More Information in Secrecy" (Rebecca Carr, Cox News Service, June 3, 2005)
• "Bush Says His Privacy Must Be Protected" (Deb Riechmann, AP as viewed on washingtonpost.com, April 15, 2005)
• Secrecy Report Card: An Update (OpenTheGovernment.org, April 5, 2005) [pdf document]
• "Lawmaker slams NRC over access to information" (GovExec.com, March 21, 2005) (Letter available here in PDF)
• "Sensitive but Unclassified: A Policy Analysis" (review of "The Unintended Audience", Secrecy News, March 17, 2005)
• "The Unintended Audience: Balancing Openness and Secrecy" (Jacques S. Gansler and William Lucyshyn, March 14, 2005)
• "AP Review: Gov't Reducing Access to Info" (Martha Mendoza, AP, March 14, 2005)
• "Sunshine Week Survey Finds Public Concerned About Secrecy" (press release, Sunshine Week, March 11, 2005)
• "NRC Restores Web-Based Access to Online Library" (NRC News, No. 05-022, February 4, 2005)
• "Group slams unwieldy secrecy" (Shaun Waterman, UPI, via the Washington Times, December 19, 204) [Registration required.]
• "Cornyn plans bill to force a more open government" (Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman, December 11, 2004) [Registration required.]
• For more information & articles published prior to December 2004, please see Important Legislation/Issues in Previous Congresses, Access to Government Information, Government Secrecy/Information Security, Records of Vice President Cheney's National Energy Policy Development Group, EO 13233 & Related Legislation, Anti-Terrorism Legislation

Back to Top

   Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• "A Flawed Tool: Environmental Reporters' Experiences with the Freedom of Information Act" (Society of Environmental Journalists, September 12, 2005)
• "Openness Law May Get Muscle" (Brian Faler, The Washington Post, July 6, 2005)
• "Information Management: Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act" (GAO Testimony 05-648T, May 11, 2005) [pdf document]
• "Your action is requested for three bills...FASTER FOIA, OPEN Government Act, or Restore FOIA Act" ( ALAWON, March 22, 2005)
• "Faster FOIA in Sunshine Week" ( ALAWON, March 15, 2005)
• S. 589, Faster FOIA Act of 2005 (March 10, 2005)
• "Second FOIA-Related Bill Introduced by Senators Leahy and Cornyn" ( ALAWON, March 11, 2005)
• S. 394, Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2005 (February 16, 2005)
• H.R. 867, Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2005 (February 16, 2005)
• "Cornyn, Leahy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Openness in Government" (press release, February 16, 2005)
• "Many unaware of HI public's right to know" (Janet Mock, Ka Leo O Hawaii, November 23, 2004)
• For more information, please see Important Legislation/Issues in Previous Congresses: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Back to Top

   E-Government

• "Improving Public Access to and Dissemination of Government Information and Using the Federal Enterprise Architecture Data Reference Model" (OMB Policy on Section 207(d) of the E-Government Act, December 16, 2005)
• "Congress defuses attacks on e-gov, competitive sourcing" (Jason Miller, Government Computer News, November 22, 2004)
• For more information & articles published prior to November 2004, please see Important Legislation/Issues in Previous Congresses: E-Government Act of 2001, E-Government

Back to Top

Important Legislation/Issues in the 108th Congress

Classification Oversight
Whistleblowers & the Federal Government
Sensitive Information
Privatization of Government Information
GPO FY2005 Appropriations
GPO Oversight Hearing
Nomination of Archivist of the United States
Database Protection
Public Access to Science & Related Legislation
ERIC
GPO FY2004 Appropriations
Critical Infrastructure Information
USA PATRIOT Act & Related Legislation
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports
Revision of FAR
OMB Memo M-02-07
Removal of Government Information
Gov't Secrecy & Information Security
GPO FY2003 Appropriations
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Presidential Records Act
Homeland Security
Terrorism Information Awareness
E-Government

   Classification Oversight

• "Intelligence Reform Update" ( ALAWON, December 7, 2004)
• "'Secrets' Perplex Panel: Classified Data Growing to Include 'Comically Irrelevant'" (Michael J. Sniffen, The Washington Post, September 3, 2004)
• H.R. 4855, the Independent National Security Classification Board Act of 2004 (introduced July 19, 2004)
• S.2672, The Independent National Security Classification Board Act of 2004 (introduced July 15, 2004)
• "Wyden, Lott Propose Revamping National Security Classification Systems" (press release, July 15, 2004)

   Whistleblowers & the Federal Government

• "House panel votes to strengthen whistleblower protections" (Lori Sharn, CongressDaily, September 30, 2004)
• "9/11 investigation spawns whistleblower movement" (Chris Strohm, GovExec.com, September 13, 2004)
• 'Whistle-Blowing Said to Be Factor in F.B.I. Firing' (Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, July 29, 2004) [Registration required.]
• "Ask Your Members for Real Protection for Federal Whistleblowers" ( ALAWON, July 26, 2004)
• S.2628, "Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act" (introduced July 8, 2004)

Back to Top

   Sensitive Information

• "Searches and gag orders: Homeland Security's unprecedented campaign cloaks unclassified info" (Eileen Sullivan, Federal Times, December 6, 2004)
• "Unions Protest DHS Secrecy Pledge" (Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, November 30, 2004)
• "Homeland Security Employees Required to Sign Secrecy Pledge" (Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, November 16, 2004) [See a copy of the nondisclosure agreement, provided by the Federation of American Scientists]
• "Lawmakers question policy on transportation security information" (Chris Strohm, GovExec.com, September 15, 2004)
• "DOJ Asks Court for Secrecy in Suit" (AP, September 6, 2004)
• "Highway bill's secrecy rules spark public-safety debate" (James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal, June 27, 2004)
• H.R. 3550 'Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2004' (Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by Senate, June 23, 2004)
• "Interim Sensitive Security Information (SSI) Policies and Procedures for Safeguarding and Control" (October 8, 2003; Transportation Security Administration, via Federation of American Scientists) [pdf file]

Back to Top

   Privatization of Government Information

• "GSA: No worries about procurement data" (Michael Hardy, FCW.com, August 2, 2004)
• "A toll for federal data?" (Michael Hardy, FCW.com, July 26, 2004)
• "NASA extends media archive deadline" (Sarita Chourey, FCW.com, May 28, 2004)
• "9/11 Panel Chooses Publisher for Report" (Philip Shenon, The New York Times, May 25, 2004) [Registration required.]  
• "NASA to merge media archives" (Sarita Chourey, FCW.com, April 20, 2004)

Back to Top

   GPO FY2005 Appropriations

• "Congress Completes FY2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill" ( ALAWON, November 22, 2004)
• "Senate Passes Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill" ( ALAWON, July 20, 2004)
• "House Passes Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill" ( ALAWON, July 15, 2004)
• "GPO wants modernization money" (Florence Olsen, FCW.com, April 30, 2004)
• "Government Printing Office Rolls Out Budget Priorities" (GPO News Release No. 04-11, April 28, 2004)
• Prepared Statement of Bruce R. James, Public Printer, before the Subcommittee on Legislative Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, on the Appropriations Request of the U.S. Government Printing Office for Fiscal Year 2005 (April 28, 2004)

Back to Top

   GPO Oversight Hearing

• Statement of Janis L. Johnston, Director of the Law Library and Associate Professor of Law, Albert E. Jenner Memorial Law Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, on behalf of the American Association of Law Libraries, American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, Medical Library Association, and Special Libraries Association, before the Committee on House Administration (April 28, 2004)
• "Government Printing Office: Technological Changes Create Transformation Opportunities" (Statement of Linda D. Koontz, Director, Information Management Issues, General Accounting Office, before the Committee on Administration, House of Representatives, April 28, 2004)
• Prepared Statement of Bruce R. James, Public Printer, before the Committee on House Administration, U.S. House of Representatives, on the Transformation of the U.S. Government Printing Office to Meet the Demands of the 21st Century (April 28, 2004)

Back to Top

   Nomination of Archivist of the United States

• "Archivist's Resignation Questioned" (George Lardner, Jr., The Washington Post, July 26, 2004)
• "Senator seeks reasons for archivist's dismissal" (Alyson Klein, CongressDaily, July 23, 2004)
• "The American Library Association Joins Others in Expressing Concern About the Nomination of Allen Weinstein to Become Archivist of the United States" (ALA press release, April 23, 2004)
• "Bush Nominee for Archivist is Criticized for His Secrecy" (Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Felicia R. Lee, New York Times, April 20, 2004) [Registration required.]
• "Bush Picks Weinstein as Archivist" (George Lardner, Jr., Washington Post, April 20, 2004)
• "Carlin to resign from NARA" (Florence Olsen, FCW.com, April 19, 2004)
• "Statement on the Nomination of Allen Weinstein to Become Archivist of the United States" (Society of American Archivists, April 14, 2004)
• "Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate" (April 8, 2004)

Back to Top

   Database Protection

• "Alternative Database Protection Legislation Introduced" ( ALAWON, March 8, 2004)
• "Action Alert! Database Protection Legislation needs immediate grassroots action!" ( ALAWON, February 19, 2004)
• "Database Protection Legislation" (ALA Information page)
• "Database Protection Bill Advances in Congress" (CNET News.com, October 16, 2003)
• "Database Protection Bill Introduced in the House: Action Needed" ( ALAWON, October 10, 2003)
• H.R. 3261, Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act (introduced October 8, 2003)
• "Joint Legislative Hearing on H.R.___, the "Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act of 2003" (Scroll down to September 23, 2003, and view the webcast of the hearing, or read prepared statements of witnesses)
• "Lawmakers to Weigh Database Protection Bill" (Andy Sullivan, Reuters, September 5, 2003)

Back to Top

   Public Access to Science & Related Legislation

• "New Scientific Journal Challenges Establishment" (Reuters, October 12, 2003)
• "Intro to Open Access: The Public Library of Science" (Marydee Ojala, EContentMag.com, October 10, 2003)
• "ARL and SPARC Support Open Access to Federally Funded Research" (August 6, 2003)
• "A Fight for Free Access to Medical Research: Online Plan Challenges Publishers' Dominance" (Rick Weiss, Washington Post, August 5, 2003)
• "Open Access and the Case for Public Good: The Scientists' Perspective" (Michelle Romero, Online, July/August 2003)
• "Legislation Would Make Research Accessible" ( ALAWON, June 30, 2003)
• "Public Access to Science Act" [H.R. 2613] (introduced June 26, 2003)
• " Measure Calls for Wider Access to Federally Financed Research" (Warren E. Leary, New York Times, June 26, 2003) [Registration required.]

Back to Top

   ERIC

• "Department Awards $34.6 Million Contract to Develop and Operate World's Largest Education Database" (Department of Education press release, March 18, 2004)
• "Comments of the American Library Association on the U.S. Department of Education's Draft Statement of Work for the Design of ERIC" (May 6, 2003)
• "ERIC Continues But Without Clearinghouses" (Barbara Quint, Information Today NewsBreak, April 21, 2003)
• "ERIC Reauthorization News" (maintained by ACRL's Education and Behavioral Sciences Section, Ad Hoc Committee on Access to Government Sponsored Education Research)
• "Draft Statement of Work, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)" [Microsoft Word document]
• "Spread the Word, A Large Chunk of ERIC's Funding May Disappear" (The ResourceShelf posting, April 14, 2003)

Back to Top

   GPO FY2004 Appropriations

• "Appropriations Update" ( ALAWON, July 9, 2003)
• "GPO Completes FY 2004 Budget Request Before Congress" (GPO Press Release No. 03-25, May 21, 2003)
• "Public Printer Testifies Before House Legislative Appropriations Subcommittee" ( ALAWON, May 21, 2003)
• "GPO Makes FY 2004 Appropriations Presentation to Senate Committee" (GPO Press Release No. 03-13, March 31, 2003)
• "Appropriations Update" ( ALAWON, March 28, 2003)

Back to Top

   Critical Infrastructure Information

• "Critical Infrastructure Information Regulations Issued by DHS" ( FOIA Post, February 27, 2004)
• "Procedures for Handling Critical Infrastructure Information: Interim Rule" (69 FR 8074, February 20, 2003)
• "U.S. to Keep Key Data on Infrastructure Secret" (John Mintz, Washington Post, February 19, 2004)
• "Infrastructure deadline pushed back" (Diane Frank, Federal Computer Week, December 18, 2003)
• "Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection" (Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-7, December 17, 2003)
• Amendments to Conform Regulations with Order No. 630 (Critical Energy Infrastructure Information Final Rule) (68 FR 52089-52096)
• "Homeland Security proposes broad infrastructure secrecy rules" (Rebecca Daugherty, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, April 17, 2003)
• "Homeland Security seeks comment on information-sharing plan" (William New, Government Executive Magazine, April 16, 2003)
• Department of Homeland Security: Procedures for Handling Critical Infrastructure Information; Proposed Rule (68 FR 18523-18529, April 15, 2003)
• "FERC Adopts 'Need to Know' Info Policy" (Secrecy News, March 4, 2003)
• Final Rule: Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (68 FR 9857, March 3, 2003)

Back to Top

   USA PATRIOT Act & Related Legislation

• "Action Needed: SAFE Act" ( ALAWON, October 6, 2003)
• S. 1709, The Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2003 (introduced October 2, 2003)
• S. 1695, The Patriot Oversight Restoration Act of 2003 (introduced October 1, 2003)
• "Government Says It Has Yet to Use New Power to Check Library Records" (Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, September 19, 2003) [Registration required.]
• "Fierce Fight Over Secrecy, Scope of Law" (Amy Goldstein, Washington Post, September 8, 2003)
• "Suit Challenges Constitutionality of Powers in Antiterrorism Law" (Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, July 31, 2003) [Registration required.]
• "Report on USA PATRIOT Act Alleges Civil Rights Violations" (Philip Shenon, New York Times, July 20, 2003) [Registration required.]
• Report to Congress on Implementation of Section 1001 of the USA PATRIOT Act (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, July 17, 2003)
• Congressman Bernie Sanders' Remarks Delivered at the American Library Association / Canadian Library Association Conference, Toronto, Ontario, June 23, 2003
• "Surveillance Oversight & Disclosure Act Introduced" ( ALAWON, June 13, 2003)
• "Surveillance Oversight and Disclosure Act of 2003" [H.R. 2429] (introduced June 11, 2003)
• "Library and Bookseller Protection Act" [S.1158] (introduced May 23, 2003)
• "Anti-Terror Power Used Broadly" (Dan Eggen, Washington Post, May 21, 2003)
• "Justice Dept. Lists Use of New Power to Fight Terror" (Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, May 21, 2003) [Registration required.]
• Justice Dept. Report to the House Judiciary Committee regarding its' use of power under the USA PATRIOT Act (May 13, 2003)
• "No Patriot Act excess, but critics unpersuaded" (Audrey Hudson, Washington Times, May 12, 2003)
• "Senate Deal Kills Effort to Extend Antiterror Act" (Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, May 9, 2003) [Registration required.]
• "The Impact of the USA PATRIOT Act on Free Expression" (Commentary by Nancy Kranich, The Free Expression Policy Project, May 5, 2003) 
• "EFF Analysis of 'Patriot II': Provisions of the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003 that Impact the Internet and Surveillance" (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
• "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act" (collection of documents related to the Act, including annual reports in addition to recent amendments; Federation of American Scientists) 
• "Librarians Make Some Noise Over Patriot Act" (Rene Sanchez, Washington Post, April 10, 2003)
• "Republicans Want Terror Law Made Permanent" (Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, April 9, 2003) [Registration required.]
• Letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft from F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. and John Conyers, Jr., Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, regarding oversight of the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act (provided by the Federation of American Scientists, April 1, 2003)
• "Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003" [H.R.1157] (introduced March 6, 2003)
• "Domestic Surveillance Oversight Act of 2003" [S.436] (introduced February 25, 2003)
• "FBI Oversight in the 107th Congress by the Senate Judiciary Committee: FISA Implementation Failures" [February 2003]
• "Justice Dept. Drafts Sweeping Expansion of Anti-Terrorism Act" (The Center for Public Integrity Special Report, February 7, 2003)  [Includes a draft copy of the legislation, dated January 9, 2003.]
• Report to Congress on Implementation of Section 1001 of the USA PATRIOT Act (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, January 22, 2003)
• Letter to Senator Patrick Leahy from Assistant Attorney General Daniel J. Bryant, December 23, 2002 [provided by the Federation of American Scientists]
• Letter to Senator Patrick Leahy from Assistant Attorney General Daniel J. Bryant, December 23, 2002 [provided by the Federation of American Scientists]
• Letter to Senator Russell Feingold from Assistant Attorney General Daniel J. Bryant, December 23, 2002 [provided by the Federation of American Scientists]

Back to Top

   Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports

• "Legislation of Interest to CRS: Public Access to CRS Reports" (internal memo from the Congressional Research Service, provided by the Federation of American Scientists)
• "Ney draws line at public access to research" (Paul M. Krawzak, The Times-Reporter, December 11, 2003)
• "Lawmakers revive fight to get research reports online" (Ted Leventhal, Government Executive Magazine, November 24, 2003)
• H.R. 3630, the "Congressional Research Accessibility Act" (introduced November 21, 2003)
• Letter to Rep. Chris Shays from various open government advocacy groups (November 3, 2003)
• "Access to CRS Reports (Temporarily?) Curtailed" ( Secrecy News, October 28, 2003)
• "Senators Want CRS Info Online" (Sara Michael, Federal Computer Week, February 11, 2003)
• "Leahy, McCain Urge Senate to Open Taxpayer-Funded Congressional Reports to the Public" (press release from the office of Senator Leahy, February 11, 2003)
• "Public Access to Congressional Research Service Products" (press release from the Project on Government Oversight, February 10, 2003)
• "Congressional Research Service Products: Taxpayers Should Have Easy Access" (Project on Government Oversight report, February 10, 2003) 

Back to Top

   Revision of the Federal Acquisitions Regulations with Regard to Printing

• Federal Acquisition Regulation: Public Comments on Proposed Rules [Note: the comments for "Procurement of Printing and Duplicating Through the Government Printing Office" amount to a 1908-page pdf file.]
• URGENT! Comments Needed by December 13th on OMB's Proposed Amendments to the FAR That Threaten Public Access and the Federal Depository Library Program ( ALAWON, December 4, 2002)
• "Keep Public Documents Available to the Public: Save the GPO!" (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
• "Federal Acquisition Regulation; Procurement of Printing and Duplicating Through the Government Printing Office; Proposed Rule" (67 FR 68913, November 13, 2002) PDF | Text

Back to Top

   OMB Memorandum M-02-07 

• "Pact Reached on Use of Private Printers" (Christopher Lee, Washington Post, June 6, 2003)
• "New GPO-OMB Pilot for Government Printing Announced" ( ALAWON, June 6, 2003)
• "GPO and OMB Announce a New Compact for Government Printing" [pdf file] (GPO Press Release 03-27, June 6, 2003)
• "Printing Changes Still on the Way, OMB Says" (Brian Friel, Government Executive Magazine, April 21, 2003)
• "Cheney Task Force Records and GAO Authority" (remarks by Rep. Henry Waxman on the House floor, February 12, 2003)
• "Government Printing Office Wins Budget Job" (Associated Press, December 27, 2002)
• "Printing of Budget in Dispute" (Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, December 20, 2002)
• GAO Decision: Bureau of Land Management: Payment of Pocatello Field Office Photocopying Costs. B-290901, December 16, 2002 
• "GAO Backs Printing Office in Dispute with White House" (Brian Friel, Government Executive Magazine, November 14, 2002)
• Letter from GAO to Senator Byrd, Regarding FY2003 Continuing Resolution (November 13, 2002)
• GPO Reform Takes Shape" (WhatTheyThink.com, November 12, 2002)
• "Senator Blasts White House Over Printing Issue" (Brian Friel, Government Executive Magazine, October 3, 2002)
• Statement by the President Regarding H.J. Res. 111 (September 30, 2002)
• "White House Rejects Order to Use Printing Office" (Brian Friel, Government Executive Magazine, September 27, 2002)
• H.J. Res. 111 - Joint Resolution "Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2003, and for other purposes" (September 27, 2002) 
• Impact of OMB Memorandum M-02-07 on public access to government documents and federal government printing (Hearing held by the Joint Committee on Printing, July 10, 2002) -- Includes testimony of Ms. Julia F. Wallace, on behalf of ALA, ARL, AALL, and MLA, and the Honorable Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer.
• Letter from Ben Cooper, Executive Vice-President/Public Policy for the Printing Industries of America, in response to OMB Memo on Printing and Duplicating (May 29, 2002)
• GPO Statement Regarding OMB Memo on Printing and Duplicating (May 17, 2002)
• Procurement of Printing and Duplicating through the Government Printing Office (OMB Memo M-02-07, May 3, 2002)
• " Involvement of the Government Printing Office in Executive Branch Printing and Duplicating" (Memorandum for Emily C. Hewitt, General Counsel, General Services Administration, prepared by Walter Dellinger, Assistant Attorney General, dated May 31, 1996)

Back to Top

   Removal/Elimination of Government Information

• "Shhh...someone might hear you: Access to government information sharply curtailed under Ashcroft" (Alex Johnson, MSNBC, November 18, 2004)
• "Announcement of Intent to Initiate the Process to Remove Aeronautical Information from Public Sale and Distribution" (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Notice)  (69 FR 67546, November 18, 2004)
• "Senators question DOJ regarding order to destroy depository library documents" ( ALAWON, August 25, 2004)
• "Justice Dept. Rescinds Order to Pull Publications" (Christopher Lee, The Washington Post, August 5, 2004)
• "Update: Dept. of Justice Rescinds Withdrawal/Destruction of Publications" ( ALAWON, August 2, 2004)
• "Libraries ordered to destroy US pamphlets" (Sean P. Murphy, The Boston Globe, July 24, 2004)
• "Justice Department asks depository libraries to destroy forfeiture documents" ( ALAWON, July 23, 2004)
• "Hill set to probe Berger's actions" (James G. Lakely and Stephen Dinan, The Washington Times, July 22, 2004)
• "What You Don't See at Olympic Park" (Blaine Harden, Washington Post, June 21, 2004)
• "U.S. Will Revise Data on Terror" (Josh Meyer, Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2004)
• "Policy Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of Governmental Public Domain Information" (UNESCO, 2004) [courtesy of the Federation of American Scientists]
• "Making Women's Issues Go Away" (Rebecca Traister, Salon.com, April 28, 2004)
• "Interior back online" (Sarita Chourey, FCW.com, March 26, 2004)
• "Interior to seek injunction suspension" (Sarita Chourey, FCW.com, March 22, 2004)
• "Internet Cutoff Ordered at Interior" (Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post, March 16, 2004)
• "Court orders Interior to disconnect systems from the Internet again" (Wilson P. Dizard III, Government Computer News, March 16, 2004)
• "Taking Spin Out of Report That Made Bad Into Good Health" (Robert Pear, New York Times, February 22, 2004) [Registration required.]
• "Gay Rights Information Taken Off Site" (Stephen Barr, Washington Post, February 18, 2004)
• "White House Web Scrubbing" (Dana Milbank, Washington Post, December 18, 2003)
• "Politics and Science" [Rep. Henry Waxman's ongoing investigation of "the Bush Administration's Promotion of Ideology Over Science"
• "Judge orders Interior to shut off Internet connections" (Wilson P. Dizard III, Government Computer News, July 28, 2003)
• "Lamberth finds EPA in contempt for e-document purge" (Wilson P. Dizard III, Government Computer News, July 25, 2003)
• "US Oil Platform Watcher Shuts Net over Indian Suit" (Reuters, July 1, 2003)
• "DOD IG pulls report off Web site" (Dan Caterinicchia, Federal Computer Week, June 23, 2003)
• "Members Say Pentagon 'Transformation' Involves Unprecedented Exemptions from Oversight" (Letter to Speaker of the House Hastert and Minority Leader Pelosi from Reps. Waxman, Skelton, Obey, and Spratt, May 13, 2003)
• "35 Annual Reports of Special Concern slated for deletion under the Defense Transformation for the 21st Century Act of 2003" (compiled by Daniel Cornwall, April 20, 2003)
• "Homeland Security Agents Pull Ohio Libraries' Haz-Mat Documents" ( American Libraries online, April 7, 2003)
• "Labor Secretary is Urged to Reinstate Reports on Mass Layoffs" (Economic Policy Institute press release, January 24, 2003) [pdf format]
• "Abortion and Breast Cancer" ( New York Times editorial, January 6, 2003)  See also "Breast Cancer Data" - Letter to the Editor from Andrew Von Eschenbach, M.D., Director of the National Cancer Institute, January 8, 2003) [Registration required.]
• "Shooting the Messenger: Report on Layoffs Killed" (David Lazarus, San Francisco Chronicle, January 3, 2003)  A brief notice is available on the BLS site at http://www.bls.gov/bls/mlsdiscontinued.htm
• "U.S. Revises Sex Information, and a Fight Goes On" (Adam Clymer, New York Times, December 26, 2002) [Registration required.]
• "Political Ideology Distorting Public Health Information" (Minority Office, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform)
• "Disappearing Data" (Marylaine Block, Ex Libris, December 6, 2002)

Back to Top

   Government Secrecy & Information Security

• "Cornyn plans bill to force a more open government" (Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman, December 11, 2004) [Registration required.]
• "NRC restores additional, hearing-related documents to its web site" (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission press release no. 04-144, November 16, 2004)
• "NRC restores Web docs" (Dibya Sarkar, FCW.com, November 8, 2004)
• "NRC library goes off-line" (Dibya Sarkar, FCW.com, October 26, 2004)
• "GAO policy reflects security concerns" (Aliya Sternstein, FCW.com, October 4, 2004)
• "Secrecy Report Card: Quantitative Indicators of Secrecy in the Federal Government" (openthegovernment.org, August 26, 2004)
• "Agencies misuse classification authority, managers say" (Chris Strohm, govexec.com, August 24, 2004)
• "NRC Modifies Availability of Security Information for All Nuclear Plants" ( NRC News no. 04-091, August 4, 2004)
• "White House Considers Disclosing Intelligence Budgets" (Douglas Jehl, New York Times, July 29, 2004) [Registration required.]
• "High Court Backs Vice President" (Charles Lane, Washington Post, June 25, 2004)
• Cheney, Vice President of the United States, et al. v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia et al. (decided June 24, 2004)
• "Senators Urge C.I.A. to Declassify Critical Report" (Douglas Jehl, New York Times, June 9, 2004) [Registration required.]
• "Transportation Security Administration: Protection of Sensitive Security Information; Interim Final Rule; request for comments" (69 FR 28066, May 18, 2004) PDF | TEXT
• "Mapping the Risks: Assessing the Homeland Security Implications of Publicly Available Geospatial Information" (John C. Baker et al, RAND Corporation, 2004) [View the entire document & summary as a pdf file; or purchase a print edition.]
• "Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Cheney Case" (AP, Washington Post.com, April 27, 2004)
• "Nuclear Security Decisions Are Shrouded in Secrecy" (R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, March 29, 2004)
• "Amici Curiae Brief Submitted to U.S. Supreme Court" ( ALAWON, March 12, 2004)
• "Under Bush, Expanding Secrecy" (Dana Milbank, Washington Post, December 23, 2003)
• "Keeping Secrets" (Christopher H. Schmitt and Edward T. Pound, U.S. News and World Report, December 22, 2003)
• "Pentagon IG Sets New Policy on Web Information" (John M. Donnelly, Defense Week Daily Update, December 18, 20030 [provided by the Federation of American Scientists; see the memorandum at http://www.fas.org/sgp/othergov/dod/dodigweb.pdf]
• "Supreme Court to Hear Case on Cheney Energy Records" (Charles Lane, Washington Post, December 15, 2003)
• "Administration Gains New Power to Withold 'Sensitive' Information" (OMB Watch, September 10, 2003)
• "Bush Rejects Saudi Request to Release 9/11 Details" (Randall Mikkelsen, WiredNews, July 29, 2003)
• "Cheney Loses Ruling on Energy Panel Records" (Henri E. Cauvin, Washington Post, July 9, 2003) 
• "9/11 Commission Says U.S. Agencies Slow Its Inquiry" (Philip Shenon, New York Times, July 8, 2003) [Registration required.]
• 2002 Annual Report to the President (Information Security Oversight Office, NARA, June 30, 2003)
• "Lawmakers Take Aim at Excessive Government Secrecy" (Chuck McCutcheon, Newhouse News Service, May 20, 2003)
• "Graham 9/11 Coverup Claim Lacks Proof" (Keith Epstein, Tampa Tribune, May 18, 2003)
• "Shuttle Panel Neutrality a Concern" (Eric Pianin, Washington Post, May 12, 2003)
• "Shuttle Accident Board Erodes Open Meeting Law" (Steven Aftergood, Secrecy News, May 12, 2003)
• "Civilian Members of Shuttle Investigation Board are on NASA Payroll" (Kevin Spear, Jim Leusner and Gwyneth K. Shaw, Orlando Sentinel, May 10, 2003) 
• "Bush Administration Documents on Secrecy Policy" (Federation of American Scientists)
• BushSecrecy.org (produced by Public Citizen)
• "Shays, GAO win information access battle" (Peter Brand, TheHill.com, April 29, 2003)
• "Balancing Security of Plants with the Public's Right to Know" (Jennifer Lin and Adam Fifield, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 21, 2003)
• "Judges Question U.S. Move in Cheney Suit" (Henri E. Cauvin, Washington Post, April 18, 2003)
• "Executive Order on National Security Classification Amended" ( FOIA Post, April 11, 2003)
• "Stonewalling Security" (Danielle Brian, TomPaine.com, April 9, 2003)
• "States Put a Leash on Information" (Mimi Hall, USA Today, April 3, 2003)
• "'Sensitive But Unclassified' and Other Federal Security Controls on Scientific and Technical Information: History and Current Controversy" (CRS Report RL31845, by Genevieve J. Knezo, April 2, 2003) [pdf document]
• "White House Request to Restrict Clinton Pardon Data Upheld" (George Lardner Jr., Washington Post, April 2, 2003)
• "Secrecy: The Bush Byword" ( New York Times editorial, March 28, 2003)
• "Release of Documents is Delayed" (Dana Milbank and Mike Allen, Washington Post, March 26, 2003)
• "Bush Orders a 3-Year Delay in Opening Secret Documents" (Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times, March 26, 2003) [Registration required.]
• Executive Order: Further Amendment to Executive Order 12958, As Amended, Classified National Security Information (March 25, 2003)
• "A New Executive Order" ( Secrecy News, March 26, 2003)
• "Rules for Releasing Papers Readied" ( Washington Post, March 22, 2003)
• "U.S. Ready to Rescind Clinton Order on Government Secrets" (Adam Clymer, New York Times, March 21, 2003)
• "Terror Threats Prompt States to Shrink Access to Security-Related Records" (Joel Campbell, UF News, University of Florida, March 14, 2003)
• "Draft Bush Executive Order on Classified National Security Information" (Federation of American Scientists)
• "Bush Draft Executive Order: Running in Place" ( Secrecy News, March 13, 2003)
• "HHS Sought 'One Voice' From Its Many Mouths" (Rick Weiss, Washington Post, March 12, 2003)
• "Spoon-feeding the Press: The Bush Administration's Unprecedented War on Public Information - and How the Major News Media Are Going Along" (Camille T. Taiara, San Francisco Bay Guardian, March 12, 2003)
• "Draft Executive Order on Secrecy Advances in Print" ( Secrecy News, March 11, 2003)
• "GOP Threats Halted GAO-Cheney Suit" (Peter Brand and Alexander Bolton, TheHill.com, February 19, 2003)
• "Special Interest Rider Makes Crime Gun Data Secret" (press release from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, February 13, 2003)
• "Cheney Task Force Records and GAO Authority" (remarks by Rep. Henry Waxman on the House floor, February 12, 2003)
• "GAO Ends Fight With Cheney Over Files" (Dana Milbank, Washington Post, February 8, 2003)
• "Scientists Face Security Dilemma" (Guy Gugliotta, Washington Post, February 6, 2003)
• "Bush Administration Finally Complies with Court Order to Release U.S.-Chile Free Trade Pact Documents" (press release, Center for International Environmental Law, February 3, 2003)
• "Military Worried About Web Leaks" (Declan McCullagh, CNET News.com, January 16, 2003)
• "Government Openness at Issue as Bush Holds on to Records" (Adam Clymer, New York Times, January 2, 2003) [Registration required.]
• "Court Orders Bush Administration Must Give Trade Documents to the Public" (press release, Center for International Environmental Law, December 19, 2002) 
• "E-gov Law Sets Up Clash Over White House Outsourcing Plan" (Brian Krebs, Washington Post, December 17, 2002)

Back to Top

   GPO FY2003 Appropriations

• Status of FY2003 Appropriations Bills (THOMAS)
• It's September with 13 Appropriations Bills Still to Complete ( ALAWON, September 12, 2002)
• Senate Legislative Branch Appropriations ( ALAWON, July 19, 2002)
• Letter to Senator Durbin, Senate Appropriations Committee, from AALL, ALA, ARL, MLA (May 21, 2002)
• Public Printer's Testimony on FY03 Appropriation Request (Senate) (May 8, 2002)
• Letter to Congressman Charles Taylor, House Appropriations Committee, from AALL, ALA, ARL (May 7, 2002)
• Public Printer's Testimony on FY03 Appropriation Request (House) (April 24, 2002)

Back to Top

   Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• "Many unaware of HI public's right to know" (Janet Mock, Ka Leo O Hawaii, November 23, 2004)
• "Message to Congress: Drop Proposed Broad FOIA Exemption" ( ALAWON, September 14, 2004)
• "Foreign Lobbyist Database Could Vanish" (Kevin Bogardus, Center for Public Integrity, June 28, 2004)
• "Many still can't take electronic FOIA" (Diane Frank, FCW.com, February 24, 2004)
• "Update on Freedom of Information Act Implementation Status" (GAO Report, February 2004)
• "Freedom of Information Act: Agency Views on Changes Resulting from New Administration Policy" (GAO Report, September 2003)
• "NEA sues government for documents" (AP, August 1, 2003)
• Spotlight on Freedom of Information (opinion pieces, compiled by the Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service)
• "Controversial NASA attorney advising Columbia commission" (Karen Masterson, Houston Chronicle, June 20, 2003) 
• "Restoration of Freedom of Information Act of 2003" [H.R. 2526] (introduced June 19, 2003)
• "NSA FOIA Exemption Amended" ( Secrecy News, May 22, 2003)
• "Proposed FOIA Exemption for National Security Agency Files Buried in FY 2004 Defense Authorization Act" (National Security Archive, May 5, 2003)
• ACLU and EPIC v. Department of Justice (Electronic Privacy Information Center page that details the attempt to obtain information concerning the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act)
• National Freedom of Information Day
• "The Ashcroft Memo: 'Drastic' Change or 'More Thunder Than Lightning'?" (National Security Archive, March 14, 2003)
• "First Government-Wide Audit on Freedom of Information Shows Mixed Impact of Attorney General Ashcroft Memo" (National Security Archive press release, March 14, 2003)
• "Senators Introduce the Restore Freedom Information Act (Restore FOIA)" ( ALAWON, March 13, 2003)
• "Restoration of Freedom of Information Act of 2003" [S. 609] (introduced March 12, 2003)
• "Senators Offer Fix for FOIA Exemption in the Homeland Security Act" (press release from Senator Patrick Leahy, March 12, 2003)
• "Supreme Court Case Poses Risk to Freedom of Information" (press release from the National Security Archive, February 5, 2003)
• "EPIC Wins FOIA Lawsuit Against Pentagon on Poindexter Records" - read the decision [pdf ] (January 16, 2003)
• "At Justice, Freedom Not to Release Information" (James V. Grimaldi, Washington Post, December 2, 2002)

Back to Top

   U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

• "Lawsuit Stalls PTO Automation" (Wilson P. Diazard III, Government Computer News, December 31, 2002)

Back to Top

   Presidential Records Act

• S. 1517, "A bill to revoke an Executive Order relating to procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records" (July 31, 2003)
• H.R. 1493, "A bill to revoke an Executive Order relating to procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records" (March 27, 2003) [Congressman Ose's introductory remarks are available from the Congressional Record, March 27, 2003, page E597-E598; they are also available on the Federation of American Scientists' site.]
• "Former President Clinton to Release Confidential Advice Records Early" (Brian Skoloff, San Francisco Chronicle, January 31, 2003)

Back to Top

   Homeland Security

• "ALA and Other Groups Demand Public Voice on Proposal to Restrict Access to Public Information" (ALAWON, August 28, 2003)
• "Groups Want Public Input on DHS Data Sharing" (Diane Frank, Federal Computer Week, August 28, 2003)
• Letter to Secretary Ridge regarding public input on information sharing (August 27, 2003)
• "Homefront Confidential: How the War on Terrorism Affects Access to Information and the Public's Right to Know" (The Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, March 2003)
• S. 410, Foreign Intelligence Collection Improvement Act of 2003 - a bill to establish the Homeland Intelligence Agency, and for other purposes (February 13, 2003)
• "Fix This Loophole" ( Washington Post editorial, February 9, 2003)
• "Homeland Security Acts to Shield its Data" (Wilson P. Dizard III, Government Computer News, January 27, 2003)
• "Health Data Monitored for Bioterror Warning" (William J. Broad and Judith Miller, New York Times, January 27, 2003) [Registration required.]
• "Homeland Security Goes Virtual" (Brian Krebs, Washington Post, January 24, 2003)
• "ACLU Presses for Full Disclosure on Government's New Snoop Powers" (ACLU press release, January 17, 2003)
• "New Senate Chair Voices Concerns on Information Sharing, Cybersecurity" (William New, Government Executive Magazine, January 10, 2003)
• "Homeland Office is Told to Answer Queries on its Role" ( Washington Post, January 3, 2003)
• Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296)

   Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA)

• "Total Information Awareness and Beyond: The Dangers of Using Data Mining Technology to Prevent Terrorism" (Shannon R. Anderson, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, 2004)
• "Data-mining advisory group at Defense may continue work" (William New, National Journal's Technology Daily, provided by Government Executive Magazine, September 30, 2003)
• "Researchers still defending terror program" (Matthew French, Federal Computer Week, September 30, 2003)
• "Novel Intelligence from Massive Data" (from the Advanced Research and Development Activity site)
• "Senate Blocks Funding for Computer Dragnet" (Washington Post, July 17, 2003)
• Statement of Administration Policy: S. 1382 - Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, FY 2004 (July 14, 2003)
• "Funding for TIA All But Dead" (Ryan Singel, Wired News, July 14, 2003)
• "Report to Congress Regarding the Total Information Awareness Program" (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, May 20, 2003)
• "Total Information Awareness" (EPIC compilation page)
• "Conferees in Congress Bar Using a Pentagon Project on Americans" (Adam Clymer, New York Times, February 11, 2003) [Registration required.]
• "Pentagon Forms 2 Panels to Allay Fears on Spying" (Adam Clymer, New York Times, February 8, 2003) [Registration required.]
• "DOD Forming TIA Oversight Boards" (Dan Caterinicchia, Federal Computer Week, February 7, 2003)
• "Total Information Awareness Official Responds to Criticism" (Shane Harris, Government Executive Magazine, January 31, 2003)
• "Pentagon Database Plan Hits Snag on Hill" (Declan McCullagh, CNET News.com, January 15, 2003)
• "Hearings Sought on Data Agency" (Robert O'Harrow Jr., Washington Post, January 13, 2003)
• "'Partial' Information Awareness" (Clyde Wayne Crews, Jr., Cato Institute, January 9, 2003)
• Terrorism Information Awareness Office (DARPA)

Back to Top

   E-Government

• "Congress defuses attacks on e-gov, competitive sourcing" (Jason Miller, Government Computer News, November 22, 2004)
• "Feds set plan to make data easier to find" (Jason Miller, Government Computer News, September 13, 2004)
• "Congress: Bye-bye, e-government" (Sara Michael, FCW.com, June 28, 2004)
• "House plans e-gov cuts" (Jason Miller, Government Computer News, June 28, 2004)
• "Recommended Policies and Guidelines for Federal Public Websites" (Final Report of the Interagency Committee on Government Information, June 9, 2004)
• "E-gov services go unused" (Judi Hasson, FCW.com, June 2, 2004)
• "How Americans Get in Touch with Government" (a report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, May 24, 2004)
• "Grading E-Government" (Cynthia L. Webb, The Washington Post, May 20, 2004)
• "FY 2003 Report to Congress on Implementation of the E-Government Act" (March 8, 2004)
• "E-Gov: A Year in Review" (Sara Michael, Federal Computer Week, December 8, 2003)
• "House Panel Approves Deep E-Gov Funding Cuts" (Roy Mark, Internetnews.com, July 28, 2003)
• "House Appropriations slashes E-Gov Fund" (Jason Miller, Government Computer News, July 25, 2003)
• "Federal E-Government Plan Faces a Budget Shortfall" (Robert MacMillan, Washington Post, April 18, 2003)
• "Survey Finds Americans Split on 'E-Government'" (Judy Sarasohn, Washington Post, April 14, 2003)
• H.R. 1303, "A bill to amend the E-Government Act of 2002 with respect to rulemaking authority of the Judicial Conference" (March 18, 2003)
• "Agencies Miss E-Gov Funding" (Diane Frank, Federal Computer Week, February 11, 2003)
• "GAO: E-gov selection too speedy" ( Federal Computer Week, January 13, 2003)
• "Move to Open Government Electronically" (Rebecca Fairley Raney, New York Times, December 23, 2002) [Registration required.]
• "E-Government Act of 2002: Key Provisions" (ALA Washington Office)
• "White House Defends Selection Process for E-Gov Projects" (Maureen Sirhal, Government Executive Magazine, December 20, 2002) 
• "President Signs Legislation to Create Digital Government" ( Washington Post, December 17, 2002)
• "New Provisions in E-Government Act" ( ALAWON, December 4, 2002)

Back to Top

   Important Legislation/Issues in the 107th Congress

Revision of FAR
Revision of OMB Circular A-130
OMB Memo Regarding GPO
GPO FY2003 Appropriations
Govt Secrecy/Information Security
Access to Govt Information
Freedom of Information Act
National Information Infrastructure
GAO v Cheney (Energy Policy)
Dept of Interior Web Site
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Foreign Relations of the U.S.
HHS Consolidation
Nominee for Public Printer
Information Quality Guidelines
E.O. 13233 & Related Legislation
Anti-Terrorism Legislation
E-Government Act of 2001
GPO FY2002 Appropriations
PubSCIENCE
GAO Report
NCLIS Report

   Revision of Federal Acquisitions Regulations with Regard to Printing

• URGENT! Comments Needed by December 13th on OMB's Proposed Amendments to the FAR That Threaten Public Access and the Federal Depository Library Program ( ALAWON, December 4, 2002)
• "Keep Public Documents Available to the Public: Save the GPO!" (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
• "OMB Requests that Three Agencies Bypass GPO" ( Library Journal Breaking News, November 25, 2002)
• "Access to Government Information: GPO and Printing - Correction" ( ALAWON, November 19, 2002)
• "Access to Government Information: GPO and Printing" ( ALAWON, November 14, 2002)
• "Federal Acquisition Regulation; Procurement of Printing and Duplicating Through the Government Printing Office; Proposed Rule" (67 FR 68913, November 13, 2002) PDF | Text
  Back to Top  
     Revision of OMB Circular A-130 - Policies on Management of Federal Information Resources
• " A-130 Revision Planned" ( Federal Computer Week, May 14, 2002)
• Semiannual Regulatory Agenda, Office of Management and Budget (67 FR 33959, Section 3341, May 13, 2002)
• Circular A-130 - Policies on Management of Federal Information Resources (November 30, 2000)

Back to Top

   OMB Memo Regarding GPO

• "Government Printing Office Wins Budget Job" (Associated Press, December 27, 2002)
• "Printing of Budget in Dispute" ( Washington Post, December 20, 2002)
• "Bush Proposes Competition for Government Printing" (National Public Radio, November 17, 2002) [links to audio file]
• "GAO Backs Printing Office in Dispute with White House" ( Government Executive Magazine, November 14, 2002)
• Letter from GAO to Senator Byrd, Regarding FY2003 Continuing Resolution (November 13, 2002)
• GPO Reform Takes Shape" (WhatTheyThink.com, November 12, 2002)
• "Chokehold on Knowledge" ( Los Angeles Times editorial, November 8, 2002) [Note: Registration required.]
• "OMB ignores Congress, May Bypass Printing Office" ( Government Executive Magazine, October 30, 2002)
• "Cost-Cutting or Access Control: OMB Dismantling GPO?" ( Searcher, October 2002)
• "Congress Orders White House to Print Budget Through GPO" ( Government Executive Magazine, October 11, 2002)
• GPO a Football Between White House & Congress ( Library Journal, October 8, 2002)
• "Senator Blasts White House Over Printing Issue" ( Government Executive Magazine, October 3, 2002)
• Statement by the President Regarding H.J. Res. 111 (September 30, 2002)
• "White House Rejects Order to Use Printing Office" ( Government Executive Magazine, September 27, 2002)
• H.J. Res. 111 - Joint Resolution "Making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2003, and for other purposes" (September 27, 2002) 
• "Documents? What Documents?" by Barbara Quint ( Information Today, September 2002)
• " Despite Opposition, Printing Policy Change on the Way" ( Government Executive Magazine, August 27, 2002)
• " Print Pugilism" ( TheHill E-News, August 14, 2002)
• " Key Federal Document Delivery System Endangered" by Miriam A. Drake ( InfoToday NewsBreak, August 5, 2002)
• "Will Printing Office Be Inked Out?" ( Washington Post, July 31, 2002)
• "GPO Testifies on OMB Printing Proposal" (GPO News Release No. 02-20, July 12, 2002)
• " Panel Begins Public Debate Over Printing Office Future" ( Government Executive Magazine, July 11, 2002)
• "Dayton Threatens Suit Over White House Printing Decision" ( Minneapolis Star-Tribune, July 11, 2002) [Removed from site after 3 weeks.]
• " Ink Still Not Dry on Government Printing Dispute" ( Washington Times, July 11, 2002)
• " Joint Committee on Printing Hearing Addresses OMB Plan to Make GPO Optional for Executive Branch Agencies" (Frederic G. Antoun, Esq.) - pdf document
• Impact of OMB Memorandum M-02-07 on public access to government documents and federal government printing (Hearing held by the Joint Committee on Printing, July 10, 2002) -- Includes testimony of Ms. Julia F. Wallace, on behalf of ALA, ARL, AALL, and MLA, and the Honorable Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer.
• Library Groups Fear Loss of Access in GPO Change ( TheHill.com, July 10, 2002)
• ACTION ALERT! OMB Memorandum M-02-07, "Procurement of Printing and Duplicating Through the Government Printing Office" ( ALAWON June 7, 2002)
• Letter from Ben Cooper, Executive Vice-President/Public Policy for the Printing Industries of America, in response to OMB Memo on Printing and Duplicating (May 29, 2002)
• GPO Statement Regarding OMB Memo on Printing and Duplicating (May 17, 2002)
• Update on GPO ( ALAWON May 16, 2002)
• GPO's Response to the Report 'Reforming GPO: A Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunity," dated May 15, 2002
• " Reforming GPO: A Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunity" (WhatTheyThink.com - a printing & graphic arts industry site, May 14, 2002)
• GPO Won't Challenge Printing Rules" ( Roll Call, May 9, 2002)
• OMB Calls for End to Printing Office Monopoly ( Government Executive Magazine, May 6, 2002)
• Procurement of Printing and Duplicating through the Government Printing Office (OMB Memo M-02-07, May 3, 2002)
• " Involvement of the Government Printing Office in Executive Branch Printing and Duplicating" (Memorandum for Emily C. Hewitt, General Counsel, General Services Administration, prepared by Walter Dellinger, Assistant Attorney General, dated May 31, 1996)

Back to Top

   GPO FY2003 Appropriations

• It's September with 13 Appropriations Bills Still to Complete ( ALAWON, September 12, 2002)
• Senate Legislative Branch Appropriations ( ALAWON, July 19, 2002)
• Letter to Senator Durbin, Senate Appropriations Committee, from AALL, ALA, ARL, MLA (May 21, 2002)
• Public Printer's Testimony on FY03 Appropriation Request (Senate) (May 8, 2002)
• Letter to Congressman Charles Taylor, House Appropriations Committee, from AALL, ALA, ARL (May 7, 2002)
• Public Printer's Testimony on FY03 Appropriation Request (House) (April 24, 2002)

Back to Top

   Government Secrecy/Information Security

• "Are We Protecting Secrets or Removing Safeguards?" ( Washington Post, November 24, 2002)
• "New Federal Policy May Restrict Research Access" ( Daily Texan, November 11, 2002)
• 'Sensitive' Label Strikes Nerve ( Federal Computer Week, October 31, 2002)
• "The Bush Administration's Secrecy Policy: A Call for Action to Protect Democratic Values" ( OMB Working Paper, October 25, 2002) [ Text version | PDF version]
• "Secrecy Law Not Needed, Ashcroft Tells Congress" ( Washington Post, October 24, 2002)
• "Researchers Say Science is Hurt by Secrecy Policy Set Up by the White House" (New York Times, October 19, 2002) [Note: Registration is required.]
• "Academies Weigh Role of Science in National Security" (Statement & Background Paper from the National Academies, October 18, 2002)
• "American Society for Microbiology Cautions that Scientific Publication Restraints May Have Negative Impact on Public Health and Safety" (October 10, 2002)
• "Designation of the Secretary of Agriculture to classify information as secret" - Executive Order 12958 (67 FR 61465,  September 30, 2002) PDF | Text
• "Energy Agency Says Web Info Poses Threat" ( Federal Computer Week, September 23, 2002)
• OMB Weighs Info Classification ( Federal Computer Week, September 16, 2002)
• Post 9/11, 'sanitized' sites aim to shield data (CNN.com, September 10, 2002)
• "OMB Tackles Sensitive but Unclassified Information" ( Secrecy News, September 3, 2002)
• "War on Terror Restricts Information Flow" (Stateline.org, August 28, 2002)
• "Closemouthed at Justice" ( Washington Post editorial, August 19, 2002)
• "Members hit White House over secrecy" (Alexander Bolton for TheHill.com, August 7, 2002)
• " Another View: Is Web scrubbing an exercise in futility?" ( Government Computer News, July 29, 2002)
• " Secure Often Means Secret Post-9/11, Government Stingy with Information" ( USA Today, May 16, 2002)
• White House Guidance on Safeguarding Weapons of Mass Destruction Information and Sensitive Homeland Security Documents (dated March 19, 2002, provided by the Federation of American Scientists)
• Superintendent of Documents Letter to Directors on Information Security (March 14, 2002)
• Statement on Request to Withdraw USGS Source-Water CD-ROM From Depository Libraries (GPO News Release No. 02-04, January 16, 2002)

Back to Top

     Access to Government Information

• "U.S. Revises Sex Information, and a Fight Goes On" ( New York Times, December 26, 2002)
• "E-gov Law Sets Up Clash Over White House Outsourcing Plan" ( Washington Post, December 17, 2002)
• "Disappearing Data" ( Ex Libris, December 6, 2002)
• "Action Alert! ED Web Information Disappearing" (American Educational Research Association, November 21, 2002)
• "Too Many Secrets" ( Washington Post, November 20, 2002)
• "More Sites Targeted for Shutdown" ( Federal Computer Week, November 13, 2002)
• "ALA Questions Removal of U.S. Department of Education Web Pages from Public Access" ( ALAWON, November 12, 2002)
• "Removal of Web Info Concerns Democrats" ( Federal Computer Week, November 4, 2002)
• "Ideology Trumps Science at HHS, Letter Charges" ( OMB Watcher, October 28, 2002)
• Letter from Rep. Henry Waxman to Secretary Thompson [PDF file]
• "Researchers Stymied by Block on Government Documents" (October 15, 2002)
  [AP story originally available from cnn.com; this link is a copy off of the Federation of American Scientists web site.]
• Easy Access to Public Records Online Raises Privacy Concerns ( New York Times, October 13, 2002 - Registration Required)
• "Ed. Department to Save Files Shorn from Web Site" ( Education Week, October 9, 2002)
• SIIA 2002 Information Policy Summit: Government and the Digital Content Era (October 2, 2002)
• Policies and Procedures for Withdrawing Documents from the FDLP, by Francis J. Buckley, Jr., Superintendent of Documents
• "Some Experts Fear Political Influence on Crime Data" ( New York Times, September 22, 2002) [Note: Registration Required]
• "No URL Left Behind? Web Scrub Raises Concerns" ( Education Week, September 18, 2002)
• "HHS Seeks Science Advice to Match Bush Views" ( Washington Post, September 17, 2002)
• "A Step Toward Tyranny" - Editorial by Karrie Peterson, Government Information Librarian at UC San Diego ( Los Angeles Times, September 15, 2002) [Removed from free portion of site.]
• One Year Later: September 11 and the Internet (Pew Internet & American Life Project Report, September 5, 2002)
• Memo on Removal or Destruction of Federal Depository Library Documents, prepared by Thomas M. Susman, for the Association of Research Libraries, March 13, 2002
• The Post-September 11 Environment: Access to Government Information (OMB Watch)

Back to Top

   Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• "Summary of Annual FOIA Reports for Fiscal Year 2001" (U.S. Department of Justice)
• "Freedom of Information Requests Overwhelm Agencies" ( Government Executive Magazine, September 25, 2002)
• Update on Implementation of the 1996 Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments (GAO-02-493, August 2002)

• "Open Records Advocates Criticize Administration's Strategy" ( Government Executive Magazine, September 13, 2002)
• " Compilations of FOIA Decisions Now Reach Back Five Years" ( FOIA Post, August 30, 2002)
• " Results of FOIA Request on Info Removed from EPA's Web Site Post 9-11" (OMB Watch Executive Report, May 15, 2002)
• "Bush Team Thumbs Its Nose at FOIA" ( Insight, April 8, 2002)
• H. rept. 106-50, A Citizen's Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records (March 11, 1999)
  • Amendment to House Report 106-50, offered by Rep. Waxman (CA) on March 7, 2002
    "Insert on page 3 after "fullest possible disclosure of information to the public. "The history of the act reflects that it is a disclosure law.  It presumes that requested records will be disclosed, and the agency must make its case for withholding in terms of the act's exemptions to the rule of disclosure.  The application of the act's exemptions is generally permissive -- to be done if information in the requested records requires protection -- not mandatory.  Thus, when determining whether a document or set of documents should be withheld under one of the FOIA exemptions, an agency should withhold those documents only in those cases where the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would be harmful to an interest protected by that exemption.  Similarly, when a requestor asks for a set of documents, the agency should release all documents, not a subset or selection of those documents.  Contrary to the instructions issued by the Department of Justice on October 12, 2001,  the standard should not be to allow the withholding of information whenever there is merely a "sound legal basis" for doing so."
• Senator Leahy Requests GAO Report on FOIA (February 28, 2002, provided by the Federation of American Scientists)
• Attorney General FOIA Memorandum Issued October 12, 2001
• 1993 Memorandum from Attorney General Janet Reno (This policy was superceded by Attorney General Ashcroft's October 12, 2001 memorandum.)

Back to Top

   National Information Infrastructure

• " Congressional Panel Issues Information Security Report" ( Government Executive Magazine, May 29, 2002) 
• " Security in the Information Age: New Challenges, New Strategies" (Report issued by the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, May 2002) - pdf document
• " Securing Our Infrastructure: Private/Public Information Sharing" (Hearing before the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, May 8, 2002)
• Executive Order 13231, Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Information Age
• A National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace A questionnaire on critical infrastructure issues, open to public comment by April 20, 2002
• Internet Content Advisory: Considering the Unintended Audience (National Infrastructure Protection Center Advisory 02-001, January 17, 2002)

Back to Top

   Records of Vice President Cheney's National Energy Policy Development Group (NEPDG)

• "Suit Versus Cheney is Dismissed" ( Washington Post, December 10, 2002)
• "Judge Says Cheney Needn't Give Data on Energy Policy to G.A.O." ( New York Times, December 9, 2002) [Note: Registration Required.]
• Memorandum Opinion & Order - Walker v. Cheney (United States District Court for the District of Columbia, December 9, 2002)
• "Judge Again Bars Effort to Keep Cheney Files Secret" ( New York Times, November 27, 2002) [Note: Registration Required.]
• "Is Judge's Past Prologue in Cheney Case?" ( Washington Post, November 26, 2002)
• "Judge Orders White House Papers' Release" ( Washington Post, October 18, 2002)
• "Cheney-GAO Showdown Goes to Court" ( Washington Post, September 28, 2002)
• " White House Told to Turn Over More Data on Energy Panel" ( Washington Post, August 3, 2002)
• " Suit on Cheney Energy Files to Proceed" ( Washington Post, July 13, 2002)
• " Energy Dept. Ordered to Release Documents" ( Washington Post, February 28, 2002)
• Walker v. Cheney (From Findlaw.com)
• GAO Statement Concerning Litigation, February 22, 2002
• Decision of the Comptroller General Concerning NEPDG Litigation, January 30, 2002
• Chronology of the GAO's Attempts to Obtain Information from the NEPDG, August 18, 2001
• National Energy Policy

Back to Top

   Department of the Interior Web Site

• Cobell v. Norton: Case Documents (U.S. Department of Justice)
• " Interior's Norton Cited for Contempt in Trust Suit" ( Washington Post, September 18, 2002)
• "Interior officials found in contempt" ( Federal Computer Week, September 17, 2002)
• Interior Asked to Disconnect Office ( Federal Computer Week, July 1, 2002)
• Interior Reaching Accord with Indians ( Federal Computer Week, June 27, 2002)
• Interior Systems Face Renewed Shutdown ( Government Computer News, May 7, 2002)
• Judge Blocks Indian Records Shipment ( Federal Computer Week, April 19, 2002)
• Interior Dept. Blocks Web Access at Judge's Order  ( Washington Post, December 8, 2001).
• U.S. Department of Interior has closed its websites (December 9, 2001 GOVDOC-L posting from Tad Downing, Chief, GPO Cataloging Branch)
• Indian Trust:  Cobell v. Norton
  This is the case that prompted the order to close down the Department's web site.  The page contains links to court orders & opinions.

Back to Top

   U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

• " Suit Calls PTO Systems Flawed" ( Government Computing News, August 27, 2002)
• " Research Group Sues Patent Office Over E-Gov Plans" ( TechNews.com, August 26, 2002)
• " Report to Congress on the Removal of Classified Paper From the USPTO's Public Search Facilities" (July 24, 2002) - pdf document
• "Notice of Change in Publication Format for the Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office - Patents" (67 FR 48136, July 23, 2002) PDF | Text
• " Patent Office's Paperless Push Sparks Industry Criticism" ( Government Executive Magazine, May 16, 2002)
• Notice of Public Hearing and Request for Comments on the Proposed Plan for an Electronic Public Search Facility (67 FR 17055-17060, April 9, 2002)
• Request for Comments on Development of a Plan To Remove the Patent and Trademark Classified Paper Files From the Public Search Facilities; Reopening of Comment Period (66 FR 50619, October 4, 2001)
• Notice of Request for Comments on Development of a Plan To Remove
  the Patent and Trademark Classified Paper Files From the Public Search
  Facilities (66 FR 45012-45014, August 27, 2001)

Back to Top

   Foreign Relations of the United States

• FRUS on US Policy Towards Vietnam, 1967 ( Secrecy News, October 23, 2002) 
• FRUS Volume on Greece Finally Published ( Secrecy News, August 16, 2002)
• Suppressed Volume on Greece to be Published ( Secrecy News, August 7, 2002)
• The Case of the Missing FRUS Volume ( Secrecy News, March 19, 2002)
• Historical Documents "held hostage" by CIA ( Secrecy News, December 20, 2001)
• CIA and FRUS, Minutes of October 15-16 meeting of the State Department
  Historical Advisory Committee (Federation of American Scientists)
• " History of U.S.-Greek Ties Blocked" ( Washington Post, August 17, 2001)

Back to Top

   Consolidation of HHS Public & Legislative Affairs Offices

• "Hill Group Faults HHS for Ideology" ( Washington Post, October 22, 2002)
• " Tensions Between CDC, White House" ( Washington Post, July 1, 2002)
• " HHS Secretary Says Agencies Must Speak With One Voice" ( Washington Post, January 13, 2002)
• Joint Statement from the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) and the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) regarding proposed reorganization of Department of Health and Human Services public affairs office (January 30, 2002)
• Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2003, Section 15: Department of Health and Human Services 
  Included in the FY2003 Budget for HHS, item number 2 under HHS Priorities, "A Citizen-Centered HHS: Streamlining Bureaucracy" discusses the consolidation effort.

Back to Top

   Nominee for Public Printer, Bruce R. James

• "Bruce James Confirmed as Public Printer" ( ALAWON, November 21, 2002)
• Public Printer Confirmation Hearing Held ( ALAWON, October 3, 2002)
• Hearing Scheduled October 3, 2002, 9 a.m., Rules and Administration Committee, "To examine the nomination of Bruce R. James, of Nevada, to be Public Printer, Government Printing Office." 
• " White House Nominates James for Public Printer" (The Hill.com, August 2, 2002)
• Nominations Sent to the Senate (White House, Office of the Press Secretary, August 1, 2002)
• Longtime Political Analyst Goes to Nation's Capital ( Reno Gazette-Journal, July 5, 2002)
• " PIA Comments on Appointment of Bruce James, Calls for GPO Reform" (April 12, 2002)
• " Nevada Republican to be Nominated GPO Chief" ( Roll Call, April 4, 2002)
• White House Announcement of Nominee for Public Printer (March 29, 2002)

Back to Top

   Information Quality Guidelines

• "Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies" - final version (67 FR 61701-61702, October 1, 2002) PDF | Text
• " Data Quality Politics" Commentary by J. Timothy Sprehe ( Federal Computer Week, July 29, 2002)
• " Questions About Online Data" by Rebecca Fairley Raney for the New York Times, June 3, 2002 (Registration Required)
• Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies - corrected version (67 FR 8451-8460, February 22, 2002)
• P.L. 106-554: An Act Making Consolidated Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2001, and For Other Purposes (Section 515; 114 STAT 2763A-153) ( PDF version)
• Request for Withdrawal of the National Assessment on Climate Change (February 11, 2002, Center for Regulatory Effectiveness)
• U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change (US Global Change Research Group)

Back to Top

   Executive Order 13233, Further Implementation of the Presidential Records Act, with Related Legislation

• "House Panel Seeks Release of Presidential Papers" ( New York Times, October 10, 2002) [Note: Registration is required.]
• ACTION ALERT! Horn Bill Mark-Up "On Hold" Due to White House Pressure (ALAWON May 21, 2002)
• Hearing on H.R. 4187, "Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2002", April 24, 2002
  (Note: testimony is in Microsoft Word format)
• H.R. 4187, Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2002 PDF | Text
• "Bill Aimed at Reversing Bush Order on Records" ( Washington Post, April 12, 2002)
• Hearing Set for Presidential Records E.O. Nullification Bill; "Dear Colleague" Letter Issued by Rep. Horn ( ALAWON March 25, 2002)
• Ongoing List of Historical Works That Would Have Been Affected by Executive Order 13233 (ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom)
• "The President's Papers Are the People's Business" by Steven L. Hensen, President of the Society of American Archivists ( Washington Post, December 16, 2001)
• Letter to Rep. Stephen Horn from AALL, ALA, ARL, and NHA (November 2001)
• Letter outlining GODORT's position on Executive Order 13233 (November 26, 2001)
• Presidential Records Act of 1978. Oversight Hearing before the Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations. November 6, 2001
  (Note: testimony is in Microsoft Word format)
• Reps. Waxman and Schakowsky Ask Bush to Rescind New Executive Order (November 6, 2001, provided by the Federation of American Scientists)
• Executive Order 13233 (66 FR 56025, November 5, 2001)

Back to Top

   Anti-Terrorism Legislation

• "ACLU, Justice Department, Agree on Deadline to Release Surveillance Records" (ACLU Press Release, November 27, 2002)
• "Homeland Security Act Passes Senate; Total Information Awareness Program - T.I.A." ( ALAWON, November 20, 2002)
• "Tech Insider: Total Information Unawareness" ( Government Executive Magazine, November 20, 2002)
• "Bush Aides Consider Domestic Spy Agency" ( Washington Post, November 16, 2002)
• "Justice Officials Defend Data Mining as Anti-Terror Tool" ( Government Executive Magazine, November 15, 2002)
• "You Are a Suspect" ( (New York Times editorial by William Safire, November 14, 2002) [Note: Registration is required.]
• "Lawmakers Reach Compromise on Homeland Security" ( Government Executive Magazine, November 12, 2002)
• "Pentagon Plans a Computer System that Would Peek at Personal Data of Americans" ( (New York Times, November 9, 2002) [Note: Registration is required.]
• "Homeland Security Staff Studies Data Analysis Tools" ( Government Computer News, November 5, 2002)
• "Freedom to Read Foundation joins suit seeking Patriot Act information from Justice Department" (ALA press release, October 25, 2002)
• "Libraries Face Privacy Test" ( Mercury News, October 18, 2002)
• "House Judiciary Committee Patriot Act Combined Responses" (House Judiciary Committee, October 17, 2002) [PDF document]
• "Academia Becomes Target for New Security Laws" (by Mark Clayton for The Christian Science Monitor, September 24, 2002)
• Library Records Post-Patriot Act (Federal Law) (by Mary Minow for LLRX.com, September 16, 2002)
  A chart to help librarians understand the USA PATRIOT Act.
• "Justice Dept. Impedes Patriot Act Oversight" ( Secrecy News, August 15, 2002)
• Letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft from the House Committee on the Judiciary, June 13, 2002
• " Anti-Terror Action Slower Than Expected" (Stateline.org, April 9, 2002)
• H.R. 3162: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001
• Statement of Senator Russ Feingold on the Anti-Terrorism Bill
• Library Community Statement on Proposed Anti-Terrorism Measures (October 2, 2001)
• October 10 ALAWON
• ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom Guidance on USA Patriot Act
• Libraries and the Patriot Legislation (ALA Washington Office)

Back to Top

   E-Government Act of 2001 (Senate)

• "Move to Open Government Electronically" ( New York Times, December 23, 2002)
• "President Signs Legislation to Create Digital Government" ( Washington Post, December 17, 2002)
• "New Provisions in E-Government Act" ( ALAWON, December 4, 2002)
• "E-Gov Act on its Way to President" ( Federal Computer Week, November 18, 2002)
• "Lawmakers Still Hope to Finish an E-Gov Bill This Year" ( Government Computer News, September 30, 2002)
• "White House balks at Senate confirmation for e-gov chief" ( Government Executive Magazine, September 18, 2002)
• S.803 - as passed by the Senate
• Brief Analysis of S.803 (Defense Security Cooperation Agency - Legislative & Public Affairs Office)
• " EGAd!" - Commentary on S.803 (Bruce McConnell for Federal Computer Week, July 1, 2002)
• E-Gov Bill Heads to House ( Federal Computer Week, June 28, 2002)
• Senate Unanimously Passes E-Gov Bill ( Government Computer News, June 28, 2002)
• Revised Text of S. 803 (March 21, 2002)
• ALA Summary of S. 803 (ALA Washington Office)
• S. Hrg. 107-148 "S. 803 - E-Government Act of 2001" 
• Senate Resurrects E-Gov Bill ( Federal Computer Week, March 25, 2002)
• Committee Marks Up Revised Version of S. 803, "The E-Government Act of 2002" (ALAWON March 25, 2002)
• Public Access Key to E-Government (OMB Watch, March 20, 2000)
• "Revised e-gov bill achieved" ( Federal Computer Week, March 19, 2002)
• Text of S. 803
• Bill Summary
• Section by Section Analysis
• Lieberman, Burns Unveil "Next Generation Government" E-Government Bill
  Would Improve Access of Citizens to Government Services & Information
• May 7, 2001 ALAWON
• ALA President Nancy Kranich's Comments
• July 11, 2001 - Senate Government Affairs Committee Hearing
  • Witness List and Testimony
  • Chairman Lieberman's Opening Statement
• "OMB Official says e-government bill falls short," by Tanya N. Ballard
  for GovExec.com

Back to Top

E-Government Act of 2001 (House)

• Text of H.R. 2458  
• "House version of e-government bill introduced," by Tanya N. Ballard for GovExec.com

Back to Top

   GPO FY2002 Appropriations

• GPO Appropriations for FY 2002 Approved 
• ALAWON November 1, 2001: Legislative Branch Conference Report Clears House
• Public Printer's Testimony - Senate - May 10, 2001
• Public Printer's Testimony - House - June 26, 2001
• S.1172, Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2002
• H.R.2647, Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2002

Back to Top

   PubSCIENCE

• "Free Web Research Link Closed Under Pressure from Pay Sites" ( Washington Post, November 21, 2002)
• " PubSCIENCE is discontinued" ( ALAWON, November 12, 2002)
• "PubSCIENCE Discontinued" (November 4, 2002)
• "Energy Feels the Online Squeeze" ( Federal Computer Week, October 14, 2002)
• " ACTION ALERT! DOE/OSTI to Eliminate PubSCIENCE - Deadline for Comments is September 8th" ( ALAWON, September 4, 2002)
• "Proposed Closure of PubSCIENCE - Comments Due by September 8th" ( ALAWON, August 20, 2002)
• "PubSCIENCE Joins the Endangered Species List" by Marydee Ojala ( InfoToday NewsBreak, August 19, 2002)
• "The Assault on the Public's Right to Know" by Marylaine Block ( Ex Libris, August 16, 2002)
• "Energy Department Seeks to Close Web Site That Searches Journal Abstracts" ( Chronicle of Higher Education, August 14, 2002)
• "Notice: The U.S. Department of Energy proposes to discontinue PubSCIENCE"
• "Clearing Up the Myths About PubSCIENCE" (SIIA position statement, July 2001)
• "Budget Proposal Casts Doubt over Physics Portal's Future" by Declan Butler, European correspondent, Nature
• Action Alert! PubSCIENCE Threatened by FY2002 Appropriations ( ALAWON, July 5, 2001)

Back to Top

   GAO Report

• Information Management: Electronic Dissemination of Government Publications
  GAO-01-428 (pdf document)
• Summary of GAO-01-428

   NCLIS Report

• Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination,
  June 2000-March 2001

Back to Top

Legislation/Issues in the 106th Congress

• NTIS (no legislation has been introduced)
  • Proposal to close NTIS August 12, 1999
  • GODORT response August 29, 1999
  • Depository Library Council Letter to Michael DiMario, Public Printer September 2, 1999
  • September, 14 1999 hearing testimony:
    Hearing Charter | Witness List
    Chairwoman Constance Morella | Kenneth Allen | James Billington | Bonnie Carroll | Michael DiMario | Caroline Long | Robert Mallett | NTIS Report
  • October 21, 1999 hearing testimony (all are PDF):
    The Honorable Tom Davis III | The Honorable James P. Moran | The Honorable Robert Mallett | The Honorable Michael DiMario | Attachment to Statement | The Honorable Joan Challinor | Mr. Bill Clark | Attachment One; Attachment Two
    Statements for the Record
    The Honorable Charles S. Robb | Library of Congress
  • ALA Washington Office Issue Brief January, 2000 (PDF)
• Next Generation Electronic Government Information Access Act of 1999 (no legislation has been introduced)
  • DRAFT for Discussion July 8, 1999 (PDF)
  • ALA Washington Office Issue Brief January, 2000 (PDF)
• Database Protection
  • H.R. 354, Collections of Information Antipiracy Act January 19, 1999
  • House Report 106-349 on H.R. 354 September 30, 1999
  • H.R. 1858, Consumer and Investor Access to Information Act May 19, 1999
  • House Report 106-350 on H.R. 1858 September 30, 1999
  • Resolution in Support of H.R. 1858, Consumer and Investor Access to Information Act (CD#20.8) June 27, 1999
  • ALA Washington Office Issue Brief on Database Protection Legislation January, 2000 (PDF)
  • Database Data - Web site devoted to the database issue
• Declassification
  • S. 22, Government Secrecy Reform Act of 1999 January 19, 1999
  • Resolution on S. 22, The Government Secrecy Reform Act of 1999 February 1, 1999
  • Public Interest Declassification Act of 1999 S. 1801, H.R. 3152 October 27, 1999
• EPA/Community Right-to-Know
  • H.R. 1790 Chemical Safety Information and Site Security Act May 13, 1999
  • ALAWON: ALA Testifies on Access to EPA Data by Federal Depository Libraries May 25, 1999
  • S. 880 Fuels Regulatory Relief Act Passed the Senate June 23, 1999
  • Resolution on Public Access to EPA Risk Management Plans and Community Right-to-Know Information (CD#20.9)June 27, 1999
  • Senate Report 106-161 September 16, 1999
  • ALA Washington Office Issue Brief January, 2000 (PDF)
•    Congressional Research Service Publications
  • H.R. 654 Congressional Research Acountability Act February 9, 1999
  • S. 393 Congressional Openness Act February 9, 1999
  • Resolution on Congressional Research Service Publications (CD#20.3)

   Legislation from the 105th Congress

Title 44 Revision

• S. 2288. To provide for the reform and continuing legislative oversight of the production, procurement, dissemination, and permanent public access of the Government's publications, and for other purposes. -- as introduced in the Senate
  • S. 2288 Table of Contents -- PDF file from UC Berkeley
• Locate any updates through GPO Access or Thomas
• Inter-Association Working Group on Government Information Policy (IAWG) information on S.2288
  • IAWG Talking Points for S.2288
• Laws and Legislation Proposed and Enacted -- from the GODORT homepage.