Shutdown communication with congress (Department of Homeland Security)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All congressional communication in September and October of 2013 referencing the possibility of a government shutdown or the actual shutdown occurring from Oct 1-16, 2013. Please include records between 9/1/2013 and 10/31/2013 or through the date this request is processed. Please note, this is not a request for future documents, but a request to include documents generated while this request is pending the first major search for records, as the courts have allowed. Please include communication to or from any member of congress or anyone acting upon a member of congress such as their staff member. Further, please include all communication from or on behalf of congressional committees, subcommittees, etc.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

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

I appeal. I believe my request was specific enough to complete a search. It is typical for an agency to know of all communication with congress despite the fact that that communication might have come from a smaller component within the agency. I believe you are able to conduct a search using the information I provided. For that reason and any other deemed appropriate by the appeals authority, I appeal.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 18, 2013. 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-00024 .

Thank you for your help.

Please continue processing this request without the need for a formal appeal as you offered. Thank you.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 18, 2013. 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-00024 .

Thank you for your help.