Senate panel plans vote on FOIA update

The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on a bill to update the Freedom of Information Act as one of its first items once lawmakers return to Washington next week.

The committee is planning to vote on the FOIA Improvement Act on the morning of Nov. 13, it announced on Friday.

{mosads}The bill, introduced by panel Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) earlier this year, would require federal agencies to adopt a “preemption of openness” when considering whether to release documents under the landmark transparency law.

It also gives additional independence and authority to an office dedicated to mediating disputes over the FOIA requests, among other changes.

Government transparency advocates have cited the bill as one of their top priorities for the rest of the year.