H. Res. 999 (Introduced in House) — Recognizing the threats to press freedom in the United States in the wake of protests following the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, 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.

That the House of Representatives—

(1)

expresses support for the First Amendment-protected right of journalists to report on events in the public interest, including protests and demonstrations against police brutality;

(2)

believes journalists perform an essential role in safeguarding democratic values by keeping the public informed about issues of national and local concern and ensuring transparency and accountability;

(3)

calls on State, local, and Federal law enforcement to protect the freedom of the press and refrain from targeting journalists and media workers;

(4)

calls on government entities to clarify that credentialed press are exempt from curfews enacted in response to protests and public demonstrations;

(5)

stresses the need for accountability where law enforcement entities or protesters violate the Constitution, laws, or regulations in their treatment of journalists and media crews during protests; and

(6)

reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the press in the United States and around the world to support democracy, expose corruption, and promote good governance.

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Jun 11, 2020viewing Introduced in House Ms. Scanlon (for herself, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Norton, Mr. Vargas, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Rush, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Welch, Mr. Hastings, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Huffman, Mr. San Nicolas, Ms. Houlahan, and Ms. Eshoo) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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