Responding to widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance on World Press Freedom Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 345, a resolution to recognize the central importance of press freedom in a democratic society and calling attention to threats to press freedom around the globe.

I am proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation, which I introduced with my colleague, Congressman Steve Chabot, with whom I co-chair the Press Freedom Caucus. I thank, as well, Mr. Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for moving forward this resolution.

Every day, journalists around the world bring forward vital information and stories, sometimes from behind the curtain of the world's most repressive regimes and amid war zones. Journalists expose corruption, malfeasance, and abuse that the wealthy and powerful may seek to conceal. For that, they face harassment, threats, persecution, assaults, and even death.

The purpose of this resolution today is to call attention to those threats and to make clear that Congress supports press freedoms here and around the world.

Recent years have been some of the most dangerous and deadly in memory for journalists. As we confront a rising tide of authoritarianism around the world, threats to press freedom are proliferating in many countries from repressive governments. Elsewhere, inadequate security and a lack of accountability have made journalists vulnerable to criminal or terrorist actors.

The resolution before the House today lists just a small sample of the cases in which journalists around the world have been killed or imprisoned for their work. I would like to speak to just a few of these cases and those that have occurred in the short months since the resolution's introduction.

Among them, of course, is the case of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi human rights advocate, U.S. resident, and Washington Post columnist who last year was brutally murdered and dismembered at the orders of the highest reaches of the Saudi Government.

Jamal's murder has been a rallying cry of sorts, but it stands alone in the worldwide attention it has received. All the same, it is tragically far from unique.

Fewer are aware of the cases involving Loujain Al-Hathloul, Nouf Abdulaziz, and Eman Al-Nafjan, three Saudi women who wrote critically of the kingdom's treatment of women and who have been imprisoned for more than a year; or of the acute threat to journalists in the Philippines where the regime of Rodrigo Duterte has attacked independent media with a campaign of judicial harassment and investigation, including the online media outlet Rappler lead and its editor, Maria Ressa; or in China, where authorities target independent and foreign media for harassment and detention, including the labor reporter Wei

Zhili, who was arrested in March. Authorities also block American-based journalists and others who have sought to report on human rights violations and mass detention of Uighurs in Xinjiang province.

Turkey has become the leading jailer of journalists under the rule of President Erdogan, where, just last month, Turkish authorities charged two Bloomberg journalists who reported on the economic crisis in Turkey with undermining the Turkish economy and sought to imprison them.

In Iran, economics reporter Marzieh Amiri was arrested covering May Day demonstrations and has been held since, with little information about her well-being or the status of the charges against her.

In Mexico, reporters can pay with their lives for reporting on the crimes of drug cartels or corrupt local officials, including investigative journalists like Carlos Rodriguez, who was murdered in front of his family, or, more recently, Norma Sarabia, who was murdered in her home in Tabasco state and whose killers remain at large.

Of course, many Americans are all too well aware of the case of Austin Tice, an American working as an independent journalist in Syria who was kidnapped by forces aligned with the Syrian regime in 2012 and today is believed to still remain a hostage nearly 7 years later. We continue to do all we can to obtain information about his whereabouts and to secure his safe return.

Mr. Speaker, today, by passing this legislation, the House can send a message to journalists who face persecution for their work that we stand with them and value their contributions. For those who seek to intimidate and silence them, we send the message that we are watching.

The voice of people seeking justice cannot be silenced forever. We will stand strongly with all those around the world fighting for accountability and truth.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 345) recognizing widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2019, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 345.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank Representative Schiff and Representative Chabot for introducing this resolution which recognizes that the freedoms of the press and expression are being threatened globally.

A free press is an essential pillar in every democracy. It shines light on corruption, speaks truth to power, and holds the government accountable. However, in recent years, there has been a growing assault on a free press.

Mr. Speaker, there are far too many shocking examples of journalists being silenced, imprisoned, tortured, and even murdered around the world, with each abuse only furthering a 13-year decline in the freedom of expression.

The price of protecting these rights has become extremely high. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2018, 54 journalists were killed and 64 went missing.

At a time when the world looks to the United States to be champions for a free press, some call our journalists the enemy of the people. This administration's attack on the media undermines the First Amendment and creates a culture of intimidation and hostility towards journalists.

By accusing media outlets of producing fake news, journalists find themselves less safe, and our country is less informed. So H. Res. 345 condemns threats to independent media and calls on governments to continue to address journalists' safety. It also reiterates the vital importance of a free press in the U.S. and to well-functioning democracies abroad, as well.

It is our duty now, more than ever, to protect the freedom of the press and the public's right to information. I ask all Members to support this bipartisan resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), who is the author of this bill and the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 345 is an important resolution that honors journalists and calls on the United States and governments abroad to protect the freedom of the press. I commend Mr. Schiff and Mr. Chabot for this.

Press freedom is fundamental in democracies and enhances public accountability, transparency, and participation in governance. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 345, in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day.

This resolution recognizes widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world, affirms the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and holds freedom of the press as a central principle in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2019.

In this resolution, the House of Representatives:

Expresses concern about threats to freedom of the press and free expression around the world on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day;

commends journalists and media workers around the world, despite threats to their safety, for their essential role in--

promoting government accountability;

defending democratic activity; and

strengthening civil society;

pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives carrying out their work;

calls on governments abroad to implement United Nations General Assembly Resolution 163 (2013), by thoroughly investigating and seeking to resolve outstanding cases of violence against journalists, including murders and kidnappings, while ensuring the protection of witnesses.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 345 also condemns all actions around the world which suppress freedom of the press; and recognizes the importance of a free and independent press in supporting democracy, mitigating conflict, and promoting good governance around the world.

Finally, the resolution calls on the President and the Secretary of State:

To preserve and build upon the leadership of the United States on issues relating to freedom of the press, on the basis of the protections afforded the American people under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;

to improve the rapid identification, publication, and response by the United States Government to threats against freedom of the press around the world;

to urge foreign governments to transparently investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks against journalists; and

to highlight the issue of threats against freedom of the press in the annual country reports on human rights practices of the Department of State and through diplomatic channels.

I stand in strong support of this resolution and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to pass H. Res. 345, to commemorate the importance of World Press Freedom Day.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution to condemn dangerous threats to freedom of the press and freedom of expression around the world, understanding that the media has a responsibility of fairness without bias and an independent media is a cornerstone of an educated society and a necessary pillar to a healthy democracy.

Unfortunately, freedom of the press and freedom of expression are not protected in many countries.

Dictators fear anything that challenges their power. They go to great lengths to restrict the rights of their citizens and control their own people. They attack human rights activists and protesters who march in the street.

The last thing that a tyrant wants is to be exposed as a corrupt and immoral leader. As a result, they intimidate, arrest, and sometimes kill members of the media for doing their jobs.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 251 reporters worldwide were being held in prison in 2018. More than half of them were being held in Turkey, China, and Egypt.

Last year, over 54 journalists were killed in the line of duty. Thirty-four of them were murder victims.

Of course, sadly, we are all familiar with the heinous killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who was murdered by Saudi agents.

These crimes are completely unacceptable. Republicans and Democrats stand together as Americans in condemning foreign governments that attack journalists and crack down on press freedoms.

This resolution allows us to speak in a unified voice to express our support for those who want to report the news without fearing for their lives. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Chairman Schiff and Congressman Chabot for their bipartisan work on this issue. The United States must continue to provide a strong voice for a free press and independent media across the globe emphasizing fairness. Supporting a free press must remain an essential part of America's foreign policy, and I urge all Members to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.