FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Amendments

Asia: recognize vital importance of Mekong River to Southeast Asia and role of Mekong-U.S. Partnership in supporting prosperity in region (S. Res. 126), S5363, S5365 [6NO]

Federal employees: prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity (H.R. 140), H1182, H1186, H1187, H1188, H1190, H1191, H1192, H1193, H1194 [8MR], H1219, H1220 [9MR]

——— prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity (H.R. 140), consideration (H. Res. 199), H1162, H1171 [8MR]

Articles and editorials

Ex-Twitter Execs Deny Pressure To Block Hunter Biden Story, H1165 [8MR]

Moral Decline of Elite Universities, S6033 [19DE]

Stephen Rohde, ‘University Presidents Were Right To Condemn Hate Speech and Defend Free Speech’, H6912–H6915 [13DE]

Bills and resolutions

Antifa (movement): call for designation of groups as domestic terrorist organizations, condemn violent actions, and urge expression of opinions without violence or threats (see H. Res. 202), H1150 [7MR]

Asia: recognize vital importance of Mekong River to Southeast Asia and role of Mekong-U.S. Partnership in supporting prosperity in region (see S. Res. 126), S999 [28MR]

Belarus: condemn political repression by Lukashenka regime, call for release of political prisoners, and promote free and fair elections (see H. Res. 441), H2596 [24MY]

Business and industry: call on U.S. companies operating in Russia to reconsider given Russian invasion of Ukraine, support boycotts of such companies, and commend companies that have suspended operations in Russia (see H. Res. 274), H1698 [3AP]

China: remember victims of violent suppression of democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and condemn crackdown on human rights and basic freedoms within China, including Hong Kong, by Chinese Communist Party (see S. Res. 237), S1983 [6JN] (see H. Res. 462), H2712 [1JN]

Civil liberties: express concern about spreading problem of book banning and proliferation of threats to freedom of expression (see S. Res. 372), S4721 [27SE] (see H. Res. 733), H4714 [27SE]

Colleges and universities: express that political litmus tests requiring individuals to identify with specific ideological views such as diversity, equity, and inclusion violates principles of academic freedom and free speech (see H. Res. 282), H1709 [6AP]

——— prohibit institutions of higher education from requiring ideological oaths or similar statements by students, employees, or applicants (see H.R. 6848), H6997 [19DE]

——— provide new students with written statement and educational programming on their constitutional freedom of speech rights (see H.R. 3505), H2454 [18MY]

Corporations: constitutional amendment to clarify application of words people, person, or citizen in Constitution to corporations, limited liability companies, or other corporate entities (see S.J. Res. 3), S55 [23JA]

——— constitutional amendment to exclude from rights given to natural persons and affirm power of Congress and States to regulate political contributions and expenditures (see H.J. Res. 48), H1692 [30MR] (see H.J. Res. 54), H1717 [10AP]

Courts: provide for right of action against Federal employees for violations of rights secured by First Amendment to Constitution (see S. 2616), S3754 [27JY]

Dept. of Education: ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups (see S. 985), S954 [27MR] (see H.R. 1816), H1464 [27MR]

——— ensure public higher education institutions eschew policies that constrain expressive rights of students and ensure private institutions are transparent and accountable for speech policies (see S. 1511), S1602 [10MY] (see H.R. 2508), H1708 [6AP]

——— provide grants to cover costs of opposing challenges to use of specific instructional materials, or availability of specific school library materials, in public elementary and secondary schools (see H.R. 6592), H6143 [5DE]

Employment: ensure religious freedom and rights of conscience for health care workers and other government employees, and protect such individuals from various forms of compelled speech (see S. 2797), S4441 [13SE]

FEC: promote election integrity, voter confidence, and faith in elections by protecting political speech (see H.R. 4472), H3170 [6JY]

——— remove certain impediments to protect political speech and promote election integrity, voter confidence, and effective administration of elections for States and District of Columbia (see H.R. 4494), H3171 [6JY]

——— remove certain impediments to protect political speech and promote election integrity, voter confidence, and effective administration of elections for States, District of Columbia, and military voting programs (see H.R. 4563), H3205 [11JY]

Federal agencies and departments: prevent from assisting film studios in creation of films if co-produced with Chinese company and subject to Chinese content restrictions, and report on previous films that have been edited (see H.R. 1456), H1205 [8MR]

——— prohibit Federal employees and contractors from directing online platforms to censor any speech protected by First Amendment (see S. 2425), S3458 [20JY] (see H.R. 4791), H3887 [20JY]

——— prohibit from removing or altering public comments on their websites (see H.R. 4113), H2931 [14JN]

Federal employees: prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity (see H.R. 140), H103 [9JA]

——— prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity (H.R. 140), consideration (see H. Res. 199), H1147 [7MR]

——— provide for right of action against Federal employees for violations of First Amendment rights (see H.R. 4848), H3948 [25JY]

Federal Rules of Evidence: limit admissibility of evidence of defendant’s creative or artistic expression against such defendant in criminal proceeding (see H.R. 2952), H2083 [27AP]

Government: require officers and employees of legislative and executive branches to disclose communications with information content providers and interactive computer services relative to restricting speech (see S. 1672), S1742 [18MY]

Information technology: impose notice and consent requirements on Internet platforms that use algorithms to manipulate availability of content (see S. 688), S669 [7MR]

Iran: condemn massacre of political prisoners in 1988 and uprisings of recent years, including 2018, 2019, and 2022 uprisings, and call for justice for victims (see H. Res. 627), H4142 [27JY]

——— recognize right of Iranian people to establish democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic and condemn state-sponsored terrorism and human rights violations (see H. Res. 100), H738 [7FE]

Li Wenliang: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 948), H825 [9FE]

News media: enshrine legacy of Jamal Khashoggi by protecting dissidents and journalists, codify Khashoggi Ban, and introduce Khashoggi Amendment to Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (see H.R. 5855), H4910 [29SE]

OMB: report to Congress on actions taken by Executive branch employees to censor lawful speech (see H.R. 1162), H873 [24FE]

Russia: condemn wrongful detainment of U.S. citizens and residents (see S. Res. 179), S1419 [27AP]

Thailand: urge government to protect and uphold democracy, human rights, rule of law, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression (see S. Res. 114), S826 [16MR] (see H. Res. 369), H2136 [5MY]

Motions

Federal employees: prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity (H.R. 140), H1221 [9MR]

Remarks in House

Antifa (movement): call for designation of groups as domestic terrorist organizations, condemn violent actions, and urge expression of opinions without violence or threats (H. Res. 202), H1122 [7MR]

Biden, President: evaluation of administration, H3685 [18JY], H4306 [14SE]

China: remember victims of violent suppression of democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and condemn crackdown on human rights and basic freedoms within China, H2774 [7JN]

Colleges and universities: assessment of free speech relative to rise in antisemitism and intolerance on college campuses, H6863 [13DE]

——— ensure compliance to prohibit discrimination on basis of race, color, or national origin under title VI of Civil Rights Act while also providing environment for freedom of speech and thought, E1043 [2NO]

——— protect freedom of speech, H1427 [24MR], H1687 [30MR]

Crime: ensure that law enforcement can only take action against unlawful speech, H1189 [8MR]

Democracy: protect freedom of speech and prohibit government restriction on freedom of information, H663 [2FE]

Dept. of Defense: prohibit support for production of films subject to Chinese content restrictions or censorship screening requirements, H3602 [14JY]

FEC: remove certain impediments to protect political speech and promote election integrity, voter confidence, and effective administration of elections for States, District of Columbia, and military voting programs (H.R. 4563), H6114 [5DE]

Federal agencies and departments: require inspectors general to annually report number of complaints and tips received, H1220, H1221 [9MR]

Federal employees: clarify law enforcement of obscene matters not protected by First Amendment relative to prohibition from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity, H1191 [8MR]

——— ensure efforts to prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity has no negative impact on lawful activities to combat speech that incites violence, discrimination, or domestic terrorism, H1182 [8MR]

——— increase civil penalty for senior Government officials relative to prohibition from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity, H1194 [8MR]

——— increase duration of debarment from Federal employment relative to prohibition from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity, H1193 [8MR]

——— prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity (H.R. 140), H1180–H1194 [8MR], H1219–H1221 [9MR], E202 [9MR]

——— prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity (H.R. 140), consideration (H. Res. 199), H1161–H1173 [8MR]

——— prohibit from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity and on official time for bargaining unit, H1190 [8MR]

——— prohibit severability clause to any provision found to be unconstitutional relative to prohibition from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity, H1192 [8MR]

——— require Attorney General to submit annual report to Congress evaluating government compliance with prohibition on advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity, H1186, H1187 [8MR]

——— require mandatory annual training on requirements relative to prohibition from advocating for censorship of viewpoints in their official capacity, H1219, H1220 [9MR]

House of Representatives: condemn overuse of censure resolutions, H5473 [7NO], H5715 [13NO]

Information technology: protect right of individuals to post opinions anonymously, H5882 [15NO]

Iran: commend bravery, courage, and resolve of women and men demonstrating and risking their safety to speak out against Iranian regime’s human rights abuses, H341 [26JA]

News media: allegations of censorship against conservative news networks, H350 [26JA], H614 [1FE]

Remarks in Senate

Asia: recognize vital importance of Mekong River to Southeast Asia and role of Mekong-U.S. Partnership in supporting prosperity in region (S. Res. 126), S5363–S5366 [6NO]

Dept. of Defense: prohibit support for production of films subject to Chinese content restrictions or censorship screening requirements, S3571 [26JY]

Government: require officers and employees of legislative and executive branches to disclose communications with information content providers and interactive computer services relative to restricting speech (S. 1672), S2452, S2453 [13JY]

——— require officers and employees to disclose communications with information content providers and interactive computer services relative to restricting speech (S. 1672), unanimous-consent request, S2452, S2453 [13JY]

Supreme Court: impact of decision in Citizens United v. FEC on corporate political contributions used for political speech relative to bipartisanship in addressing climate change, S4937 [4OC]

TikTok Inc.: allegations of promoting pro-Hamas (terrorist organization) propaganda and antisemitic content, censorship of speech, unauthorized surveillance and tracking, and use against Chinese dissidents through video app, S5593 [27NO]

Reports filed

Consideration of H.R. 140, Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 199) (H. Rept. 118–7), H1147 [7MR]

Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act: Committee on Oversight and Accountability (House) (H.R. 140) (H. Rept. 118–5), H1112 [3MR]

Recognize Vital Importance of Mekong River to Southeast Asia and Role of Mekong-U.S. Partnership in Supporting Prosperity in Region: Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate) (S. Res. 126), S2068 [13JN]

Texts of

H. Res. 199, consideration of H.R. 140, Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act, H1161 [8MR]

H.R. 140, Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act, H1185 [8MR]

S. Res. 114, urge government of Thailand to protect and uphold democracy, human rights, rule of law, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression, S833 [16MR]

S. Res. 126, recognize vital importance of Mekong River to Southeast Asia and role of Mekong-U.S. Partnership in supporting prosperity in region, S1002 [28MR], S5365 [6NO]

S. Res. 179, condemn wrongful detainment of U.S. citizens and residents in Russia, S1422 [27AP]

S. Res. 237, remember victims of violent suppression of democracy protests in China’s Tiananmen Square and condemn crackdown on human rights and basic freedoms within China, including Hong Kong, by Chinese Communist Party, S1984 [6JN]

S. Res. 372, express concern about spreading problem of book banning and proliferation of threats to freedom of expression, S4724 [27SE]