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  E-Update

1996 EFOIA Amendments: Legislative History

I. TITLE

Short Title

Electronic Freedom of Information Amendments of 1996

Official Title As Introduced:

"A bill to amend section 552 of title 5, United States Code, popularly known as the Freedom of Information Act, to provide for public access to information in an electronic format, and for other purposes."

II. SPONSORS

• Primary Sponsor: Rep Tate, (introduced 07/12/96)
  
• 3 Cosponsors:

  Rep Horn - 07/12/96
  Rep Maloney - 07/12/96
  Rep Peterson, C. - 07/12/96
  

III. COMMITTEE REPORTS

• House Government Reform and Oversight
  House Report 795
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary
  Senate Report 272 [on similar bill introduced in the Senate, S. 1090]
• See also Department of Justice's written testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Technology and the Law, at the Subcommittee's hearing on S. 1940, the "Electronic Freedom of Information Improvement Act of 1991," held on April 30, 1992.

IV. CHRONOLOGY OF CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION

House Action(s)

• July 12, 1996:
  

  H.R. 3802 referred to the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.
  Introductory remarks on Measure. Cong. Rec. E1280-1281

• July 15, 1996:

  Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and
  Technology.

• July 16, 1996:

  Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. July 25, 1996: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

• July 25, 1996:

  Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  

• Sep 17, 1996:

  Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on
  Government Reform. H. Rept. 104-795. Cong. Rec. H10523
  

• Sep 17, 1996:
  

  Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 433. Called up by House under suspension of the rules.Cong. Rec. H10447

  Considered by House as unfinished business.Cong. Rec. H10447-10452, H10493-10494

  Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 402 - 0 (Roll no. 414).
  Cong. Rec. H10494

  Full text of Measure as passed House printed. Cong. Rec. H10447-10449

• Sept. 20, 1996:

  Enrolled Measure signed in House. Cong. Rec. H10762

Senate Action(s)

• Sept. 17, 1996
  

  Senate floor discussion of S. 1090, Electronic Freedom of Information Improvement Act of 1996, which contains provisions similar to those later enacted in EFOIA Amendments, Cong. Rec. S10713-S10717

• Sept. 18, 1996:
  

  H.R. 3802 is received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. Cong. Rec. S10893-108943

• Sept. 19, 1996:

  Message on Senate action sent to the House.

• Sept. 20, 1996:

  Enrolled Measure signed in Senate. Cong. Rec. S11089

Executive Action(s)

• Sept. 18, 1996:

  Cleared for White House.

• Sept. 20, 1996:

  Presented to President. Cong. Rec. H11045 (Sept. 24, 1996)

• Oct. 2, 1996:

  Signed by President
  

  President's signing statement

  Became Public Law No: 104-231 Cong. Rec. D1056 (Oct. 21, 1996)

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