Open Government

Open and accountable government is one of the bedrock principles of our democracy. Yet virtually since inauguration day, questions have been raised about the Bush Administration’s commitment to this principle. News articles and reports by independent groups over the last four years have identified a growing series of instances where the Administration has sought to operate without public or congressional scrutiny. (Last Updated May 26, 2005)

Latest News

House Passes Bill to Strengthen GAO

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 6388, the Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008. Chairman Henry A. Waxman and 18 other committee chairs introduced this legislation to strengthen the Government Accountability Office and restore GAO’s authority to pursue litigation if documents are improperly withheld from the agency.

House Passes Resolution on Iraq Corruption

Today the House with a vote of 395-21 passed the Iraq Corruption Resolution, introduced on Friday, October 12, 2007, by Chairmen Waxman and Tierney. In his statement on the House floor, Chairman Waxman called the State Department abuses of the classification system “outrageous” and demanded answers to questions about corruption in Iraq.

House Passes Legislation for Enhanced Independence of Inspectors General

On October 3, 2007, the House overwhelmingly passed legislation to provide greater independence and accountability for Inspectors General in executive branch departments and agencies.

H.R. 928, the Improving Government Accountability Act

On August 2, 2007, the full committee reported H.R. 928, the Improving Government Accountability Act. Introduced by Rep. Cooper on February 8, 2007, H.R. 928 updates the Inspector General Act of 1978 to promote independence and accountability for Inspectors General in executive branch departments and agencies.

Chairman Waxman Applauds Passage of Open Government Bills

Today the House of Representatives passed four good government bills. H.R. 985 enhances protections offered to federal whistleblowers, H.R. 1255 strengthens the Freedom of Information Act, H.R. 1255 makes clear that presidential records belong to the public, and H.R. 1254 requires organizations that raise money for presidential libraries to disclose information about their donors.

Committee Reports Favorably on Four Good Government Bills

The Oversight Committee reported out four bills: The Presidential Donation Reform Act, the Presidential Records Act Amendments, the Freedom of Information Act Amendments, and the Accountability in Contracting Act.

Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007

On March 5, 2007, Reps. Wm. Lacy Clay, Todd Russell Platts, and Henry A. Waxman introduced H.R. 1309, the Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007. This legislation contains a dozen substantive provisions that will increase public access to government information by strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007

On March 1, 2007, Rep. Henry A. Waxman along with Reps. Platts, Clay, and Burton introduced H.R. 1255, the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007, to nullify a 2001 presidential executive order and restore public access to presidential records.

The Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007

On March 1, 2007, Rep. Henry A. Waxman along with Reps. Duncan, Clay, Platts, and Emanuel introduced H.R. 1254 the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007, to require the disclosure of donors to presidential libraries.

Reforming the Presidential Library Donation Disclosure Process

On Wednesday, February 28, 2007, the Committee held an oversight hearing on the need for public disclosure of donations to presidential libraries. Under current law, private organizations established for the purpose of building a presidential library can raise unlimited amounts of money from undisclosed donors while the president remains in office.

Committee Approves Two Essential Reform Bills

On February 14, the Oversight Committee marked up and reported out two reform bills for consideration on the House floor. The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act strengthens protections for federal whistleblowers to prevent retaliation against those who report wrongdoing to authorities. The Executive Branch Reform Act is designed to increase transparency and limit the influence of special interests in the executive branch of government.

Rep. Waxman Questions Timing of NARA Inquiry

Rep. Waxman today wrote to Chairman Davis regarding the timing of a request for materials from the National Archives and Records Administration relating to Samuel R. Berger, former National Security Advisor to President Clinton, which followed on the heels of a request by Republican members for a Committee investigation of Mr. Berger.

Reps. Waxman and Gordon Release GAO Report on the Data Quality Act

The report finds that in the first two years of the Act, there were 80 substantive challenges to agency information, with the majority coming from industry interests. Responding to these challenges can cost agencies significant time and resources.

Restoring Honesty and Accountability in Washington

Over the last five years, public confidence in the federal government has plummeted. Reports of enormous waste, fraud, and abuse have squandered both taxpayer dollars and public support. Rep. Henry A. Waxman and Democratic Members of the Committee on Government Reform have developed six proposals to restore honesty and accountability in government.

Labor Department Policy Suppressing Mine Inspection Reports Impedes Reform

Rep. Waxman asks the Labor Secretary Chao to reverse the Mine Safety and Health Administration's 2004 decision to exclude mine safety inspectors' notes in Freedom of Information Act responses. The agency's secrecy policy limited disclosure about hundreds of safety violations at the Sago mine for years before the recent disaster.

Provision Would Block Public Access to DIA Documents

Rep. Waxman asks the House and Senate Armed Forces Committees to remove a provision in the pending National Defense Authorization Act that would weaken the nation's open government laws by exempting “operational records” of the Defense Intelligence Agency from the Freedom of Information Act.

Rep. Waxman Urges Chalabi Hearing

Rep. Waxman asks Rep. Chris Shays to cancel tomorrow’s scheduled private briefing with Iraqi official Ahmed Chalabi and instead hold a public hearing where Mr. Chalabi can be questioned about his role in misleading the United States about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

Committee Democrats Push to Strengthen Whistleblower Protections

In a Committee markup of H.R. 1317, The Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act, Committee Democrats offered amendments that would strengthen protections for federal employees who come forward to report waste, fraud, abuse, and national security violations. Two of these important amendments were offered by Democrats, but were defeated on party line votes.

Rep. Waxman Calls for End to Secrecy, Waste in Department of Homeland Security

In a Committee hearing on the Department of Homeland Security's mission effectiveness, Rep. Waxman asks DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff to put an end to the department's excessive secrecy and wasteful spending and instead promote openness and accountability in government.

Rep. Waxman Introduces Legislation to Restore Transparency and Open Government Laws

Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman introduced legislation to reverse the Bush Administration’s assault on open government by restoring laws promoting transparency.

Evidence Grows of Administration's Misuse of New Information Restrictions

In a letter calling for a congressional investigation, Rep. Waxman provides examples of how proliferating information designations such as "sensitive but unclassified" have been used to block the release of important government records.

Members Ask for Hearings on Withheld 9/11 Information

Reps. Waxman and Maloney ask for hearings on whether political considerations caused the Administration to delay release of findings by the 9/11 Commission about pre-attack warnings.

Proposed Committee Oversight Plan Omits Administration Abuses

Rep. Waxman asks Chairman Davis to amend the Committee's oversight plan to include consideration of the treatment of detainees, the use of covert propaganda, the politicization of science, conflicts of interest, the rise in government secrecy, and other important issues that Congress has failed to address.

Report: Secrecy in the Bush Administration

Rep. Waxman has released a comprehensive examination of the unprecedented assault on the principle of open government under the Bush Administration.

Displaying Items 1 to 24 of 24:

Previous Page • Next Page

[1]