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Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on FOIA Transparency at the Department of Homeland Security
Record date · January 1, 2020
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What This Bill Does
This hearing transcript documents a 2019 Congressional review of how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages Freedom of Information Act () requests. Lawmakers and agency officials discussed the agency's performance in providing public access to government records.
The hearing examines the efficiency and transparency of the DHS in processing public records requests, which directly impacts the ability of citizens, journalists, and researchers to access information about government operations.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Homeland Security
The agency is subject to oversight regarding its internal processes for fulfilling public information requests.
General Public
The public relies on FOIA processes to obtain government records and information.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on October 17, 2019, in the Cannon House Office Building.
- The Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability conducted the review.
- The hearing focused on the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) within the Department of Homeland Security.
- Witnesses included representatives from the DHS Privacy Office, USCIS, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Government Accountability Office.
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- The hearing record includes supplemental statements from academic experts and various transparency advocacy organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Broad Stakeholder Interest
The hearing record includes a joint statement from a wide coalition of transparency advocacy groups, indicating high external interest in DHS FOIA performance.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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