Welcome Remarks for the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee

Good morning! I'm Debra Steidel Wall, Acting Archivist of the United States. Welcome Committee members and members of the public to the first meeting of the fifth term of the Freedom of Information Act Advisory Committee. It’s nice to see those of you who I’ve reappointed, as well as those who are new to the Committee. Today is a special day here at the National Archives, which I’ll get to in a moment.

First, regarding the package of 21 wide-ranging recommendations from the previous term: one was approved last year by Archivist David Ferriero. Over the summer I gave each of the 20 recommendations very close consideration. As noted on OGIS’s FOIA Advisory Committee dashboard, work on five of the recommendations has already started. With regard to four of the six recommendations that would “Reimagine OGIS,” I paused action on them pending review of the outcome of a feasibility study to more deeply study the costs and benefits of those four recommendations. And I rejected the recommendation to move OGIS in the organizational chart so that it reports directly to the Archivist.

Committee members—although some of FOIA’s toughest challenges remain and there are rich opportunities for exploration, I hope that you will review prior Committee recommendations and consider whether additional work is needed as you work to fulfill your mandate to advise on improvements to the administration of FOIA. In other words, please don’t feel compelled to make another 20 recommendations this time around!

And now to the special day here at the National Archives. Thirteen years ago today, the first director of the brand-new Office of Government Information Services unlocked the door to the office to find requests for assistance awaiting her attention. Miriam Nisbet had no staff and no process in place for handling those requests. She used as her guiding light 104 words in the Freedom of Information Act statute as well as the international ombudsman standards of independence, impartiality, and confidentiality.

That first year, OGIS handled 391 cases largely from requesters who had already been through the FOIA administrative process. Today, OGIS handles more than 4,000 inquiries a year from both FOIA requesters and agency FOIA professionals at all stages of the FOIA process.

By observing the FOIA process in action and offering dispute resolution services, OGIS fulfills Congress’s mandate to “resolve disputes … as a nonexclusive alternative to litigation.” By allowing its casework to serve as a FOIA barometer and assessing a range of FOIA issues, OGIS fulfills Congress’s mandate to review FOIA policies, procedures and compliance.” And by speaking about systemic change in a variety of ways, OGIS fulfills Congress’s mandate to “identify procedures and methods for improving compliance.” Certainly the FOIA Advisory Committee is an important part of identifying improvements to the FOIA process.

I’m extremely proud of all that OGIS has accomplished in the last 13 years. OGIS’s work complements the National Archives’ strategic goals of Making Access Happen and Connecting with Our Customers—from federal agencies to the American public.

So with that—Happy Birthday OGIS! Welcome to your teenage years. While many teenagers experience periods of moodiness and unruliness, I am confident that you will continue to offer exceptional service to the FOIA Advisory Committee and the American public.

And now, I am happy to turn the meeting over to OGIS Director Alina Semo.