[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 65 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4996-S4997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 124, which was 
introduced earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 124) recognizing the threats to press 
     freedom and expression around the world and reaffirming press 
     freedom as a priority in the efforts of the United States to 
     promote democracy and good governance, on the occasion of 
     World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2009.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, on May 3, people from across the country 
and around the world will celebrate World Press Freedom Day--a time to 
commemorate and honor the principles of freedom of expression. 
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, World Press 
Freedom Day provides an important opportunity for us all to remember 
the journalists and other members of the news media--of all 
nationalities--who have sacrificed their personal safety, and in some 
cases their lives, to ensure the free flow of information to the 
public.
  Charles Caleb Colton said that ``Despotism can no more exist in a 
nation until the liberty of the press be destroyed, than night can 
happen before the sun is set.'' According to the International 
Federation of Journalists, at least 109 journalists and other members 
of the media have been killed in the line of duty during 2008. 
Countless others have been arrested and/or detained simply for 
performing their professional duties. Our Founders prized and protected 
freedom of the press in our national charter, the Constitution.

[[Page S4997]]

Courageous American journalists have documented volatile turning points 
in our history--and the world's history--and some have suffered or even 
died for their efforts, beginning with America's first martyr to press 
freedom, Elijah Lovejoy.
  Recently, we witnessed the troubling case of Iranian-American 
journalist Roxana Saberi, who was arrested by Iranian authorities in 
January for buying a bottle of wine and was later tried behind closed 
doors and detained on absurd and unfounded charges of espionage. Two 
other American journalists--Laura Ling and Euna Lee--were detained by 
North Korean officials last month, while working on a story about the 
plight of female Chinese refugees living along the Chinese border. 
These troubling events are just two examples of the growing threat 
facing journalists around the world.
  Preserving press freedoms and freedom of expression is one of my 
highest priorities as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. That is why 
I am pleased to join Senators Feingold, Kaufman and Lugar in 
cosponsoring a resolution in honor of World Press Freedom Day.
  Next week, the Judiciary Committee will consider legislation that I 
introduced and that is cosponsored by Senators Kennedy, Specter, 
Feingold, Whitehouse, McCaskill and Tester to roll back the 
government's excessive use of the state secrets privilege to shield 
government information. The State Secrets Protection Act, S. 417, will 
help guide the Federal courts to balance the government's legitimate 
interests in protecting national security, with accountability and the 
rights of citizens to obtain government information and seek judicial 
redress.
  The committee also has on its agenda long-overdue legislation to 
establish a qualified privilege for journalists to protect the 
confidentiality of their sources and the public's right to know--the 
Free Flow of Information Act, S. 448 and H.R. 985. Last year, the 
Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported a similar measure that I 
cosponsored with Senators Lugar, Dodd, Specter, Schumer, and Graham, 
with a strong, bipartisan 15 to 4 vote.
  I am very pleased that President Obama has stated his support of 
Federal shield legislation, and that Attorney General Eric Holder has 
also expressed his support of a carefully crafted federal shield law. 
At my request, the Obama administration is working closely with the 
committee to help reach consensus on a meaningful Federal shield bill 
that we can enact this year.
  As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, we are reminded that an open 
and accountable society comes with the duty of its citizens to seek out 
the truth and to empower themselves with that knowledge. All of us--
whether Republican, Democrat or Independent--have an interest in 
preserving press freedoms and protecting the public's right to know. 
Enacting the State Secrets Protection Act and the Free Flow of 
Information Act will send a powerful signal to the entire world about 
this Nation's commitment to freedom of expression. For this reason, I 
strongly encourage all Members to join me in supporting the resolution 
in honor of World Press Freedom Day and in supporting these very 
important bills.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and any statements related to the measure be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 124) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 124

       Whereas, in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly 
     proclaimed May 3 of each year as ``World Press Freedom Day'' 
     to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to 
     evaluate the state of press freedom around the world, to 
     defend the media from attacks on the independence of the 
     media, and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their 
     lives in the line of duty;
       Whereas, according to the International Federation of 
     Journalists, at least 109 journalists and other media workers 
     were killed in 2008 while on assignment;
       Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 
     nearly 3 out of 4 journalists killed in the line of duty are 
     murdered, and the killers go unpunished in nearly 9 of 10 
     cases;
       Whereas, according to estimates by Reporters Without 
     Borders, in 2008, 673 journalists were arrested, 929 
     journalists were physically attacked or threatened, and 29 
     journalists were kidnapped;
       Whereas Freedom House reported that press freedom has been 
     declining during recent years in both authoritarian countries 
     and established democracies;
       Whereas, reflecting the rise in influence of Internet 
     reporting, an increasing number of online editors, bloggers, 
     and web-based reporters are being imprisoned and their 
     websites closed; and
       Whereas press freedom is a key component of democratic 
     governance and socio-economic development and enhances public 
     accountability, transparency and participation: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the threats to press freedom and expression 
     around the world, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 
     on May 3, 2009;
       (2) commends journalists around the world for the essential 
     role they play in promoting government accountability and 
     strengthening civil society, despite numerous threats;
       (3) pays tribute to the journalists who have lost their 
     lives in the line of duty;
       (4) condemns all actions around the world that suppress 
     press freedom;
       (5) reaffirms the centrality of press freedom to efforts by 
     the United States to support democracy, mitigate conflict, 
     and promote good governance around the world; and
       (6) calls on the President and the Secretary of State to 
     develop means by which the United States Government can more 
     rapidly identify, publicize, and respond to threats against 
     press freedom around the world.

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