September, 01 2009, 02:55pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jordan Libowitz,,jlibowitz@citizensforethics.org,.
CREW and Open Government Organization Urge Congress to Remove FOIA Restrictions from Intelligence Reauthorization Act
Today, CREW joined nine open government organizations in calling on
the House and Senate Intelligence Committees to strike a provision from
the Intelligence Reauthorization Act of 2010 that would exempt all
terrorist identity information (TII) from the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA). An existing Executive Order exempting TII from
the FOIA is already in place and appears to be working effectively,
rendering this provision unnecessary. The provision goes too far in
exempting all information, and should instead exempt only classified
information and TII that has been disclosed only to state and local law
enforcement - which is more in line with the provision's purpose.
Further, the provision is overbroad in that it infringes on
individuals' right to know if they are on a terrorist watchlist - a
right guaranteed by the Privacy Act.
WASHINGTON
Today, CREW joined nine open government organizations in calling on
the House and Senate Intelligence Committees to strike a provision from
the Intelligence Reauthorization Act of 2010 that would exempt all
terrorist identity information (TII) from the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA). An existing Executive Order exempting TII from
the FOIA is already in place and appears to be working effectively,
rendering this provision unnecessary. The provision goes too far in
exempting all information, and should instead exempt only classified
information and TII that has been disclosed only to state and local law
enforcement - which is more in line with the provision's purpose.
Further, the provision is overbroad in that it infringes on
individuals' right to know if they are on a terrorist watchlist - a
right guaranteed by the Privacy Act.
This dangerously restrictive provision must be removed from the final bill.
Read the groups' letter in the Related Documents section on the right.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.
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