IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. RES. 386
Condemning recent attacks on the free press by President Donald J. Trump
and reaffirming the United States commitment to preserving and pro-
tecting freedom of the press as a cornerstone of democracy.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY6, 2025
Mr. C
OHEN(for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. CARSON, Ms.
S
CHAKOWSKY, Mr. JOHNSONof Georgia, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CONNOLLY,
Mr. L
YNCH, Mr. CARBAJAL, and Mr. MIN) submitted the following reso-
lution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in ad-
dition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
RESOLUTION
Condemning recent attacks on the free press by President
Donald J. Trump and reaffirming the United States
commitment to preserving and protecting freedom of the
press as a cornerstone of democracy.
Whereas a free and independent press is fundamental to the
preservation of democracy, ensuring government account-
ability, an informed citizenry, and the protection of fun-
damental rights;
Whereas President Donald J. Trump has taken direct action
to harm and restrict press freedoms and has repeatedly
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•HRES 386 IH
attacking the press through inflammatory rhetoric in his
speeches and on social media, including—
(1) accusing without evidence media outlets such as
The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal,
MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC of ‘‘illegal’’ behav-
ior during a speech at the Department of Justice;
(2) claiming CNN and MSNBC networks are ‘‘polit-
ical arms of the Democrat Party’’ during a speech at the
Department of Justice;
(3) excluding the Associated Press from the White
House press pool access due to disputes over naming con-
ventions, leading to legal challenges concerning First
Amendment violations;
(4) filing a lawsuit against CBS News over a ‘‘60
Minutes’’ interview with Vice President Kamala Harris,
alleging biased editing and calling for CBS to lose broad-
cast licenses;
(5) seeking to defund National Public Radio and
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), including launching
a Federal Communications Commission probe and issuing
an executive order instructing the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting to cease providing direct and indirect funds
to either broadcaster;
(6) refusing to take questions from NBC News re-
porters, claiming the network is ‘‘discredited’’;
(7) seeking to impose the Administration’s policy
preferences on independent news organizations by forcing
PBS to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion office
using threats of government funding cuts and ignoring
reporters who list pronouns in their email signatures; and
(8) rescinding a Department of Justice policy
against subpoenaing journalists, exposing journalists’
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•HRES 386 IH
sources to the threat of possible identification and pun-
ishment;
Whereas President Trump has used executive action to sig-
nificantly reduce the United States Agency for Global
Media (USAGM), leading to the placement of Voice of
America journalists on administrative leave and the at-
tempted termination of grants for Radio Free Asia,
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Middle East
Broadcasting Network, which broadcast news to regions
lacking free press;
Whereas these actions demonstrate disdain for the funda-
mental rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the
press specifically protected in the First Amendment of
the United States Constitution;
Whereas these actions set a dangerous precedent,
emboldening authoritarian regimes abroad to suppress
free expression and silence dissent, and endangering the
lives of journalists working in or broadcasting in authori-
tarian countries;
Whereas, as of the date of the introduction of this resolution,
11 USAGM reporters are behind bars abroad, and inter-
national employees of USAGM in both Washington, DC,
and abroad are on work visas and risk deportation to
hostile countries without the support and protection of
the United States; and
Whereas the United States has historically been a global
leader in championing press freedom and condemning
censorship and must reaffirm that commitment: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1
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•HRES 386 IH
(1) strongly condemns President Donald J. 1
Trump’s attacks on the press, including efforts to 2
delegitimize and restrict journalistic institutions; 3
(2) reaffirms the essential role of a free press 4
in preserving democracy and ensuring governmental 5
accountability; 6
(3) urges the executive branch to respect the 7
rights of journalists and allow them to perform their 8
duties without fear of retaliation; 9
(4) calls for continued efforts to secure the re-10
lease of the 11 USAGM journalists imprisoned 11
abroad; and 12
(5) expresses solidarity with journalists who 13
face threats, harassment, or violence as a result of 14
their commitment to truth and public service. 15
Æ
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