[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 58 (Tuesday, May 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2615-S2616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2011

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, today, people from across the country and 
around the world celebrate World Press Freedom Day--a time to 
commemorate and honor the principles of freedom of expression. World 
Press Freedom Day was established by the United Nations General 
Assembly in 1993 and 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.
  The Nation's Founders prized and protected a free and vibrant press. 
Its prominence is found in the first amendment of the Constitution. 
Since the founding of this great Nation, American journalists have 
courageously documented volatile turning points in our history and the 
world's history. Elijah Lovejoy, the first of too many American 
journalists who have paid the ultimate price in service to press 
freedom, remains a stalwart figure in media history, even today.
  The International Federation of Journalists reports that at least 94 
journalists and other members of the media have been killed in the line 
of duty during 2010. Countless others have been detained or arrested 
simply for performing their professional duties.
  In recent months, we have witnessed the troubling case of American 
and foreign journalists being detained, assaulted, and even killed in 
their efforts to tell the world about the democratic uprisings in the 
Middle East. Last month, Oscar-nominated war-film director and 
photojournalist Tim Hetherington and photojournalist Chris Hondros were 
both killed while reporting on a battle between Libyan Government 
forces and rebels in the city of Misrata. In February, CBS war 
correspondent Lara Logan was brutally attacked and sexually assaulted 
while reporting on the historic uprising in Egypt. The recent news that 
Osama bin Laden has been killed--a price paid for his crimes against 
the American people and the world--has focused even more attention on 
the unrest in the Middle East. The efforts of journalists and members 
of the media in that region now have even greater significance.
  Preserving press freedoms and freedom of expression remains one of my 
highest legislative priorities as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. 
That is why I have once again joined with Republican Senator John 
Cornyn to introduce the Faster FOIA Act. This bill would create a 
bipartisan Commission

[[Page S2616]]

to help ensure that the Freedom of Information Act one of the most 
important tools by which the press can obtain critical information 
about what our government is doing is not hindered by excessive delays.
  A few days ago, President Obama observed that ``in the last months, 
we've seen journalists threatened, arrested, beaten, attacked, and in 
some cases even killed simply for doing their best to bring us the 
story, to give people a voice, and to hold leaders accountable. And 
through it all, we've seen daring men and women risk their lives for 
the simple idea that no one should be silenced, and everyone deserves 
to know the truth.''
  As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, we are reminded that an open 
and accountable society comes with not only the right of its citizens 
to know the truth but the duty to empower themselves with that 
knowledge. All of us--Democrats, Republicans, and Independents--have an 
interest in preserving press freedoms and protecting the public's right 
to know. Enacting the Faster FOIA Act will help to accomplish this 
goal. For this reason, I strongly encourage all Members to join me in 
celebrating World Press Freedom Day and in supporting this very 
important bipartisan bill.

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