National Day of Prayer 2012 and 2013 (DHS)
| Tracking # |
2014-HQFO-00250 |
| Submitted | Jan. 8, 2014 |
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Communications
From: Jason Smathers
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
All records concerning the 2012 and 2013 observances of the national day of prayer and DHS offices. You may limit the records to those held by the DHS in a central office or record system or a specific component that would advise the larger DHS. Records expected include, but are not limited to invitations or announcements to National Day of Prayer observances, guidance to components on how to observe the National Day of Prayer and budgeting information concerning the observance.
I authorize fees up to $25. If fees are expected to surpass this amount, please let me know before incurring them to allow me an opportunity to agree to higher fees or to narrow my request.
Although I make requests in various capacities, this particular request is being made as a news media requester.
I have a track record of being able to take raw materials released under the FOIA and turning them into a unique work using my editorial skills. For a related example, please see the following articles:
A short history lesson for Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates: http://www.witnessesuntome.com/2010/12/a-short-history-lesson-for-secretary-of-defense-robert-gates/
US Pentagon Sponsors Muslim Evangelism: http://www.witnessesuntome.com/2011/06/us-pentagon-sponsors-muslim-evangelism/
Witnesses Unto Me will be publishing the work created based on the results of this FOIA requests. My numerous works published with Witnesses Unto Me demonstrates my ability to distribute my work to an audience made up of the general public.
The material requested is of current interest to the public. This can be demonstrated by the media attention which this issue has received. A Google search for “National Day of Prayer” searching only news media outlets using Google News Search, yields over 48,000 results. Clearly, the public is interested in all facets of the National Day of Prayer and its observance.
Just as a major newspaper would contain editorials, funny pages, and advertisements alongside of the news, Witnesses Unto Me also publishes a variety of types of material. Similarly, writers whom are published in major newspapers are considered news media for the purposes of FOIA, this request should also be billed as a news media request. Again, the responsive records will be turned into a unique work product using my editorial skills and published as a news piece on Witnesses Unto Me.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jason Smathers
From: Department of Homeland Security
Good Morning,
Attached is our acknowledgment to your DHS FOIA request. If you need to contact this office again concerning your request, please provide the DHS reference number. This will enable us to quickly retrieve the information you are seeking and reduce our response time. This office can be reached at 866-431-0486.
Regards,
DHS Privacy Office Disclosure & FOIA Program
STOP 0655
Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20528-0655
Telephone: 1-866-431-0486 or 202-343-1743
Fax: 202-343-4011
Visit our
FOIA website (http://www.dhs.gov/foia)
From: Jason Smathers
An appeal of the requester's commercial fee categorization.
From: Pugh, Amy
Good Morning,
Attached is in further acknowledgment of your DHS FOIA request. If you need to contact this office again concerning your request, please provide the DHS reference number. This will enable us to quickly retrieve the information you are seeking and reduce our response time. This office can be reached at 866-431-0486.
Regards,
DHS Privacy Office Disclosure & FOIA Program
STOP 0655
Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20528-0655
Telephone: 1-866-431-0486 or 202-343-1743
Fax: 202-343-4011
Visit our
FOIA website (http://www.dhs.gov/foia)
From: TIMOTHY A. O'CONNELL
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 8, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-HQFO-00250.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 8, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-HQFO-00250.
Thank you for your help.
From: FOIA
Greetings,
Your case reference number (2014-HQFO-00250) has been reviewed and was closed as of June 5, 2014. For your awareness, a notice was previously sent to you regarding this on March 18, 2014; stating more information was required within 30 days. No response was recorded within the time limit thus the case has been administratively closed. The acknowledgment letter that was sent, which also served as our final response is attached, please review it. Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact the Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office. I hope your question has been answered to your satisfaction.
Regards,
The Privacy Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Lane SW
STOP-0655
Washington, D.C. 20528-0655
Phone: 202-343-1743 or 866-431-0486
Fax: 202-343-4011
E-mail: foia@hq.dhs.gov
From: Department of Homeland Security
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: Department of Homeland Security
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 8, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-HQFO-00250.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 8, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-HQFO-00250.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 8, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-HQFO-00250.
Thank you for your help.
From: FOIA
Good Day,
Please see the attached acknowledgement letters that were sent January and March 2014.
Regards,
The Privacy Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Lane SW
STOP-0655
Washington, D.C. 20528-0655
Phone: 202-343-1743 or 866-431-0486
Fax: 202-343-4011
E-mail: foia@hq.dhs.gov
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 8, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-HQFO-00250.
Thank you for your help.
From: FOIA
Greetings
An acknowledgement letter was sent on March 18, 2014 to your address on file. Attached is our final response to your request. If you need to contact this office again concerning your request, please provide the DHS reference number. This will enable us to quickly retrieve the information you are seeking and reduce our response time. This office can be reached at 866-431-0486.
Regards,
DHS Privacy Office
Disclosure & FOIA Program
STOP 0655
Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Lane, SW
Washington, DC 20528
Telephone: 1-866-431-0486 or 202-343-1743
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