[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 20200-20203]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SUPPORTING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 536) supporting freedom of the press in Latin 
America and the Caribbean and condemning violations of press freedom 
and violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising 
their right to freedom of speech, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 536

       Whereas despite the strong tradition of independent and 
     critical media in many countries in Latin America and the 
     Caribbean, journalists in some countries are becoming 
     increasingly vulnerable to violence and government 
     harassment;
       Whereas, on July 29, 2015, the Western Hemisphere 
     Subcommittee convened a hearing titled ``Threats to Press 
     Freedom in the Americas'' and Carlos Lauria, Senior Americas 
     Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists 
     stated that ``Scores of journalists have been killed and 
     disappeared. Media outlets have been bombed and forced into 
     censorship. . . . Censorship due to violence in Latin America 
     has reached one of its highest points since most of the 
     region was dominated by military rule more than three decades 
     ago.'';
       Whereas in 2014, Cuban authorities detained 1,817 members 
     of civil society, 31 of whom were independent journalists;
       Whereas in Cuba, independent journalists face sustained 
     harassment, including detention and physical abuse from the 
     Castro regime;
       Whereas in Ecuador, in September 2015, the government took 
     steps to close the sole press freedom monitoring 
     organization, Fundamedios, for exceeding its corporate 
     charter, but the government relented in the face of 
     international criticism and potential economic reprisals;
       Whereas in the country, forced corrections by the 
     government have become a means of institutional censorship;
       Whereas according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 
     Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world 
     for the press;

[[Page 20201]]

       Whereas in Mexico, over 50 journalists have been killed or 
     have disappeared since 2007, at least 11 reporters have been 
     killed since 2011, 4 of them in direct reprisal for their 
     work;
       Whereas according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 
     at least 4 journalists have been killed in Brazil in 2015, 
     many times after being tortured and having their bodies 
     mutilated;
       Whereas Evany Jose Metzker, a political blogger in the 
     state of Minas Gerais who had been investigating a child 
     prostitution ring, was found decapitated outside the town of 
     Padre Paraiso;
       Whereas according to the Organization of American States 
     (OAS) 2014 Annual Report of the Inter-American Commission on 
     Human rights, journalists covering protests in Venezuela were 
     subject to assaults, obstruction, detention, raids, threats, 
     censorship orders, and confiscation or destruction of 
     equipment;
       Whereas, on April 21, 2015, a lawsuit within the 29th 
     District Tribunal of the Metropolitan area of Caracas charged 
     the journal El Nacional and its Chief Editor Miguel Henrique 
     Otero for ``reproducing false information'' and was forced to 
     flee Venezuela;
       Whereas the Honduran national human rights commissioner 
     reported that 8 journalists and social communicators were 
     killed as of September, compared with 3 in 2013, and dozens 
     of cases in which journalists reported being victims of 
     threats and persecution;
       Whereas according to the OAS 2014 Annual Report of the 
     Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Members of the 
     media and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) stated the 
     press ``self-censored'' due to fear of reprisal from 
     organized crime or corrupt government officials;
       Whereas in Colombia, there were 98 incidents of violence 
     and harassment against journalists, 30 were physically 
     attacked, and 45 were victims of harassment or intimidation 
     due to their reporting;
       Whereas members of illegal armed groups sought to inhibit 
     freedom of expression by intimidating, threatening, 
     kidnapping, and killing journalists;
       Whereas national and international NGOs reported that local 
     media representatives regularly practiced self-censorship 
     because of threats of violence from these groups;
       Whereas according to the OAS 2014 Annual Report of the 
     Inter-American Commission on Human rights, throughout 2014, 
     Guatemala presented accounts of cases of harassment and the 
     filing of several criminal complaints against a newspaper 
     that criticized the Administration;
       Whereas according to the Department of State's Country 
     Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014 in Nicaragua, the 
     government continued to use direct and indirect means to 
     pressure and seek to close independent radio stations, 
     allegedly for political reasons;
       Whereas according to the Department of State's Country 
     Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014 in Argentina, a 
     survey released of 830 journalists throughout the country 
     indicated 53 percent of respondents worked for a media outlet 
     that self-censored content; and
       Whereas almost half the journalists surveyed said they 
     self-censored in their reporting on the national government: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports a free press in Latin America and the 
     Caribbean and condemns violations of press freedom and 
     violence against journalists;
       (2) urges countries in the region to implement 
     recommendations from the Organization of American States' 
     Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression to 
     its Member States;
       (3) urges countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to 
     be vocal in condemning violations of press freedom, violence 
     against journalists, and the culture of impunity that leads 
     to self-censorship;
       (4) urges countries in the Western Hemisphere to uphold the 
     principles outlined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter 
     and urges their neighbors in the region to stand by the 
     charter they are a party to; and
       (5) urges the United States Agency for International 
     Development and the Department of State to assist, when 
     appropriate, the media in closed societies to promote an open 
     and free press.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include 
any extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring forward this resolution, 
introduced by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Sires), on the important issue of press freedom in the Western 
Hemisphere.
  Freedom of the press is the cornerstone of democracy. It is our 
obligation to promote and protect this fundamental right, particularly 
here in our own hemisphere.
  Undoubtedly, Mr. Speaker, we have seen a troubling erosion of these 
rights in several parts of the Western Hemisphere at the hands of 
authoritarian, populist leaders, as well as violence against 
journalists by transnational narcotics trafficking organizations.
  In Ecuador, President Correa silences discourse and dissent by 
intimidating and censoring the media. Hefty fines are issued for any 
reporting unfavorable to him or his policies.
  In Mexico, narcotics traffickers intimidate the press and violently 
target journalists to silence those journalists.
  In Cuba, despite the administration's naive rapprochement, a lack of 
free expression is underscored by the continued political imprisonment 
of anyone who dares to speak or write against the Castro dictatorship.
  This resolution is an important demonstration of our support for the 
fundamental right to freedom of speech and our belief that regional 
leaders in the Organization of American States need to do more to 
condemn what, in some parts of the region, has become the systemic 
violation of press freedom. The United States must stand with brave 
journalists who are on the front lines of exposing corruption in 
government.
  Earlier this year, Chairman Duncan's Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere held a hearing on threats to press freedom in the Americas. 
One witness told the committee that there is now a growing regional 
trend of government persecution and harassment of journalists, as well 
as an increase in violent attacks carried out by state and nonstate 
actors with near complete immunity.
  I applaud Mr. Sires and the chairman emeritus of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for introducing this resolution and all 
who champion freedom of expression as a fundamental part of a vibrant, 
democratic tradition.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 536.
  I want to congratulate my friend from New Jersey (Mr. Sires), who is 
the driving force behind this resolution, and my friend from Florida 
(Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), who has cosponsored this resolution. The two of 
them have really worked very, very hard through the years to raise this 
issue, and it is good that we are taking up this measure now.

                              {time}  1630

  Here in the United States we know that a free and open press is the 
cornerstone of a strong democracy. We count on the press to hold 
leaders accountable and shine a light on the challenges facing our 
country. The work of a free press goes hand in hand with the 
representative government we practice in this Chamber.
  As government officials, we have tremendous respect for our friends 
in the so-called fourth estate. So it is especially troubling when we 
see governments right here in our hemisphere try to silence this 
critical institution.
  On May 1, World Press Freedom Day, President Obama said ``in too many 
places around the world, a free press is under attack by governments 
that want to avoid the truth or mistrust the ability of citizens to 
make their own decisions.''
  Unfortunately, that threat to press freedom is particularly acute 
right here in our own hemisphere. That is why I am so glad, as I 
mentioned before, that my friends, Mr. Sires, ranking member of the 
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, the 
subcommittee's former chair, introduced this measure condemning 
violations of press freedom and violence against journalists in Latin 
America and the Caribbean.

[[Page 20202]]

  Mr. Sires and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen are leaders on the Western Hemisphere 
in our Congress and are never shy to speak up when individuals' rights 
are in danger. I used to be the chairman of the Subcommittee on the 
Western Hemisphere; so, I have seen this problem firsthand.
  Here in the Americas, leaders often speak out when electoral 
democracy is at risk. That is great. But, unfortunately, those leaders 
fall silent when it comes to the more subtle challenges to democracy, 
particularly violations of press freedom.
  We saw it earlier this year when the Ecuadorian Government threatened 
to close down a press freedom monitoring organization known as 
Fundamedios. Chairman Royce and I joined many in the international 
community in condemning this effort. Fortunately, President Correa 
relented in the face of international condemnation.
  Still, attacks on press freedom in Ecuador are a daily problem, 
creating a hostile environment for journalists trying to do their jobs. 
A 2013 communications law put in place fines and sanctions for the 
press. So it is no surprise that Freedom House rated Ecuador's press as 
not free this year. The list goes on and on.
  In Venezuela, journalists have been targeted by politically motivated 
lawsuits. That is why it is such a miracle, what we saw this past week 
or so with the Venezuelan elections.
  Despite the harassment, despite the lack of press freedom, despite 
going after people who would raise the truth, the Venezuelan people 
weren't fooled and voted overwhelmingly against the current oppressive 
regime.
  That is good. It is good to see. But we need to make sure that free 
press really exists not only in places like Venezuela, but in Cuba, 
where the government has rounded up and detained independent 
journalists just for reporting the reality on the ground. Just for 
reporting the truth in Cuba, you get rounded up and detained.
  In Mexico, drug trafficking organizations have brutally murdered many 
of those who report on their violent activities. Just last week, the 
editor of a Mexican newspaper called El Manana explained to The 
Washington Post that submitting to drug traffickers' demands is the 
only way to stay alive. He said: ``You do it or you die, and nobody 
wants to die. Self-censorship--that's our shield.'' And in Colombia and 
Honduras, journalism remains a dangerous profession.
  This resolution underscores these abuses and the scourge of violence 
against journalists. It reaffirms the important role a free press plays 
in open societies, and it urges these governments in the region to do 
much more to provide protection to those journalists under threat.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. I 
again compliment Mr. Sires and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle 
East and North Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
primary cosponsor of this resolution.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of our committee, 
again, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), and the ranking 
member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), for bringing this 
important resolution to the floor in such a speedy manner.
  I want to thank my dear friend, my legislative brother, the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Sires), for bringing forward House Resolution 536, 
which is a resolution to support freedom of the press in Latin America 
and the Caribbean and condemning violations of press freedoms and 
violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals who are 
exercising their right to freedom of speech. I am honored to be the 
Republican lead on Mr. Sires' resolution.
  Basic freedoms are being threatened all over Latin America, Mr. 
Speaker, by rogue regimes that seek to quash dissenters in any way that 
they can.
  Earlier this year we held a subcommittee hearing, as the chairman 
pointed out, on this very subject of the threat to press freedom. 
Carlos Ponce of Freedom House stated that, when it comes to press 
freedom, only three countries in Latin America were rated free by this 
organization.
  Can you imagine that, Mr. Speaker? Out of all of the countries in 
Latin America, only three could be labeled as free when it comes to 
freedom of the press.
  More and more, we see countries like Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, 
and Cuba taking steps to muzzle broadcast and print media into 
submission, leaving journalists and editors no choice but to self-
censor their very own content.
  Venezuela's 2004 Ley de Responsabilidad Social en Radio y Television, 
or Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, has provided 
the legal framework to quash and censor the press, and its provisions 
have been replicated by Ecuador and other countries in the region.
  Due to the provisions in this law, television stations and newspapers 
have been bullied by the regime or forced to sell their outlets. In the 
case of RCTV, broadcasts were suspended by the Venezuelan regime.
  Owners of Globovision and El Universal, both critical of the regime, 
were forced to sell their outlets to business interests with close ties 
to the regime.
  Ecuador faces equally daunting challenges to press freedoms. A large 
number of journalists are being sued. Watchdogs such as Fundamedios are 
being harassed constantly. Newspapers such as El Universo are being 
fined for running articles that are not in agreement with the regime.
  In Nicaragua, the Ortega regime has also restricted media outlets by 
making it difficult for journalists to operate. With the recent 
promulgation by the Law of Sovereign Security, it has nearly ensured a 
muzzle on all reporters.
  Former President Cristina Kirchner of Argentina and her court often 
demonize journalists and charge popular media outlets, such as El Grupo 
Clarin or the daily Ultima Hora, with inciting collective violence and 
terrorizing the population. These are actual charges.
  Mexico, one of our closest allies in the region, is one of the most 
dangerous countries for journalists. This year alone, six journalists 
were killed in direct connection to their journalism work.
  In my native country of Cuba, despite the misguided normalization 
effort by the Obama administration, the Castro regime continues to hold 
total control of information. There is no free press in Cuba. Foreign 
media outlets usually censor their own information because they don't 
want to be kicked out of the country.
  Last week, Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of meeting a Cuban artist 
here in Washington, D.C., known as El Sexto, the sixth one. He was 
jailed for nearly a year for announcing that he would take part in a 
performance art that criticized the Communist regime leaders.
  The mere announcement was enough to be jailed for almost a year. 
Citizen journalists who defy the Castro brothers on the island are 
regularly subject to death threats, arbitrary arrests, beatings, and 
torture by the repression apparatus of the regime.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a critical time for basic freedoms in our 
hemisphere. Free and independent media are instruments to fight against 
the scornful, tyrannical regimes that plague our hemisphere today.
  We in the United States must remain ever vigilant amongst our friends 
and foes in this key moment in history for press freedom and freedom of 
expression in our region.
  This vote today, Mr. Speaker, overwhelmingly supporting efforts like 
the one spearheaded by our good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Sires), is a good place in which to start.
  I thank the chairman, ranking member, and Mr. Sires for their work on 
this important topic.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Sires), the author of this resolution, the ranking member 
of the

[[Page 20203]]

Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, a good friend, and a great 
member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Royce, Ranking 
Member Engel, and all the staff for their support in promoting 
democratic values around the world and in their efforts to bring this 
resolution to the floor.
  I also want to thank my good friend Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for serving 
as the Republican lead on this legislation. I also want to recognize 
the leadership of my colleague, Chairman Jeff Duncan, on this issue.
  Freedom of expression is the key to a thriving democracy. It is the 
number one tool to hold people and governments accountable for their 
actions. In recent years, many organizations dedicated to freedom of 
speech and advancing civil societies have been trying to bring 
attention to the deterioration of press freedom in parts of the Western 
Hemisphere, specifically in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  Cuba has consistently been characterized as having one of the most 
repressive media environments in the world, with the Castro brothers 
controlling all aspects of the print and electronic media.
  Venezuela and Ecuador have harassed and fined the media, shut down 
press operations, and even physically attacked journalists who were 
trying to expose the state-sponsored crackdown against peaceful 
political dissenters.
  In other countries, such as Mexico and Honduras, an increase in drug-
related violence and worsening security situations have created a 
culture of impunity, allowing violence against journalists and the 
press to go unpunished.
  As a child in Cuba, I witnessed the deterioration of democracy as the 
Castro regime took over the island and systematically destroyed all 
aspects of freedom of speech and expression. There is a strong 
connection between the country's democratic values and the freedom 
afforded to their press.
  Working to preserve freedom of speech and pushing back against those 
who seek to quiet dissenters should be a top priority when engaging our 
neighbors in the region. That is why I introduced H. Res. 536, a 
resolution condemning violations of press freedom, violence against 
journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to 
freedom of speech.
  This resolution condemns these violations and urges countries in the 
region to implement the recommendation of member states made by the 
Organization of American States, Office of Special Rapporteur for 
Freedom of Expression.
  This resolution also urges our administration to assist the media in 
closed societies to promote a free press.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 536 to help foster better 
protections for the press around our hemisphere.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me say that today we are 
talking about a particular challenge facing the Western Hemisphere. But 
let me say that we have seen a great deal in the last few weeks that we 
should be optimistic about.
  As I mentioned before, for example, voters in Venezuela recently went 
to the ballot box to demand change. They did so in Argentina as well. 
So we see once again that, despite all of the challenges in the 
hemisphere, electoral democracy remains vibrant, but we have to keep 
working to keep it vibrant.
  But, of course, elections alone are not enough. We need to work in 
partnership with our friends in the Americas to ensure that every 
country has a robust democracy that includes a free and independent 
press. Most importantly, countries must guarantee the safety of 
journalists, especially as they courageously report in dangerous 
places.
  I, again, thank Mr. Sires and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for introducing this 
important resolution. I urge my colleagues to support its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for their support of this 
resolution, as well as the chairman of the Western Hemisphere 
Subcommittee, Mr. Duncan, and, of course, the ranking member, Mr. 
Sires, the author of this resolution before us today. I thank them for 
the work they have done on the committee to bring attention to the 
troubling attacks on a free press that have plagued the Western 
Hemisphere.
  Mr. Speaker, as Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1816: ``Where the press is 
free, and every man able to read, all is safe.''
  This resolution is timely and important. I am proud of the work our 
committee has done to promote and defend freedom of the press, which 
is, of course, the cornerstone of democratic principles. The United 
States should--and must--continue to do more to help defend free 
expression across the Americas.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the House Caucus on the 
Freedom of the Press, I strongly support H. Res. 536 and its 
condemnation of violations of press freedom and violence against 
journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to 
freedom of speech across Latin America and the Caribbean. Thomas 
Jefferson once said, ``Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, 
and that cannot be limited without being lost.'' Those words ring true 
not only for our nation, but for all nations and all people dedicated 
to the ideals of democracy and committed to a democratic system of 
government.
  Whether through act and intimidation by the government or non-state 
actors, the voices of journalists across Latin American and the 
Caribbean--voices raised to speak out against corruption, abuses of 
power, and criminal activity--are being silenced at an alarming rate. 
This cannot be allowed to continue. I commend the House of 
Representatives and the sponsors of this legislation for drawing 
attention to this issue, and call on regional leaders to take all 
necessary steps to foster, protect, and defend the inherent right of 
their citizens to express themselves freely, publicly, and without fear 
of reprisal. Every time this right is violated, the foundations of 
society are weakened. We must all be vigilant and unrelenting in our 
support of free expression around the world.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H.R. 536, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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