119-hres386

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 386 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 386

 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 May 6, 2025

 Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Norton, Mr. Carson, Ms. 
 Schakowsky, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Connolly, Mr. 
 Lynch, Mr. Carbajal, and Mr. Min) submitted the following resolution; 
 which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 
 to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
 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 accountability, an informed citizenry, 
 and the protection of fundamental rights;
Whereas President Donald J. Trump has taken direct action to harm and restrict 
 press freedoms and has repeatedly 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'' 
behavior during a speech at the Department of Justice;

    (2) claiming CNN and MSNBC networks are ``political 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 conventions, 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 broadcast 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 reporters, 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' sources to the threat of possible 
identification and punishment;

Whereas President Trump has used executive action to significantly reduce the 
 United States Agency for Global Media

    (USAGM) , leading to the placement 
 of Voice of America journalists on administrative leave and the 
 attempted 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 fundamental 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 
 authoritarian countries;
Whereas, as of the date of the introduction of this resolution, 11 USAGM 
 reporters are behind bars abroad, and international 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) strongly condemns President Donald J. Trump's attacks 
 on the press, including efforts to delegitimize and restrict 
 journalistic institutions;

    (2) reaffirms the essential role of a free press in 
 preserving democracy and ensuring governmental accountability;

    (3) urges the executive branch to respect the rights of 
 journalists and allow them to perform their duties without fear 
 of retaliation;

    (4) calls for continued efforts to secure the release of 
 the 11 USAGM journalists imprisoned abroad; and

    (5) expresses solidarity with journalists who face threats, 
 harassment, or violence as a result of their commitment to 
 truth and public service.
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