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H.R. 1309 110th Congress House

Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007

Official title: To promote openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 5, 2007 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative feesAdministrative procedureAdministrative remediesBusiness records
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Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCivil actions and liabilityCommerceCongressCongressional investigationsCongressional reporting requirementsConsent decreesData banksDisciplining of employeesEconomics and Public FinanceElectronic government informationEmployee trainingExecutive reorganizationFederal employeesFederal officialsFreedom of informationGovernment contractorsGovernment paperworkGovernment publicityGovernment statisticsGovernmental investigationsIdentification devicesInfrastructureInfrastructure (Economics)InternetJudicial reviewLabor and EmploymentLawLegal feesLegislationMass mediaNational Archives and Records AdministrationPerformance measurementPersonnel managementPosition classificationPromotionsPublic recordsSalariesScience, Technology, CommunicationsTelephoneTerrorismUser chargesWeb sites
This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) 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 17 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 15, 2007
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mar 14, 2007
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 14, 2007
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 308 - 117 (Roll no. 144). (text: CR H2500-2502)
Mar 14, 2007
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2509)
Mar 14, 2007
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Mar 14, 2007
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1309.
Mar 14, 2007
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2500-2507)
Mar 14, 2007
Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Mar 12, 2007
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 21.
Mar 12, 2007
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-45.
Mar 8, 2007
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Mar 8, 2007
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 6, 2007
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Mar 6, 2007
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 5, 2007
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Mar 5, 2007
Referred to the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives.
Mar 5, 2007
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 14, 2007 House · vote #144 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 308–117 See who voted →
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 Latest action March 15, 2007

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to revise requirements for federal agency disclosures of information requested under that Act.

(Sec. 3) Prohibits a federal agency, in setting document duplication fees, from denying news media status to a news media representative solely on the absence of institutional associations of the requester and requires consideration of the requester's prior publication history. Requires such agency, if a requester has no prior publication history or current affiliation, to consider the requester's stated intent at the time the request is made to distribute information to a reasonably broad audience.

(Sec. 4) Provides that, for purposes of awarding attorney fees and litigation costs, a FOIA complainant has substantially prevailed in a legal proceeding to compel disclosure if such complainant obtained relief through either: (1) a judicial order, administrative action, or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree; or (2) a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party in a case in which the complainant's claim or defense was not frivolous.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) notify the Special Counsel of civil actions taken for arbitrary and capricious rejections of requests for agency records; and (2) submit annual reports to Congress on the number of such civil actions in the preceding year. Directs the Special Counsel to submit an annual report to Congress on investigations of agency rejections of FOIA requests.

(Sec. 6) Requires the 20-day period during which an agency must determine whether to comply with a FOIA request to begin on the date on which the request is first received by such agency. Prohibits the tolling of the 20-day period without the consent of the FOIA requester.

Requires an agency to refund fees for a FOIA request if the agency fails to comply with the 20-day period (applies to requests made one year after the enactment of this Act).

(Sec. 7) Requires agencies to establish: (1) a system to assign an individualized tracking number for FOIA requests and provide requesters with such tracking number within 10 days after receiving a request; and (2) a telephone line or Internet service that provides information on the status of a request. Makes this requirement effective one year after the enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 8) Requires any statutory exemption from disclosure under FOIA enacted after the date of enactment of this Act to cite directly to FOIA disclosure exemption provisions.

(Sec. 9) Revises annual agency reporting requirements on compliance with FOIA to require information on: (1) compliance of each principal component of an agency and for the agency overall; (2) FOIA denials based upon particular statutes; and (3) agency response times.

Requires agencies to make the raw statistical data used in reports electronically available to the public upon request.

(Sec. 10) Redefines "record" under FOIA to include any information maintained by a contractor for a federal agency.

(Sec. 11) Establishes in the National Archives an Office of Government Information Services under the supervision and direction of a National Information Advocate. Requires such Office to: (1) provide guidance to FOIA requesters; and (2) review agency FOIA policies and procedures and recommend policy changes to Congress.

(Sec. 12) Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress, not later than January 1 of each of the three years after the enactment of this Act, on the implementation and use of provisions for the protection of voluntarily shared critical infrastructure information under the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Requires such reports to be submitted in unclassified form, allowing a classified annex.

(Sec. 13) Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report to Congress on personnel policies related to FOIA.

(Sec. 14) Declares it to be the policy of the federal government to release information to the public in response to a FOIA request if the release is required by law or the release is allowed by law and the agency concerned does not reasonably foresee that disclosure would be harmful to an interest protected by an applicable exemption.

(Sec. 15) Requires agencies making partial FOIA disclosures to note the exemption or exemptions used to withhold information and to indicate the exemption used to delete information at the place in the record where the deletion is made.

 Related & companion bills 4
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1309: Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-1309/
MLA
"H.R. 1309: Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-1309/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1309, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-1309/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1309: Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-1309/)
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