FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION (FIRE) for FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION (FIRE)
What was lobbied
2 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV
FIRE had meetings with congressional offices in the House and Senate to discuss campus free speech and review draft language thathas not yet been introduced. These discussions also included the possibilitythat the issue would be addressed in any Higher Education Act Reauthorization that might be introduced in the future. FIRE reviewed congressional resolutions opposing book bans including HRes 1392 and SRes 838. We wrote publicly in support of aspects of each resolution. We also shared feedback on draft language for an additional resolution on banned books that has not yet been introduced. FIRE also participated in a Congressional Roundtable hosted by the Republican members of the House Education and Labor Committee on the topic of campus freespeech. We also communicated our opposition to theStudents Access to Freedom and Educational Rights (SAFER Act/S.5158) to Senate and House offices, explaining the free speech and due process problems with the legislation. FIRE also analyzed the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act (HR 9197), theChildren and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (S. 1628), the Kids Online Safety Act (S. 3663), the Fair Access to Banking Act (S. 563/HR1729). We did not engage in any advocacy on those bills, but conducted research in anticipation of future advocacy on them. FIRE also engaged in grassroots lobbying by publishing a video on YouTube urging viewers to contact their member of Congress in support of theRestoring Artistic Protection Act of 2022 (HR 8531) which prohibits federal prosecutors from introducing an artist's rap lyrics againstthem as proof or wrongdoing in criminalprosecutions,subject to some exceptions.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOSEPH COHN | — |
| JOHN COLEMAN | — |
| TYLER COWARD | — |
| GREG GONZALEZ | — |
Education EDU
FIRE had meetings with congressional offices in the House and Senate to discuss campus free speech and review draft language thathas not yet been introduced. These discussions also included the possibilitythat the issue would be addressed in any Higher Education Act Reauthorization that might be introduced in the future. FIRE reviewed congressional resolutions opposing book bans including HRes 1392 and SRes 838. We wrote publicly in support of aspects of each resolution. We also shared feedback on draft language for an additional resolution on banned books that has not yet been introduced. FIRE also participated in a Congressional Roundtable hosted by the Republican members of the House Education and Labor Committee on the topic of campus freespeech. We also communicated our opposition to theStudents Access to Freedom and Educational Rights (SAFER Act/S.5158) to Senate and House offices, explaining the free speech and due process problems with the legislation.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOSEPH COHN | — |
| JOHN COLEMAN | — |
| TYLER COWARD | — |
| GREG GONZALEZ | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.