[From the Congressional Record-Senate, Aug. 4, 1972] (S 12794-S 12811) INTRODUCTION OF S. 3881 BY SENATOR LAWTON CHILES, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA S. 3881. A bill to provide that meetings of government agencies and of congressional committees shall be open to the public, and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on Government Operations. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE ACT Mr. CHILES. Mr. President, in 1913, Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis wrote: Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial disease. Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant and electric light the most efficient policeman. Justice Brandeis could just as well have applied these remedies to the governmental process, for democratic self-government and an informed citizenry just naturally go hand in hand, making essential the conduct of public business in the open, "in the sunshine." Only with such openness can the public judge and express, through its vote or voice, whether governmental decisions are just and fair. Since I came to the Senate last year, I have become very disturbed by the great amount of public business I have found being conducted behind closed doors and by the attitude of secrecy I have seen in our Federal Government agencies. I am not surprised that people are suspicious of our motives and are losing confidence in their government when they are shut out of the decisionmaking process. So, I am introducing the Federal "Government in the Sunshine Act", which seeks to assure the openness of our governmental processes and to restore public confidence in those processes. It seeks to do this through a simple requirement: all meetings of Federal authorities and congressional committees shall, subject to certain exemptions, be open to the public. Citizens will have the right to attend meetings in which they have a personal interest, and news media and other interested groups will have access which will insure a broader dissemination of information on public affairs. The proposed law provides for open meetings of all Federal governmental authorities except the courts and the military. In particular, it applies to Federal regulatory agencies and commissions such as the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Civil Aeronautics Board-which are responsible for serving the public interest. It would apply to the committees of Congress, which have for too long conducted too much of their business behind closed doors. |