To: President Donald Trump, The Washington State Senate, Governor Jay Inslee, and The United States Senate
Department of Defense assault on FOIA
Department of Defense assault on Freedom of Information Act.
Undersigned citizens request that our representatives not allow the Department of Defense to water-down the Freedom of Information Act by putting a provision into the Defense Authorization Act of 2012 that would prevent the public from accessing information having to do with Emergency Response and safety concerns effecting communities adjacent to Federal Facilities.
The Department of Defense is seeking a new exemption to the Freedom of Information Act to withhold records related to military infrastructure. The Senate version of the bill would allow a “senior Department of Defense civilian” to withhold records by issuing only a “statement of the basis for the determination.”
This new proposed exemption is a radical change for the Freedom of Information Act and will limit citizens’ ability to learn of hazardous military activities in their communities. The Department of Defense has laws and exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act already in place to prevent the release of sensitive or classified information.
This new legislation is the Department of Defense response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Milner v. Navy. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Milner as the Navy could not use the exemption put forward and that the community had a right to know the risk to their community.
The public has a right to know about explosives, harmful chemicals and emergency response plans for military bases.
Section 1044 would allow the Department of Defense to withhold records essential for Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requirements. The Department of Defense is not exempt from these regulations.
By signing this petition you are letting your representatives know that you want an open transparent government that allows the public access to information concerning their safety and well being.
Undersigned citizens request that our representatives not allow the Department of Defense to water-down the Freedom of Information Act by putting a provision into the Defense Authorization Act of 2012 that would prevent the public from accessing information having to do with Emergency Response and safety concerns effecting communities adjacent to Federal Facilities.
The Department of Defense is seeking a new exemption to the Freedom of Information Act to withhold records related to military infrastructure. The Senate version of the bill would allow a “senior Department of Defense civilian” to withhold records by issuing only a “statement of the basis for the determination.”
This new proposed exemption is a radical change for the Freedom of Information Act and will limit citizens’ ability to learn of hazardous military activities in their communities. The Department of Defense has laws and exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act already in place to prevent the release of sensitive or classified information.
This new legislation is the Department of Defense response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Milner v. Navy. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Milner as the Navy could not use the exemption put forward and that the community had a right to know the risk to their community.
The public has a right to know about explosives, harmful chemicals and emergency response plans for military bases.
Section 1044 would allow the Department of Defense to withhold records essential for Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requirements. The Department of Defense is not exempt from these regulations.
By signing this petition you are letting your representatives know that you want an open transparent government that allows the public access to information concerning their safety and well being.
Why is this important?
Undersigned citizens request that our representatives not allow the Department of Defense to water-down the Freedom of Information Act by putting a provision into the Defense Authorization Act of 2012 that would prevent the public from accessing information having to do with Emergency Response and safety concerns effecting communities adjacent to Federal Facilities.
This new legislation is the Department of Defense response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Milner v. Navy. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Milner as the Navy could not use the exemption put forward and that the community had a right to know the risk to their community.
The public has a right to know about explosives, harmful chemicals and emergency response plans for military bases.
Section 1044 would allow the Department of Defense to withhold records essential for Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requirements. The Department of Defense is not exempt from these regulations.
By signing this petition you are letting your representatives know that you want an open transparent government that allows the public access to information concerning their safety and well being.
This new legislation is the Department of Defense response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Milner v. Navy. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Milner as the Navy could not use the exemption put forward and that the community had a right to know the risk to their community.
The public has a right to know about explosives, harmful chemicals and emergency response plans for military bases.
Section 1044 would allow the Department of Defense to withhold records essential for Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requirements. The Department of Defense is not exempt from these regulations.
By signing this petition you are letting your representatives know that you want an open transparent government that allows the public access to information concerning their safety and well being.