Winnie the Pooh & Xi Jinping Records (United States Agency for International Development)

November 04, 2019 RE:  USAID FOIA No. F-00025-20 (Acknowledgment Letter) Dear Mr. Ratliff: Thank you for your letter dated November 01, 2019, requesting information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552.  The tracking number for your request is F-00025-20.  Please use this number when corresponding with our office. At this time, we are in the process of perfecting your request.  A perfected request for records reasonably describes such records and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any) and procedures to be followed.  This process includes reviewing the request for clarity and fee category determination and related commitment to pay, if applicable. Once your request is perfected, you will be notified of the FOIA Specialist assigned to process your case.  If you have questions, please contact us at .  Please cite the above-referenced number when corresponding with our office. (mailto:foia@usaid.gov) foia@usaid.gov Thank you. Sincerely, Gregory Adams
FOIA Specialist
Bureau for Management
Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division

Greetings Joseph,

We have received your FOIA Request and provided you with your tracking
number F-00025-20. At this time, we are asking for the best telephone
number you can be reached at so we can gain more clarity of your request.
Please respond directly to this message at your earliest convenience so
that we can begin to process your request.

Thank you.

Best regards,
*Gregory Adams*
FOIA Specialist
USAID - US Agency for International Development
Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services, Information and
Records Division (*M/MS/IRD*)
Office: (202)-712-4008 I Email: gradams@usaid.gov

Greetings Joseph,

This is a follow up email in regards to you request.

We have received your FOIA Request and provided you with your tracking
number F-00025-20. At this time, we are asking for the best telephone
number you can be reached at so we can gain more clarity of your request.
Please respond directly to this message at your earliest convenience so
that we can begin to process your request.

Your request has been placed on hold pending your response. Please provide
the requested information within 10 days from the date of this email. You
may send the requested information directly to me, and please reference the
FOIA request number cited above. If we do not receive a response from you
within the specified time frame, we will consider the non-response a
withdrawal of your FOIA request and no further action will be taken on it.

Thank you.

Best regards,
*Gregory Adams*
FOIA Specialist
USAID - US Agency for International Development
Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services, Information and
Records Division (*M/MS/IRD*)
Office: (202)-712-4008 I Email: gradams@usaid.gov

Greetings Mr. Ratliff:

Thank you for your interest in USAID.

We called and left you a voice message this afternoon regarding FOIA
F-00025-20. We would like to speak with you by phone to obtain clarity
about what you have requested.

Kindly note that, if we do not receive a response from you within 10 days
of this email, we will consider the non-response as an indication that you
are no longer interested in this request. Your request will be closed and
no action will be taken on it.

Thank you.

Best regards,

*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) • RRB – 2.07C •
Washington, DC 20523 • Direct: (202) 712-1371 • asillah@usaid.gov
<asillah@usaid.gov>*

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Gregory Adams <gradams@usaid.gov>
Date: Thu, Nov 7, 2019 at 8:58 AM
Subject: Fwd: Freedom of Information Act Request #F-00025-20
To: Alecia Sillah <asillah@usaid.gov>

Alecia,

Per your request, please see the forwarded response in regards to request
F-00025-20 referencing "Winnie The Pooh". The requester (*Joseph Ratliff
210-687-5595*) has provided his contact information for further
clarification.

Thank you.

Best regards,
*Gregory Adams*
FOIA Specialist
USAID - US Agency for International Development
Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services, Information and
Records Division (*M/MS/IRD*)
Office: (202)-712-4008 I Email: gradams@usaid.gov

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <requests@muckrock.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 6, 2019 at 5:55 PM
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Act Request #F-00025-20
To: Gregory Adams <gradams@usaid.gov>

United States Agency for International Development
FOIA Office
Room 2.07C, RRB
United States Agency for International Development
Washington, DC 20523-2701

November 6, 2019

This is a follow up to request number F-00025-20:

If you need further clarification, you can reach me at (210)-687-5595.

However, to add some clarification upfront, I'm particularly interested in
whether USAID workers who interact with China or Chinese organizations are
told, instructed, and/or advised not to bring up certain subjects, such as
Winnie the Pooh, that might cause diplomatic tension.

Thank you for your time.

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
Upload documents directly:
https://www.muckrock.com/
Is this email coming to the wrong contact? Something else wrong? Use the
above link to let us know.

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 82576
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note
that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than
"MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as
undeliverable.

---

On Nov. 6, 2019:
Subject: Re: F-00025-20
Greetings Joseph,

This is a follow up email in regards to you request.

We have received your FOIA Request and provided you with your tracking
number F-00025-20. At this time, we are asking for the best telephone
number you can be reached at so we can gain more clarity of your request.
Please respond directly to this message at your earliest convenience so
that we can begin to process your request.

Your request has been placed on hold pending your response. Please provide
the requested information within 10 days from the date of this email. You
may send the requested information directly to me, and please reference the
FOIA request number cited above. If we do not receive a response from you
within the specified time frame, we will consider the non-response a
withdrawal of your FOIA request and no further action will be taken on it.

Thank you.

Best regards,
*Gregory Adams*
FOIA Specialist
USAID - US Agency for International Development
Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services, Information and
Records Division (*M/MS/IRD*)
Office: (202)-712-4008 I Email: gradams@usaid.gov
---

On Nov. 5, 2019:
Subject: F-00025-20
Greetings Joseph,

We have received your FOIA Request and provided you with your tracking
number F-00025-20. At this time, we are asking for the best telephone
number you can be reached at so we can gain more clarity of your request.
Please respond directly to this message at your earliest convenience so
that we can begin to process your request.

Thank you.

Best regards,
*Gregory Adams*
FOIA Specialist
USAID - US Agency for International Development
Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services, Information and
Records Division (*M/MS/IRD*)
Office: (202)-712-4008 I Email: gradams@usaid.gov
---

On Nov. 4, 2019:
Subject: USAID FOIA No. F-00025-20 (Acknowledgment Letter)
November 04, 2019 RE: USAID FOIA No. F-00025-20 (Acknowledgment Letter)
Dear Mr. Ratliff: Thank you for your letter dated November 01, 2019,
requesting information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5
U.S.C. § 552. The tracking number for your request is F-00025-20. Please
use this number when corresponding with our office. At this time, we are in
the process of perfecting your request. A perfected request for records
reasonably describes such records and is made in accordance with published
rules stating the time, place, fees (if any) and procedures to be
followed. This process includes reviewing the request for clarity and fee
category determination and related commitment to pay, if applicable. Once
your request is perfected, you will be notified of the FOIA Specialist
assigned to process your case. If you have questions, please contact us at
. Please cite the above-referenced number when corresponding with our
office. (mailto:foia@usaid.gov) foia@usaid.gov Thank you. Sincerely,
Gregory Adams
FOIA Specialist
Bureau for Management
Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division

---

On Oct. 31, 2019:
Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request: Winnie the Pooh & Xi Jinping
Records (United States Agency for International Development)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following
records:

Memoranda, policies, rules, guidelines, and procedural manuals that mention
Winnie the Pooh or both Winnie the Pooh and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Please limit your search to records from January 1st, 2018 to November 1st,
2019.

By "Winnie the Pooh," I refer to the fictional anthropomorphic teddy bear
character created by English author A. A. Milne, described here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie-the-Pooh
By "Chinese President Xi Jinping," I refer to the current President of the
People's Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of
China, described here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and
this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, 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,

Joseph Ratliff

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
Upload documents directly:
https://www.muckrock.com/
Is this email coming to the wrong contact? Something else wrong? Use the
above link to let us know.

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 82576
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note
that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than
"MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as
undeliverable.

November 21, 2019 RE:  USAID FOIA No. F-00043-20 (Acknowledgment Letter) Dear Mr. Ratliff: Thank you for your letter dated November 20, 2019, requesting information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552.  The tracking number for your request is F-00043-20.  Please use this number when corresponding with our office. At this time, we are in the process of perfecting your request.  A perfected request for records reasonably describes such records and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any) and procedures to be followed.  This process includes reviewing the request for clarity and fee category determination and related commitment to pay, if applicable. Once your request is perfected, you will be notified of the FOIA Specialist assigned to process your case.  If you have questions, please contact us at .  Please cite the above-referenced number when corresponding with our office. (mailto:foia@usaid.gov) foia@usaid.gov Thank you. Sincerely, Gregory Adams
FOIA Specialist
Bureau for Management
Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division

Greetings Mr. Ratliffe:

This is an update regarding the processing of your October 31, 2019 FOIA
request to USAID.

Please note that your request has been on hold, pending an opportunity to
discuss the scope of your request. We appreciate your time by phone
today. As a result of our discussion, USAID has a better handle on the
information you seek regarding Winnie the Pooh. Your request is no longer
on hold. We will proceed with a search of our Regional Development Mission
for Asia (RDMA) that handles activities relating to China. The time frame
for the search will be January 1, 2018 to November 1, 2019.

*Fees*
As a member of the news media, you are only responsible for duplication.
USAID transmits its records electronically; therefore, the duplication fee
is moot.

*FOIA Specialist*
Your request has been assigned to Pam Arrington-Campbell, FOIA Specialist.
You may contact Pam by email at parringtoncampbell@usaid.gov or by phone on
202-712-4476. Please reference the tracking number cited above in any
future correspondence.

*Extending the FOIA’s Time Limits due to Unusual Circumstances*
The FOIA provides that an agency may extend its time limits when “unusual
circumstances” occur in the processing of a request. See 5 U.S.C. §
552(a)(6)(B)(i) (2016). Those “unusual circumstances” are set forth in the
statute, 5 U.S.C § 552(a)(6)(B)(iii), and are described as:
1) The need to search for records from field facilities or other locations
separate from the office processing the request;
2) The need to search, collect and examine voluminous records; and
3) The need for consultation with another agency.

Based upon the records you have requested, we have determined that one or
more unusual circumstances will occur during the processing of your
request. Accordingly, your response time-limit has been extended beyond the
20 days required by statute; therefore, 10 additional processing days have
been added to your request. To mitigate this action, you may limit the
scope of the request so that it can be processed more quickly or to arrange
an alternative time to respond.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss reformulation or an
alternative time frame for the processing of your request, you may contact
the assigned FOIA Specialist noted above. You may also contact USAID’s
FOIA Public Liaison, Christopher Colbow, at foia@usaid.gov.

Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services
(OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about
the FOIA mediation services offered:

Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS
College Park, Maryland 20740-6001
E-mail: ogis@nara.gov
Telephone: 202-741-5770; Toll Free: 1-877-684-6448
Fax: 202-741-5769

Thank you for your interest in USAID.

Sincerely,

*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) • RRB – 2.07C •
Washington, DC 20523 • Direct: (202) 712-1371 • asillah@usaid.gov
<asillah@usaid.gov>*

Dear Mr. Ratliff:

Your request is in the clearance process, and we hope to provide a response
soonest. Thank you for your continued patience during this process.

Pamela A-Campbell
FOIA Specialist
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
M/MS/IRD, Rm. 2.07-079, Washington, DC 20523
Direct: 202 712-4476 / Fax: 202 216-3070
parringtoncampbell@usaid.gov <psmith@usaid.gov>

Greetings -

Thank you for your message. I am out of the office.

If you have an urgent FOIA matter, please forward a detailed message
to foia@usaid.gov. Otherwise, I will respond to you after my
scheduled return to the office on February 5, 2020.

Thank you.

Best,
Alecia

--

*Alecia S. SillahSupervisory FOIA Team LeadUSAID – US Agency for
International DevelopmentBureau for Management, Office of Management
Services, Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD) *
*USAID Annex, Room 2.4.0C * **1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ** * **Washington,
DC 20523 *

*Direct: (202) 916-4660 • asillah@usaid.gov <asillah@usaid.gov>*

February 12, 2020
Dear Mr. Ratliff:

This is the final response to your November 1, 2019 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  You requested a memoranda, policies, rules, guidelines, and procedural manuals that mention Winnie the Pooh or both Winnie the Pooh and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Date Range for Record Search: From 1/26/2018 To 11/01/2019).

There is no charge for this FOIA request.  As this concludes the processing of your request, it will be closed.

Thank you for your interest in USAID and continued patience.

Sincerely,

Christopher Colbow, Chief
FOIA Public Liaison
FOIA Officer/Agency Records Officer
Bureau for Management
Office of Management Services
Information and Records Division