[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 130 (Wednesday, August 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 601--CONDEMNING THE DECISION BY PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP AND THE WHITE HOUSE TO BAN MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA FROM WHITE HOUSE 
 EVENTS FOR ASKING CRITICAL QUESTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT, AND AFFIRMING 
     THE IMPORTANCE OF A FREE AND UNFETTERED PRESS IN OUR DEMOCRACY

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Menendez, 
Mr. Udall, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Booker, Mr. Cardin, and Ms. 
Hassan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 601

       Whereas President Donald Trump repeatedly refers to 
     reputable journalists and multiple media organizations as 
     ``fake news'';
       Whereas President Trump has characterized media 
     organizations as ``a stain on America'';
       Whereas President Trump has also characterized media 
     organizations as ``the real enemy of the people'', while 
     simultaneously characterizing his summit with Russian 
     President Vladimir Putin as ``a great success'';
       Whereas President Trump has threatened media organizations 
     such as CNN and the Washington Post with antitrust actions 
     while ignoring antitrust concerns with news organizations 
     that provide him favorable coverage;
       Whereas, on July 25, 2016, the White House singled out CNN 
     reporter Kaitlan Collins and barred her from attending an 
     event at the White House Rose Garden;
       Whereas Ms. Collins asked President Trump questions 
     regarding his former attorney Michael Cohen and Russian 
     President Vladimir Putin, which he did not answer, at the 
     White House press pool earlier in the day;
       Whereas the White House alleged that Ms. Collins' questions 
     were inappropriate for the venue;
       Whereas the White House's justification for removing Ms. 
     Collins was clearly a pretext, and the real reason she was 
     removed was that President Trump didn't like Ms. Collins' 
     questions, which made him uncomfortable;
       Whereas President Trump has threatened to take away the 
     White House press credentials of journalists whose coverage 
     he does not like;
       Whereas the decision to bar a member of the press from the 
     White House for the questions the member asked is retaliatory 
     in nature, violates the spirit of the First Amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States, and is not indicative of 
     an open and free press; and
       Whereas a free and unfettered press is the cornerstone of 
     our democracy: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the decision by President Donald Trump and the 
     White House to bar Kaitlan Collins from the White House;
       (2) condemns the escalating attacks by President Trump on 
     reputable journalists and news organizations as ``fake 
     news'', ``a stain on America'', and ``the real enemy of the 
     people'';
       (3) affirms that it is necessary and appropriate for 
     reporters to ask questions of powerful government officials, 
     including the President of the United States, in order to 
     hold these officials accountable to the people of the United 
     States; and
       (4) affirms that reporters and journalists must be able to 
     feel free to do their duty without fear of reprisal from the 
     Government.

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