III
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION S. RES. 204
Recognizing escalating threats to freedom of the press and freedom of speech
worldwide, including increasing harm to journalists reporting in conflict
zones and under repressive regimes, reaffirming the vital role that a
free and independent press plays in upholding democracy, fostering eco-
nomic prosperity, and keeping the public informed, and reaffirming free-
dom of the press as a priority of the United States Government in
supporting democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemo-
ration of ‘‘World Press Freedom Day’’ on May 3, 2025.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MAY5, 2025
Mr. S
CHATZ(for himself and Mr. TILLIS) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
RESOLUTION
Recognizing escalating threats to freedom of the press and
freedom of speech worldwide, including increasing harm
to journalists reporting in conflict zones and under re-
pressive regimes, reaffirming the vital role that a free
and independent press plays in upholding democracy,
fostering economic prosperity, and keeping the public
informed, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a
priority of the United States Government in supporting
democracy, human rights, and good governance in com-
memoration of ‘‘World Press Freedom Day’’ on May
3, 2025.
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Whereas freedom of the press is foundational to American de-
mocracy and has been enshrined in the First Amendment
to the United States Constitution and in various State
constitutions;
Whereas a free and independent press around the world sup-
ports United States foreign policy goals of countering
authoritarianism and promoting democratic governance
by refuting propaganda and enhancing public account-
ability, transparency, and participation in civil society;
Whereas a robust independent press plays a key role in ex-
posing and refuting malign influence campaigns used by
authoritarian governments, including the Russian Fed-
eration and the People’s Republic of China;
Whereas the censorship, victimization, and killing of journal-
ists around the world, particularly in war zones, has pro-
found implications for the ability of the public, including
Americans, to be informed about conflicts with local, re-
gional, and global ramifications and other issues;
Whereas the United States has advanced press freedom glob-
ally, including by leading the drafting of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the
United Nations in Paris on December 10, 1948, and
states, in Article 19, ‘‘Everyone has the right to freedom
of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to
hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers.’’;
Whereas, in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly pro-
claimed the third day of May of each year to be ‘‘World
Press Freedom Day’’—
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(1) to celebrate the fundamental principles of press
freedom;
(2) to evaluate press freedom around the world;
(3) to defend the media against attacks on its inde-
pendence; and
(4) to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their
lives while working in their profession;
Whereas Congress has passed legislation supporting press
freedom abroad, including—
(1) the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of
2009 (Public Law 111–166), which expanded the exam-
ination of the freedom of the press around the world in
the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
published by the Department of State; and
(2) the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Account-
ability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–
328), which has been used to place targeted visa and eco-
nomic sanctions on individuals for their roles in the tar-
geted killings of journalists;
Whereas, in 2021, in an effort to combat attacks against
journalists, the Department of State adopted the
Khashoggi Ban pursuant to section 212(a)(3)(C) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1182(a)(3)(C)), which imposes visa restrictions on indi-
viduals who, acting on behalf of a foreign government,
are believed to have been directly engaged in serious,
extraterritorial counter-dissident activities, including ac-
tivities that suppress, harass, surveil, threaten, or harm
journalists, activists, or other persons perceived to be dis-
sidents for their work;
Whereas the United States Government has—
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(1) supported broadcast journalism around the world
to provide news to millions of people living under authori-
tarian regimes; and
(2) provided emergency assistance to journalists fac-
ing immediate risks to their lives as a result of their re-
porting;
Whereas 2024 marked the 19th consecutive year of decline
in global freedom, with an estimated 40 percent of the
global population living in countries deemed ‘‘Not Free’’;
Whereas 2024 marked the 14th consecutive year of decline
in global internet freedom, with people in at least 56
countries who are facing legal repercussions for express-
ing themselves online and people in 43 countries who are
facing physical assaults or death for their online com-
mentary;
Whereas infringement on freedom of expression, including
media freedom, has been one of the key drivers of broad-
er declines in global freedom during the last 50 years, in-
cluding attacks and prosecutions against journalists,
pressure on media outlets, repressive regulatory and legal
frameworks, internet shutdowns, unlawful efforts to un-
dermine strong encryption, and blocks on online sources
of information;
Whereas there are alarming indications about growing divi-
sions resulting from the spread of authoritarian informa-
tion campaigns with the potential to weaken democratic
societies;
Whereas punishments against women journalists are increas-
ing disproportionately, with 30 percent more women jour-
nalists being held in prison in 2022 than in the previous
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year, and with most of the longest prison sentences hand-
ed down against journalists in 2023 given to women;
Whereas journalists and media workers are murdered, impris-
oned, attacked, and harassed around the world, includ-
ing—
(1) at least 124 journalists and media workers who
were killed worldwide during 2024 and at least 15 jour-
nalists who have been killed during the first 4 months of
2025;
(2) approximately 361 journalists who were impris-
oned during 2024, with 50 of these journalists impris-
oned by the People’s Republic of China;
(3) between September 1, 2014 and August 31,
2024, impunity for the killing of journalists persisted,
with nearly 80 percent of the 241 journalist murders dur-
ing this period occurring without accountability; and
(4) journalists and media outlets targeted by govern-
ment actors with sophisticated spyware products that
pose a severe risk to their privacy and the security of
their sources and families;
Whereas more than 375 writers and public intellectuals, in-
cluding columnists and editorial journalists, were impris-
oned across 40 different countries during 2024; and
Whereas United States journalists have been killed, injured,
and imprisoned while reporting abroad, including—
(1) Christopher Allen, who was killed while covering
the conflict in South Sudan on August 26, 2017, and for
whom there has been no credible investigation to pursue
justice after nearly 8 years;
(2) Austin Tice, who was kidnaped in Syria and has
been held in captivity since August 13, 2012;
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(3) Brent Renaud, who was killed by Russian forces
while covering the war in Ukraine on March 13, 2022;
(4) Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli
forces on May 11, 2022, while reporting in the West
Bank;
(5) Evan Gershkovich, who was wrongfully detained
in Russia on baseless charges of espionage from March
2023 to August 2024;
(6) Alsu Kurmasheva who was wrongfully detained
in Russia on bogus charges of failure to register as a for-
eign agent from October 2023 to August 2024; and
(7) Dylan Collins, a journalist at Agence France-
Presse (AFP), who was injured in an attack on a group
of journalists in southern Lebanon by Israeli forces on
October 13, 2023: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate— 1
(1) declares that a free press— 2
(A) is a central component of free societies 3
and democratic governance; 4
(B) contributes to an informed civil society 5
and government accountability; 6
(C) helps to expose corruption; 7
(D) enhances public accountability and 8
transparency of governments at all levels; and 9
(E) disseminates information that is essen-10
tial to improving public health and safety; 11
(2) expresses concerns about threats to the ex-12
ercise of freedom of expression, including by the 13
press, around the world; 14
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(3) recognizes and commends journalism’s role 1
in providing trusted, accurate, and timely informa-2
tion and in holding governments and leaders ac-3
countable to citizens; 4
(4) recognizes the indispensable role of journal-5
ists and media outlets in informing voters and the 6
international community about elections in multiple 7
countries worldwide in 2025; 8
(5) pays tribute to journalists who made tre-9
mendous sacrifices, including the loss of their lives, 10
in the pursuit of truth and justice; 11
(6) condemns all actions around the world that 12
suppress press freedom and endanger the safety of 13
journalists; 14
(7) calls for the unconditional and immediate 15
release of all wrongfully detained journalists; 16
(8) reaffirms the centrality of press freedom to 17
efforts of the United States Government to support 18
democracy, mitigate conflict, and promote good gov-19
ernance domestically and around the world; and 20
(9) calls upon the President and the Secretary 21
of State— 22
(A) to preserve and build upon the leader-23
ship of the United States on issues relating to 24
press freedom and journalist safety, on the 25
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basis of the protections for freedom of the press 1
afforded the American people under the First 2
Amendment to the Constitution of the United 3
States; 4
(B) to transparently investigate and bring 5
to justice the perpetrators of attacks against 6
American journalists; 7
(C) to support transparent investigations 8
and efforts to ensure accountability for attacks 9
against journalists of other nationalities; and 10
(D) to promote the respect and protection 11
of press freedom around the world. 12
Æ
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