World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act
Latest action · May 21, 2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMay 21, 2020
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act
This bill establishes requirements related to the protection and support of journalists and media personnel abroad.
Specifically, the President must establish a plan to (1) negotiate access for U.S. news and media organizations and their employees globally, and (2) work to enhance reciprocity for news and media organizations operating in the United States. The President may impose visa-blocking sanctions on any foreign person who is responsible for the jailing, killing, or torture of journalists or media personnel or significant efforts to harass or restrict the activities, terminate the visas, or threaten the safety of journalists or media personnel.
Identification statements required to be placed on informational materials distributed in the United States by an agent of a foreign principal on behalf of such principal must be labeled, marked, or stamped conspicuously at the top of the first page of such materials.
The annual country reports on human rights and development assistance and human rights and security assistance must include an assessment of freedom of expression with respect to electronic information in foreign countries.
Lastly, the bill establishes the Global Press Freedom Defense Fund to provide assistance to foreign journalists and media personnel who are victims of restrictions on the internationally recognized right to freedom of expression, including assistance to pay for legal and other related expenses.
Cosponsors 1
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on May 21, 2020.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-MD | Benjamin L. Cardin | Original | May 21, 2020 |
Actions 2
Everything that happened, newest first.
- May 21, 2020Introduced in Senate
- May 21, 2020Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 7001 | World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act | Related bill | May 22, 2020 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: International Affairs.
- Congressional oversight
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Detention of persons
- Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
- Foreign aid and international relief
- Government information and archives
- Human rights
- International Affairs
- International law and treaties
- Internet and video services
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Military assistance, sales, and agreements
- News media and reporting
- Political movements and philosophies
- Protest and dissent
- Public participation and lobbying
- Religion
- Right of privacy
- Rule of law and government transparency
- Sanctions
- Trade agreements and negotiations
- Violent crime
- Visas and passports
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- May 21, 2020Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.