Getting Into the House (of Representatives)
Gary Ruskin of the Congressional Accountability Project is seeking help from cyberspace activists in signing up co-sponsors in the House of Representatives for House Resolution 478, which would provide citizens with Internet access to many important House documents that are not available through the federal government's existing Internet services. Introduced by Representative Rick White (R-WA), H.R. 478 would enable anyone with Internet access to obtain the same documents presently made available to Washington lobbyists. At present, there are only four co-sponsors of the resolution, Reps. Dreier (R-CA), Bass (R-NH), Brownback (R-KS), and Frisa (R-NY).
Access to these documents is critical to public interest advocates inside and outside of the Beltway who are working to influence federal legislation. According to Ruskin, committee hearing records, which are often available to Washington lobbyists within 48 hours, may not be provided to citizen activists for a year or more.
H.R. 478 will pass if there are enough co-sponsors to generate political pressure. Cyberspace activists are urged to contact their House member and ask them to co-sponsor the resolution. All members of the House can be reached through the Congressional Switchboard, at (202) 224-3121. While some members have E-mail, electronic communication is not as effective as a telephone call or fax.
Because the resolution would provide Internet access to House travel expense reports, oversight plans, and committee staff lists, the media is a likely ally on this issue. Consider writing a short letter to the editor of your local paper, or call the editor and suggest an editorial on the subject. Local television and radio outlets may be willing to air a 60-second public service announcement in support of the resolution.
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HotWired writer Brock Meeks has written two articles about online access to
Congressional documents. The articles are located at:
http://www.netizen.com/netizen/96/29/index3a.html and
http://www.hotwired.com/muckraker/96/10/index3a.html
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