Seeks to improve the implementation of FOIA by establishing an ombudsman, setting penalties for agency non-compliance, improving reporting on performance, and overturning a court ruling that has limited the award of attorney fees when a requester prevails. It would also establish in law that information should be released if the disclosure would do no harm, even if it falls descriptively within an exemption. Status: Approved by House, 308-117

Seeks to improve the implementation of FOIA by establishing an ombudsman, setting penalties for agency non-compliance, improving reporting on performance, and overturning a court ruling that has limited the award of attorney fees when a requester prevails. Status: Awaiting Senate Judiciary Committee markup.

Overturns a presidential executive order that gives presidents and former presidents the right to withhold or delay release of presidential papers and other records. Status: Approved by the House 333-93.

Requires information on contributors to presidential libraries be disclosed. Status: Approved by the House 390-34

Extends whistle-blower protection to government scientists and to employees at national security agencies. It also allows a whistleblower who feels discriminated against to seek court review while awaiting an administrative response. Status: Approved by the House 331-94

Requires agencies that awarded more than $1 billion in contracts the previous year to devise plans for minimizing no-bid and maximizing fixed-price contracts, and to publicize the justifications for sole-source contracts. Status: Passed the House 223-190