FOIA Needs YOU: Apply Today for the FOIA Advisory Committee

Apply to be a member of the FOIA Advisory Committee by June 23! (NARA Identifier 534704)
Apply to be a member of the FOIA Advisory Committee by June 23! (NARA Identifier 534704)

Do you love the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and want to help improve it? If so, read on – there may be a role for you on the Federal FOIA Advisory Committee!

We hope you already know that the Committee is a diverse group of FOIA experts from inside and outside the government who share the goal of tackling some of FOIA’s trickiest issues. Currently, the Committee’s subcommittees are reviewing FOIA’s oversight and accountability mechanisms, possible improvements to FOIA’s fee structure, and making agency records publicly available without specific requests from the public..

In keeping with the terms of the Committee’s charter, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is currently accepting applications for a representative of a non-government organization (NGO) that advocates on FOIA matters. NGOs that advocate on FOIA matter that are or have been represented on the Committee include: the Campaign for Accountability, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), and the National Security Archive.

The Committee meets quarterly at NARA’s downtown DC location. However, you do not have to be located in the DC area to apply. People across the country rely on FOIA to access government records, and we want the Committee to reflect the diversity of requesters. Individuals interested in serving on the Committee must comply with the Committee’s bylaws.

To apply (or to nominate someone else), please send an email to ogis@nara.gov by Tuesday, June 23, 2015. The subject of the email should be your full name (last name, first name), and your email should include the following information:

  1.  A short paragraph or “bio” (no more than 250 words, please) summarizing your resume or otherwise highlighting the contributions you (or your nominee) would bring to this committee;
  2. A resume or curriculum vitae; and
  3. Your full contact information (or that of the nominee).

We look forward to hearing from you!