Government transparency promotes an informed public and an accountable government, and reduces unnecessary secrecy.
Classification Policy
AALL strongly supports classification policies that promote opening the government to the greatest extent possible. Recognizing the need to balance security and transparency, we urge lawmakers to prioritize transparency where possible by supporting policies that limit classification and encourage declassification.
Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is an essential federal open government law that allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the federal government. The Act defines agency records subject to disclosure, outlines mandatory disclosure procedures and grants nine exemptions to the statute.
Issue Briefs and Reports
- Advocacy One-Pager, Cosponsor the Open and Responsive Government Act (October 2019)
Formal Statements
- Comments to the Office of Management and Budget, To urge that revisions to the proposed Uniform Freedom of Information Act Fee Schedule and Guidelines clarify that librarians and other staff of educational institutions qualify for FOIA’s educational institution requester category (June 2, 2020)
Net Neutrality
Network neutrality keeps the Internet open, promoting innovation, competition, and intellectual freedom.
Issue Briefs and Reports
- Advocacy One-Pager, Support the Save the Internet Act (July 2019)
Formal Statements
- Letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Asking him to bring the Save the Internet Act, S.682, to a vote (June 11, 2019)
- Letter to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Urging House members to pass the Save the Internet Act, H.R. 1644 (April 2, 2019)
- Before the Federal Communications Commission, Comments of the American Association of Law Libraries, the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, American Library Association, and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, GN Docket No. 17-108 (July 17, 2017)
Other Issues
AALL supports increased access to government records and government data.
Formal Statements
- Letter to Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Peters, In support of the Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency (GREAT) Act of 2019, H.R. 150/S. 1829 (June 18, 2019)