[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 136 (Thursday, August 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 607--REAFFIRMING THE VITAL AND INDISPENSABLE ROLE THE 
                           FREE PRESS SERVES

  Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 607

       Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States protects the press from government control and 
     suppression;
       Whereas the freedom of the press--
       (1) has been recognized as integral to the democratic 
     foundations of the United States since the beginning of the 
     United States; and
       (2) has endured and been reaffirmed repeatedly throughout 
     the history of the United States;
       Whereas Benjamin Franklin in 1722 wrote, ``Whoever would 
     overthrow the Liberty of a Nation, must begin by subduing the 
     Freeness of Speech.'';
       Whereas Thomas Jefferson in 1786 wrote, ``Our liberty 
     depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be 
     limited without being lost.'';
       Whereas James Madison in 1789 introduced the freedom of the 
     press in the Bill of Rights to the Constitution of the United 
     States;
       Whereas James Madison based the freedom of the press on the 
     Declaration of Rights of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which 
     in 1776 declared, ``The freedom of the Press is one of the 
     greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but 
     by despotic Governments.'';
       Whereas President Ronald Reagan proclaimed August 4, 1985, 
     as Freedom of the Press Day, stating that ``Freedom of the 
     press is one of our most important freedoms and also one of 
     our oldest.'';
       Whereas President Reagan also said, ``Today, our tradition 
     of a free press as a vital part of our democracy is as 
     important as ever. The news media are now using modern 
     techniques to bring our citizens information not only on a 
     daily basis but instantaneously as important events occur. 
     This flow of information helps make possible an informed 
     electorate and so contributes to our national system of self-
     government.'';
       Whereas Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in International Soc. 
     for Krishna Consciousness, Inc. v. Lee, 505 U.S. 672 (1992), 
     ``The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is 
     beside the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the 
     government of its obligation to tolerate speech.'';
       Whereas the United States Supreme Court also affirmed the 
     history and intent of the freedom of the press in New York 
     Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971), stating, 
     ``In the First Amendment, the Founding Fathers gave the free 
     press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential 
     role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, 
     not the governors. The Government's power to censor the press 
     was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to 
     censure the Government. The press was protected so that it 
     could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. 
     Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose 
     deception in government.'';
       Whereas tyrannical and authoritarian governments and 
     leaders throughout history have sought to undermine, censor, 
     suppress, and control the press to advance their undemocratic 
     goals and actions; and
       Whereas the United States, including the long-held 
     commitment to and constitutional protection of the free press 
     in the United States, has stood as a shining example of 
     democracy, self-government, and freedom for the world to 
     emulate: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate--
       (A) affirms that the press is not the enemy of the people;
       (B) reaffirms the vital and indispensable role that the 
     free press serves to inform the electorate, uncover the 
     truth, act as a check on the inherent power of the 
     government, further national discourse and debate, and 
     otherwise advance the most basic and cherished democratic 
     norms and freedoms of the United States; and
       (C) condemns the attacks on the institution of the free 
     press and views efforts to systematically undermine the 
     credibility of the press as an attack on the democratic 
     institutions of the United States; and
       (2) it is the sense of the Senate that it is the sworn 
     responsibility of all who serve the United States by taking 
     the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United 
     States to uphold, cherish, and protect the entire 
     Constitution, including the freedom of the press.

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