[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 201 (Friday, December 23, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1356-E1357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF JUSTICE FOR JOURNALISTS ACT OF 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 23, 2022

  Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Justice For 
Journalists Act, mandating an investigation into all non-natural deaths 
of journalists and media workers in a foreign nation, who are U.S. 
citizens or working on behalf of a U.S.-based news media entity.
  In the last year, we have witnessed many attacks on the rights and 
safety of journalists and media workers, particularly those who shine a 
light on violations of human rights and rule of law, war, and other 
atrocities around the world.
  Even reporters covering sporting events may be subject to detainment 
as we saw in November, when Grant Wahl was detained and briefly refused 
entry to a World Cup match because he was wearing a rainbow t-shirt in 
support of LGBTQ rights.
  There are several pending bills in Congress with provisions to 
protect threatened or at-risk journalists working in foreign nations. 
However, there is no legislation requiring the United States to 
investigate any non-natural deaths of journalists and media workers 
performing their duty in a foreign nation. Currently, an act of 
Congress is required to investigate every single non-natural death--and 
that cannot stand.
  Journalists and media workers report on injustices, corruption, and 
human rights violations around the world, putting themselves on the 
frontlines where they risk life and limb.
  This year, 65 journalists and media workers have been killed 
reporting on wars and humanitarian crises around the world. We know

[[Page E1357]]

that 17 of them were murdered and the perpetrator had complete impunity 
from the law. Sadly, there are an additional 64 journalists who are 
missing, and their families are still waiting on justice.
  According to the United Nations, all people enjoy the right to 
freedom of opinion and expression, which includes the right to seek, 
receive, and impart information. The United Nations considers the 
silencing journalists by killing them to be the most egregious form of 
censorship, and the failure of any State to prosecute and punish 
serious crimes against journalists denies justice to the victims' 
families, emboldens perpetrators, and can deter other journalists from 
reporting high-risk stories.
  If the U.S. is going to lead by example, we must do everything we can 
to defend and protect those who are committed to reporting the truth 
about the casualties of war, humanitarian crisis, human rights abuses, 
and corruption.
  Thomas Jefferson wrote, ``Where the press is free and every man able 
to read, all is safe.'' The First Amendment is the foundation of our 
country. Without free speech and a free press, we would not be the 
country we are. The citizens of the United States rely on our free 
press to understand the issues at home and around the world.
  Along with diplomacy and military strength, a free press, or the 
Fourth Estate, is another avenue to challenge the status quo and be a 
voice for the protection of the rule of law, civil society, and human 
rights. In their fight for democracy and human dignity, the ``weapons'' 
of journalists and media workers are microphones, keypads, and cameras. 
When one is murdered doing their job, we must identify who is 
responsible and hold them accountable.
  The Justice For Journalists Act, will:
  Require an investigation into the non-natural deaths of all 
journalists and media workers in a foreign nation who are U.S. citizens 
or working on behalf of a U.S.-based news media entity.
  Leverage whole-of-government approaches to urge foreign governments 
to rapidly and transparently bring the perpetrators of attacks against 
journalists and media workers to justice.
  Improve transparency of threats against our Fourth Estate by ensuring 
reports provided to Congress are also made available to the public on 
the Department of Justice website, as well as the appropriate 
Department of State country webpages.
  In the words of Walter Cronkite, ``Freedom of the press is not just 
important to democracy, it is democracy.''
  Madam Speaker, this legislation will protect our free press around 
the world--and our democracy--now and into the future. I strongly 
encourage my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring the Justice for 
Journalists Act of 2022.

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