[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1361]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION ACT

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, 1 month ago, we stood in this assembled 
Chamber and pledged ourselves to support and defend the Constitution of 
the United States of America. Chief among the rights enumerated in that 
Constitution is the freedom of the press. Unfortunately, last year 
almost a dozen reporters were served or threatened with jail sentences 
in at least three different Federal jurisdictions for refusing to 
reveal confidential sources. Compelling reporters to testify and, in 
particular, compelling them to reveal the identity of their 
confidential sources is a detriment to the public interest. Without the 
promise of confidentiality, many important conduits of information 
about government activity would be shut down.
  Today, 31 States and the District of Columbia have various statutes 
that protect reporters from being compelled to testify and disclose 
sources of information in court, but there is no Federal protection. 
Mr. Speaker, today, along with the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Boucher), I will introduce the Free Flow of Information Act. This 
important legislation will provide reporters with protection from being 
compelled to disclose sources of information in any Federal criminal or 
civil case without meeting strict criteria.
  ``Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor 
that be limited without danger of losing it.'' Thomas Jefferson said 
that, and he was right. I urge my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring 
the Free Flow of Information Act and press for its immediate adoption.

                          ____________________