Cohen Bill to Increase Government Transparency Passes House

Press Release

The House of Representatives today passed by voice vote the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act (H.R. 3279), legislation introduced by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA), and Congressman Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) to increase transparency and give the public access to information about federal payments awarded under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).

"Transparency will enable ordinary citizens such as veterans, seniors, small business owners, and advocates for clean air and clean water to fight unfair or illegal government action without fear of court costs," said Congressman Cohen. "I am glad our bipartisan Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act passed the House and I hope the Senate will follow suit."

Congress enacted EAJA in 1980 to allow Americans to recover attorneys' fees and costs associated with lawsuits against the federal government. In 1995, however, an important reporting requirement was removed. The Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act reinstates the law's tracking and reporting requirements of payments awarded by the federal government. Specifically, it requires every federal agency to begin tracking EAJA payments again, and tasks the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) with compiling that data.

Representatives Cohen, Collins, and Lummis were joined by Representatives Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Kurt Shrader (D-OR) in introducing the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act earlier this year.

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