Category «Legislation»

Senate Judiciary Cmte. Approves Open Government Act

Press release: “The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday unanimously approved a bill aimed at substantially enhancing and expanding the accessibility, accountability, and openness of the federal government. The Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2005, or the OPEN Government Act (S. 394), was authored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the ranking Democratic member …

Subjects: Congress, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Hearing on Climate Change Technology Research

Government Reform Committee Legislative Hearing, Climate Change Technology Research: Do We Need a ‘Manhattan Project’ for the Environment?, September 21, 2006. Links to testimony and opening statement. Press release: “The Committee on Government Reform will hold an oversight hearing to explore whether a need exists for a program to manage research in transformational technologies in …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Legislation

Searchable Database of Congressional Staff Salaries Debuts

“Based on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, LegiStorm’s first information product is a database of congressional staff salaries. The information is provided in a strictly factual, non-partisan fashion. We have no political purpose except to make the workings of Congress as transparent as possible. We expect this resource to be useful to journalists, researchers, and …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Senate Passes National Security Surveillance Act of 2006

September 13, 2006 By Mr. SPECTER, from the Committee on the Judiciary, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, S. 2453: A bill to establish procedures for the review of electronic surveillance programs. By Mr. SPECTER, from the Committee on the Judiciary, without amendment: S. 2455. A bill to provide in statute for …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legislation, Patriot Act, Privacy

CDT's Internet Watch List

“Nine Legislative Efforts that Must Be Stopped in 2006 – As Congress mounts its final push before the midterm elections, a number of bills that threaten the bedrock of Internet privacy and civil liberties could either come up for votes or worm their way into larger legislative packages that end up being rushed into law. …

Subjects: Blogs, Civil Liberties, Congress, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation, Privacy

Minority Staff of House Appropriations Committee – Report on Army Military Readiness

Press release: “Today, Dave Obey (D-WI), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and John Murtha (D-PA), Ranking Member of the Defense Subcommittee, released a new report on the state of the U.S. Army’s readiness for war. Mr. Murtha also announced a resolution calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign.” The Obey Murtha Report …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents, Legislation

Clean Contracting Act of 2006

Press release, Committee on Government Reform Minority Office, September 13, 2006: “Today the House Democratic Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Truth Squad introduced the “Clean Contracting Act of 2006.” The bill would end the abusive contracting practices that have been rampant under the Bush Administration and promote greater transparency and accountability in federal contracting. Contracts collectively …

Subjects: Congress, Legal Research, Legislation

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 Passes Senate

Follow-up to previous posting, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (S. 2590) unanimously passed the Senate on the evening of September 7. POGO reported “that Sens. Stevens (R-AK) and Byrd (D- WV) lifted their secret holds on the bill.” Update: September 13, 2006 House floor debate on the Act, via FAS

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Freedom of Information, Legal Research, Legislation