# 114-hr-653: FOIA Act

114-hr-653, FOIA Act, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48] (R-CA); status Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-653
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-653
- Congress: 114
- Title: FOIA Act
- Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced: 2015-02-02
- Sponsor: Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48] (R-CA)
- Cosponsors: 55
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2015 or the FOIA Act This bill makes changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to provide the public with greater access to information disclosable under such Act. The bill requires agencies, in administering FOIA, to: (1) make information disclosable under such Act available to the public in an electronic, publicly accessible format; and (2) make available to the public records of general interest that inform the public of the operations and activities of the government or that have been requested three or more times. The Office of Management and Budget is directed to ensure the operation of an online request portal that allows a member of the public to submit a FOIA request for records to any agency from a single website. The bill establishes a presumption of openness by prohibiting an agency from withholding information otherwise disclosable under FOIA unless: (1) the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would cause specific identifiable harm to an interest protected by an exemption to FOIA, or (2) disclosure is prohibited by law. The duties of the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) are expanded to require: (1) mediation services to resolve disputes between agencies and persons making FOIA requests; (2) annual reports on the activities of OGIS that are available in an electronic, publicly accessible format; and (3) annual public meetings on the review of agencies' FOIA policies, procedures, and compliance. The bill requires annual agency FOIA reports and the annual reports on FOIA of the Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Information Policy (OIP) to be made available in an electronic, publicly accessible format. Agencies are prohibited from assessing search or duplication fees if they have failed to comply with a statutory deadline for a FOIA response and did not submit a written notice to the requestor justifying the fees requested. The role of the Chief FOIA Officer at each agency is expanded to require officers to serve as the primary agency liaison between OGIS and OIP and to complete annual compliance determinations that review agency regulations, fee assessments, use of exemptions, dispute resolution services, and the timely processing of FOIA requests. The bill establishes a Chief FOIA Officers Council for developing recommendations for increasing compliance and efficiency, disseminating information about agency experiences, identifying initiatives to increase transparency and compliance, and promoting performance measures to ensure agency compliance with FOIA requirements. The Inspector General of each agency is required to: (1) periodically review compliance with FOIA requirements, including the timely processing of requests, assessment of fees and fee waivers, and the use of FOIA exemptions, and (2) make recommendations to the agency head, including recommendations for disciplinary action.

## Cosponsors (55)

- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2015-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2015-02-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Guinta, Frank C. [R-NH-1] (R-NH), 2015-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27] (R-TX), 2015-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4] (R-TN), 2015-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] (R-GA), 2015-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8] (R-AZ), 2015-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] (R-TX), 2015-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] (R-GA), 2015-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bucshon, Larry [R-IN-8] (R-IN), 2015-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Byrne, Bradley [R-AL-1] (R-AL), 2015-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3] (R-CO), 2015-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9] (R-GA), 2015-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] (R-TX), 2015-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hurt, Robert [R-VA-5] (R-VA), 2015-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] (R-AZ), 2015-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5] (R-MI), 2015-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3] (R-IN), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Mike [R-MI-8] (R-MI), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hensarling, Jeb [R-TX-5] (R-TX), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Resident Commissioner Pierluisi, Pedro R. [D-PR-At Large] (D-PR), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6] (R-MN), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2015-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (D-PA), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2015-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- JOHN LEWIS (D-GA), 2015-04-23T00:00:00.000Z
- ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD), 2015-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2015-02-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15] (R-FL), 2015-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- CHARLES RANGEL (D-NY), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] (D-MI), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ashford, Brad [D-NE-2] (D-NE), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- MICHAEL HONDA (D-CA), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2015-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2015-06-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Olson, Pete [R-TX-22] (R-TX), 2015-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Messer, Luke [R-IN-6] (R-IN), 2015-07-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3] (R-FL), 2015-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Abraham, Ralph Lee [R-LA-5] (R-LA), 2015-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2016-01-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2015-04-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4] (R-MS), 2015-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8] (R-FL), 2015-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2015-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2015-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hice, Jody B. [R-GA-10] (R-GA), 2015-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] (R-NV), 2015-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2015-06-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ribble, Reid J. [R-WI-8] (R-WI), 2015-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2015-07-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-699: Email Privacy Act
- 114-hr-2992: Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 114-hr-2726: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act
- 114-hr-2737: Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015
- 114-hr-1475: Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act
- 114-hr-2722: Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-653 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/653)

## Related
- [114-hr-699: Email Privacy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-699)
- [114-hr-2992: Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2992)
- [114-hr-2726: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2726)
- [114-hr-2737: Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2737)
- [114-hr-1475: Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1475)
- [114-hr-2722: Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2722)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-653 (as of 2025-11-18).