consumer product safety gte sylvania argued april decided june section consumer product safety act cpsa requires least days prior public disclosure information pertaining consumer product obtained consumer product safety commission commission pursuant authority commission must notify manufacturer provide summary information disclosed product designated described way permit public ascertain readily manufacturer identity manufacturer given reasonable opportunity submit comments regarding information commission take reasonable steps assure information accurate disclosure fair circumstances reasonably related effectuating purposes cpsa instant case commission upon receiving freedom information act foia requests without complying decided release certain accident reports obtained respondent manufacturers accompanied part claims confidentiality district permanently enjoined commission disclosing materials rejecting contention applies commission affirmatively undertakes disclose information public merely complies request information foia appeals affirmed held section governs disclosure records commission pursuant request foia pp nothing language provision cpsa supports claim limited disclosures initiated commission disclosure pursuant foia accurately characterized public disclosure within plain meaning moreover contains specific exceptions requirements include disclosure information response foia request cpsa designating certain reports public information notwithstanding might exempted disclosure foia thus within scope incorporates reference exemptions foia specifically makes disclosure information subject limitations whether affirmatively released commission released pursuant foia request pp neither legislative history cpsa prior enactment subsequent legislative administrative interpretations warrant construing limited commission affirmative disclosures pp applicability foia requests precluded alleged ground commission unable comply foia time requirements handling disclosure requests administrative appeals refusals disclose argument assumes commission must comply foia time limitations exemption foia apply matters specifically exempted disclosure another statute requires matters withheld public manner leave discretion issue establishes particular criteria withholding refers particular types matters withheld sets forth sufficiently definite standards fall within scope exemption pp argument requiring commission comply meeting foia requests impose insurmountable burdens agency entirely speculative moreover increased burdens imposed commission intended congress striking appropriate balance interests consumers need fairness accuracy respect information disclosed commission thus claim undue burdens properly addressed congress pp rehnquist delivered opinion unanimous peter buscemi argued cause pro hac vice petitioners briefs solicitor general mccree assistant attorney general daniel deputy solicitor general geller leonard schaitman mark mutterperl andrew krulwich bernard segal argued cause respondents brief charles hileman iii ira tiger deena jo schneider robert steele alan grimaldi harry shniderman james conaway januar bove stephen clarkson charles crompton ira millstein peter gartland david fleischer burton weitzenfeld michael stiegel william patten woodruff turner richard lowe filed brief consumer federation america amicus curiae urging reversal justice rehnquist delivered opinion question presented whether consumer product safety act governs disclosure records consumer product safety commission pursuant request freedom information act granted certiorari review judgment appeals third circuit importance question conflict circuits congress enacted consumer product safety act cpsa stat et order inter alia protect public unreasonable risks injury associated consumer products assist consumers evaluating comparative safety consumer products cpsa created consumer product safety commission commission carry statutory purposes commission powers include authority collect disseminate product safety information conduct research tests consumer products promulgate safety standards ban hazardous products section cpsa stat regulates public disclosure information commission section deal requires commission least days public disclosure information pertaining consumer product notify manufacturer provide summary information disclosed product designated described way permit public ascertain readily manufacturer identity manufacturer must given reasonable opportunity submit comments regarding information commission must take reasonable steps assure information accurate disclosure fair circumstances reasonably related effectuating purposes cpsa commission subsequently finds made public disclosure inaccurate misleading information adversely reflects manufacturer products practices commission must publish retraction manner similar disclosure made relevant facts set forth case decided earlier term gte sylvania consumers union need restated detail briefly commission obtained respondents various accident reports accompanied claims confidentiality commission subsequently decided receiving freedom information act foia requests consumers union public citizen health research group requesters release even accident reports claimed confidential surprisingly lawsuits soon filed several federal district courts see gte sylvania consumers union supra district district delaware ultimately granted respondents motion summary judgment permanently enjoined commission disclosing submitted accident reports well data compiled computer printout reports supp district rejected commission contention applies commission affirmatively undertakes disclose information public merely complies request information foia held applicable disclosures response foia requests establishes particular criteria withholding information thereby falling within scope exemption foia also found commission failed comply procedures case thus concluded release accident reports contrary cpsa appeals third circuit affirmed thoroughly examining language legislative history concluded congress intend provision apply commission press releases news conferences publication reports forms affirmative disclosure information obtained act rather information disclosure requirements cpsa meant protect manufacturers harmful effects inaccurate misleading public disclosure commission means material obtained pursuant broad powers policies designed served section severely undermined eviscerated commission interpretation prevail petitioners repeat contention intended provide safeguards release information commission commission makes public disclosures information initiative carrying responsibilities cpsa information released fashion argue commission explicitly implicitly represents believes disclosed information true public rely brief petitioners commission merely releases information response foia request contrast claim commission obliged release whatever materials possesses need comply made express implied statement regarding documents released extent documents reflect agency policy brief petitioners although support petitioners interpretation legislative history contained conference report four years enactment section see part iv infra agree appeals determination legislative history sort viewed controlling ii begin familiar canon statutory construction starting point interpreting statute language statute absent clearly expressed legislative intention contrary language must ordinarily regarded conclusive section terms applies public disclosure information obtained commission pursuant authority cpsa information disclosed public connection therewith emphasis added nothing language section provision cpsa supports petitioners claim limited disclosures initiated commission matter common usage term public properly understood including persons foia requesters disclosure pursuant foia thus seem accurately characterized public disclosure within plain meaning section cpsa contains specific exceptions requirements list exceptions include disclosure information response foia request congress intended exclude foia disclosures easily done explicitly section respect listed exceptions congress aware relationship foia enacted cpsa exhibited fact congress specifically incorporated reference nine exemptions foia consequently reluctant conclude congress failure include foia requests within exceptions listed unintentional finally cpsa supports conclusion intended distinguish information disclosed public pursuant foia requests information disclosed initiative commission section designates accident investigation reports identify injured parties physicians reports research demonstration projects public information notwithstanding fact might exempted disclosure foia thus within scope section however specifically makes disclosure information subject limitations whether affirmatively released commission released pursuant foia request language cpsa thus provides little basis accepting petitioners claim apply information released commission response foia requests iii petitioners next argue legislative history cpsa requires conclusion inapplicable foia requests despite language statute making argument petitioners concede history legislation directly address precise issue statutory construction involved case brief petitioners nonetheless maintain principal concern underlying adoption section danger commission might initiative disseminate findings reports product information harmful manufacturers without first assuring fairness accuracy disclosure agree petitioners industry representatives concerned harms resulting information affirmatively disclosed agency petitioners failed establish industry concerns limited information disclosed fashion importantly full examination legislative history cpsa prior enactment indicates purposes distinction made information affirmatively disclosed commission information released pursuant foia cpsa gave commission broad powers gather analyze disseminate vast amounts private information granting commission authority congress adopted safeguards specifically designed protect manufacturers reputations damage arising improper disclosure information gathered received commission house report cpsa commission act responsibly adequate basis must complete full access information relevant statutory responsibilities accordingly committee built bill broad powers recognizes recommended giving commission means gaining access great deal information otherwise available public government much relates trade secrets sensitive cost competitive information accordingly committee written section bill detailed requirements limitations relating commission authority disclose information acquires conduct responsibilities act disseminating information identifies manufacturer private labeler product commission directed give manufacturer private labeler days comment proposed disclosure information procedure intended permit manufacturer private labeler opportunity come forward explanatory data relevant information commission consideration supra emphasis added support construction found examining comments made respect earlier versions house bill commenting disclosure provisions administration bill representative moss chairman subcommittee commerce finance considering house bills stated sure subcommittee want examine carefully proposed change freedom information act hearings pt operative requirements contained absent requirement commission publish manufacturers comments nonetheless enacted law see supra section provision finally enacted terms include affirmative disclosures commission information released pursuant foia department health education welfare agency drafted stated analysis bill section protect secretary refusal disclose information required released foia expressly prohibit disclosure commercial secrets illness injury data revealing identity victim also require provision thirty days notice manufacturer consumer product prior secretary public disclosure information respecting product information reveal manufacturer identity subcommittee hearings pt believe interest fairness disclosure information attendant safeguards include prior notice manufacturers right manufacturer rebut false information requirement information fair accurate emphasis added iv petitioners also contend legislative interpretations made section enacted commission administrative interpretation section support proposed construction petitioners first rely statement representative moss one sponsors house bill testimony congressional oversight subcommittee commission chairman richard simpson explained commission interpreted inapplicable foia requests representative moss remarked primary author acts inclined agree regulatory reform hearings subcommittee oversight investigations house committee interstate foreign commerce vol iv pp petitioners also note congress added cpsa consumer product safety commission improvements act conference committee explained joint operation new section follows requirement commission comply section prior another federal agency public disclosure information obtained act intended conferees supersede conflict requirements freedom information act former relates public disclosure initiated federal agency latter relates disclosure initiated specific request member public freedom information act conf emphasis added representative moss claimed sponsorship cpsa generally sponsor original bill ultimately provided legislation provisions governing information disclosure rather authored another bill contained much less restrictive disclosure requirements ultimately adopted statement thus one provides reliable indication congressional intention examination statement conference committee appeals concluded reveals also persuasive authority support petitioners position section terms purport interpret scope rather deals solely release accident investigation reports commission agencies see supra appeals stated conference committee statement made context approving legislation contained numerous extensive amendments consumer product safety act yet problem us otherwise addressed congress enacting improvements act interpretation section espoused conferees mentioned house committee drafted improvements act see sess senate version improvements act contain provision amending section conf debates house amendment section relationship section foia mentioned conferees interpretation section mentioned either house conference report debated see cong rec house approval conference report senate approval petitioners next argue interpretation appeals inconsistent foia time requirements release information foia requires agency determine within ten days whether comply foia request notify requester immediately agency determination foia also requires agency resolve administrative appeal refusal disclose within days filing appeal ii petitioners claim applies foia requests commission unable comply foia time requirements petitioners argument assumes despite specific procedural safeguards set forth commission must comply foia time limitations federal agencies however granted discretion refuse foia requests requested material falls within one nine statutory exemptions set forth exemption foia foia apply matters specifically exempted disclosure statute section title provided statute requires matters withheld public manner leave discretion issue establishes particular criteria withholding refers particular types matters withheld vi finally petitioners argue requiring commission comply meeting foia requests impose insurmountable burdens agency making claim petitioners state commission receives nearly foia requests annually extent requests present problems fairness accuracy respect information released commission entirely speculative light fact exemption applicable disclosure information controlled think burdens prove unbearable importantly interpretation language legislative history reveals increased burdens imposed commission result compliance intended congress striking appropriate balance interests consumers need fairness accuracy respect information disclosed commission thus petitioners claim commission compliance requirements impose undue burdens commission properly addressed congress foregoing reasons judgment appeals third circuit affirmed footnotes entirety nothing contained act shall deemed require release information described subsection section title code otherwise protected law disclosure public information reported otherwise obtained commission representative act information contains relates trade secret matter referred section title code shall considered confidential shall disclosed except information may disclosed officers employees concerned carrying act relevant proceeding act nothing act shall authorize withholding information commission officer employee control duly authorized committees congress except provided paragraph subsection less days prior public disclosure information obtained act disclosed public connection therewith unless commission finds public health safety requires lesser period notice commission shall extent practicable notify provide summary information manufacturer private labeler consumer product information pertains manner consumer product designated described information permit public ascertain readily identity manufacturer private labeler shall provide manufacturer private labeler reasonable opportunity submit comments commission regard information commission shall take reasonable steps assure prior public disclosure thereof information identity manufacturer private labeler may readily ascertained accurate disclosure fair circumstances reasonably related effectuating purposes act commission finds administration act made public disclosure inaccurate misleading information reflects adversely upon safety consumer product practices manufacturer private labeler distributor retailer consumer products shall manner similar disclosure made publish retraction inaccurate misleading information paragraph except last sentence thereof shall apply public disclosure information consumer product respect product commission filed action section relating imminently hazardous products commission reasonable cause believe violation section relating prohibited acts information course concerning administrative judicial proceeding act stat earlier decisions district reported supp supp decisions discussed gte sylvania consumers union petitioners argue exception notice requirement commission finds public health safety requires lesser period notice suggests term public disclosure read encompass affirmative disclosures commission exception claim makes little sense applied foia disclosures disclosures result commission statutory obligation comply foia request rather decision assist public language however limit scope section disclosures information intended assist public rather refers broadly public disclosure discussed part iii infra legislative history indicates concerns underlying limited information affirmatively disclosed commission exceptions example include disclosure information concerning imminently hazardous product disclosures course administrative judicial proceeding cpsa section set forth subject sections title notwithstanding section title accident investigation report made chapter officer employee commission shall made available public manner identify injured person person treating without consent person identified reports research projects demonstration projects related activities shall public information thus although petitioners point vice president general electric james young cautioned dangers information ssued dignity apparent imprimatur government consumer product safety act hearings subcommittee commerce finance house committee interstate foreign commerce pt hereinafter subcommittee hearings statements industry representatives expressed general concerns disclosure commission information relating product safety example bernard falk president national electrical manufacturers association stated information disclosed inaccurate misleading incomplete prepared statement george lamb general counsel association home appliance manufacturers voiced following concern authority collect disseminate information carries responsibility disclose data may injure company reveal confidential information statute establishing agency state explicitly many federal statutes confidential data disseminated statute also assure information made public accurate derogatory company identifies opportunity refute contains provisions accomplish emphasis added provisions cpsa finally enacted traced sess bill introduced house behalf administration section bill also introduced senate contained information disclosure limitations virtually identical ultimately enacted cpsa provided nothing contained act shall deemed require release information described subsection section title code otherwise protected law disclosure public secretary shall make public information obtained act disclose trade secrets formulas processes costs methods business competitive information otherwise available general public names means identification ill injured persons without express written consent except provided subparagraph paragraph less thirty days prior public disclosure information obtained act disclosed public connection therewith secretary shall provide information manufacturer consumer product information pertains manner consumer product designated described information permit public ascertain readily identity manufacturer shall provide manufacturer reasonable opportunity submit comments secretary regard information upon request manufacturer secretary shall publish comments fair summary thereof statement manufacturer reasonable length lieu thereof concurrently association disclosure information comments statement appertain secretary shall take reasonable steps assure prior public disclosure thereof information identity manufacturer may readily ascertained accurate disclosure fair circumstances reasonably related effectuating purposes act secretary finds administration act made public disclosure inaccurate misleading information reflects adversely upon safety consumer product practices manufacturer distributor importer dealer consumer products shall manner similar disclosure made publish retraction inaccurate misleading information subparagraph except last sentence thereof shall apply public disclosure information consumer product respect product attorney general filed action action manufacturer thereof respect product section secretary reasonable cause believe violation section ii information administrative judicial proceeding act conference report stated commission directed take steps assure publicly disclosed information specific manufacturers distributors identified accurate disclosure fair circumstances reasonably related carrying duties information required publicly disclosed information described section title code relating information entitled protected public access freedom information act otherwise protected law disclosure public conclusion applies foia requests also supported statement representative james broyhill member conference committee cpsa house debates cpsa representative broyhill stated proposed legislation requires commission notify manufacturer intent release information least days prior disclosure offer opportunity comment provision found safety legislation cong rec emphasis added statement made following observation administration bill contained restrictive disclosure provisions bill subcommittee hearings pt section added cpsa prescrib conditions commission may provide accident investigation reports federal agencies state local authorities engaged activities relating health safety consumer protection conf section stat provides commission may provide another federal agency state local agency authority engaged activities relating health safety consumer protection copies accident investigation report made act officer employee agent commission information section considered confidential included copy report provided subsection federal agency state local agency authority receive subsection copy report provides assurances satisfactory commission identity injured person person treated injured person without consent person identified included copy report information contained report agency authority makes available member public federal agency state local agency authority may disclose public information contained report received agency authority subsection unless respect information commission complied applicable requirements section petitioners invoke maxim subsequent legislation declaring intent earlier statute entitled great weight statutory construction red lion broadcasting fcc omitted respect subsequent legislation however congress proceeded formally legislative process mere statement conference report legislation committee believes earlier statute meant obviously less weighty less formal types subsequent legislative history provide extremely hazardous basis inferring meaning congressional enactment history sometimes considered relevant chief justice marshall stated fisher cranch mind labours discover design legislature seizes every thing aid derived see andrus shell oil history bear strong indicia reliability however time passes memories fade person perception earlier intention may change thus even otherwise useful subsequent legislative history rarely override reasonable interpretation statute gleaned language legislative history prior enactment section sess provided commission finds publication information obtained public interest give unfair competitive advantage person authorized publish information form manner deemed best adapted public use except data information relates trade secret shall held confidential shall disclosed unless commission determines necessary carry purposes act subcommittee hearings pt addition chairman simpson submitted oversight subcommittee proposed amendment added release information commission foia list exceptions requirements regulatory reform hearings subcommittee oversight investigations house committee interstate foreign commerce vol iv proposed amendment never reported committee petitioners also assert agencies receive accident investigation reports commission comply foia requests made information reports thus inconsistency statutory scheme commission required comply releasing information although agencies may required comply inconsistency nonetheless readily apparent federal agency state local agency authority may disclose public information contained report received agency authority subsection unless respect information commission complied applicable requirements section event need address scope commission reach present interpretation statute met executive session october supp six months decided release information involved case two months manufacturers motions preliminary injunction fully briefed argued district october two days commission filed brief opposing manufacturers motions summary judgment app two years district concluded commission must comply responding foia requests commission proposed rules published see fed reg thus arguable commission interpretation primarily litigation inspired cf davies warehouse bowles exemption amended government sunshine act pub stat amendment define statutes specifically exempt material disclosure conference report sunshine act amendment designed overrule decision administrator faa robertson dealt section federal aviation act conf robertson held vested broad discretion federal aviation administration withhold information public fell within scope exemption amendment designed eliminate exemption statutes granted administrative agencies discretion respect disclosure nondisclosure material within possession stated report house committee government operations sunshine act recommended amendment believing decision misconceives intent exemption committee recommends exemption amended exempt material required withheld public statute establishing particular criteria referring particular types information committee opinion change eliminate gap created freedom information act robertson case without way endangering statutes atomic energy act provides explicitly protection certain nuclear data amendment provision federal aviation act subject robertson affords faa administrator cart blanche sic withhold information pleases come within exemption pt statute robertson contrast provided person may make written objection public disclosure information contained application report document filed pursuant provisions act information obtained board administrator pursuant provisions act stating grounds objection whenever objection made board administrator shall order information withheld public disclosure judgment disclosure information adversely affect interests person required interest public board administrator shall responsible classified information accordance appropriate law provided nothing section shall authorize withholding information board administrator duly authorized committees congress stat addition congress enacted cpsa foia required agency make records promptly available person requesting pub stat congress amended foia time requirements petitioners argue conflict adopted pub stat amended since requirements also provide sound basis inferring congressional intent limit application disclosures initiated commission