"Item #2-- Threat Posed By Proposed New FOIA Exemption:
According to the
American Library Association (ALA), the Senate has approved
a provision in
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
(H.R. 4200)
that would create a new exemption under the Freedom of
Information Act
(FOIA). This exemption would restrict public access to
unclassified
satellite images and related data, such as maps, reports
and
analysis. Even if government officials felt that the
public should have
access to the information under FOIA, the provision
prohibits the
disclosure. According to critics, this completely bars the
public from
accessing certain commercial images and would threaten
significant amounts
of unclassified information that journalists, public
interest groups,
scientists, and the public routinely use. This provision
has been
incorporated into the House's version of the National
Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2005 as an amendment which is now being
discussed in
House-Senate Conference. The ALA is urging concerned
individuals to
contact members of Congress and ask that they defer action
on this
amendment until its long-term impact has been adequately
assessed. To take
action, tap into the ALA Legislative Action Center ."

(From National Coalition for History Washington Update mailing)