Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the OPEN Government Act (S. 394) to reinforce openness in the federal government. The bill requires agencies to pay legal costs when they face with a lawsuit over improperly withheld records. The purpose of the bill is to make agencies more accountable for fulfilling public requests for documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill was introduced on Feb. 16 and a Judiciary Committee hearing was held March 15. The companion bill in the House, H.R. 867, now has 6 cosponsors. The OPEN Government Act of 2005: A Summary
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