PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Information, Justice, Transportation and Agriculture.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Aug 8, 1994
Electronic Freedom of Information Improvement Act of 1994 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to: (1) direct agencies to publish electronically by computer telecommunications (or by other electronic means if computer telecommunications means are unavailable) all information required to be published in the Federal Register, and make certain items available for public inspection and copying by such electronic means as well (including a list of all records made available to any person); (2) include among such required information an index of all information stored in an electronic form by the agency, a description of any new database, and a list of all statutes authorizing the agency to withhold information under such Act; (3) enable requesters to receive records in the format in which such records are maintained; (4) require reasonable efforts by the agency to provide records in an electronic format even when such records are not usually maintained in such format; (5) credit to agencies which have been found to be responsive to FOIA requests a percentage of the fees collected from such requests to offset compliance costs, at an agency's request; (6) provide for Government payment of the requester's out-of-pocket expenses in any case in which the agency has failed to comply with the FOIA request within prescribed time limits; (7) lengthen from ten to 20 days the period for agency decision to comply with a request for information; (8) preclude treatment of predictable workload (including any ongoing agency backlog) as unusual circumstances warranting extension of time limits; (9) require denial notifications to specify the total number of denied records and pages considered in responding to the FOIA request; (10) mandate agency regulations governing FOIA requests for expedited access, including a multitrack first-in, first-out processing policy for simple and complex requests); (11) require the extent of deletions to be indicated on the released portion of the record where they were made; and (12) define "record" to include all information or documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics, and "search" to include an automated examination to locate records.
People & committees
Rep. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA-1] · D–WA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Information, Justice, Transportation and Agriculture.
Referred to the House Committee on Government Operations.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1676-1677)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 26, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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