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H.R. 2331 109th Congress House

Restore Open Government Act of 2005

Official title: To restore and strengthen the laws that provide for an open and transparent Federal Government.

Introduced: May 12, 2005 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative feesAdministrative procedureAdministrative remediesArmed Forces and National Security
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Business recordsCitizen lawsuitsCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceConfidential communicationsCongressCongressional investigationsCongressional reporting requirementsCost accountingCrime and Law EnforcementDepartment of Homeland SecurityEconomics and Public FinanceEmployee trainingExecutive ordersFederal advisory bodiesFederal employeesFreedom of informationGovernment and businessGovernment contractorsGovernment paperworkGovernment publicityGovernment statisticsGovernmental investigationsInfrastructureInfrastructure (Economics)Labor and EmploymentLawLegal feesLocal lawsNational Archives and Records AdministrationPresidential recordsPublic recordsSecurity classification (Government documents)StandardsState lawsSunset legislationTerrorism
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 12, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 12, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 12, 2005

Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Restore Open Government Act of 2005 - Revokes the "Memorandum for Heads of all Federal Departments and Agencies on The Freedom of Information Act" and "Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Department and Agencies on Action to Safeguard Information Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction and Other Sensitive Documents Related to Homeland Security."

Directs the Archivist of the United States to: (1) report on the use of psuedo-classification designations; and (2) promulgate regulations banning unnecessary psuedo-classification designations. Provides for standards for information control designations related to the classification of national security information, if needed.

Revokes specified executive orders limiting access to presidential records.

Requires publishing the names of Presidential interagency advisory committee members. Requires public disclosure of non-governmental committee contacts.

Permits the Archivist to charge an agency a specified fee to cover costs required for activities of the Public Interest Declassification Board, if funds appropriated for the Board are insufficient.

Restricts the availability of a record under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) pertaining to the vulnerability of and threats to critical infrastructure that is furnished voluntarily to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Amends the FOIA concerning additional matters to be included in agency reports to the Attorney General. Prohibits aggregating public information requests with information on individuals in reports.

Amends the FOIA to permit assessing the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case seeking information under any other Federal law in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2331: Restore Open Government Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2331/
MLA
"H.R. 2331: Restore Open Government Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2331/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2331, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2331/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2331: Restore Open Government Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2331/)
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