It had just seven co-sponsors and was first reported to the U.S. House of Representatives in June. On Monday (9/19), it was passed in a full floor vote by the lower body of Congress and is now headed to the Senate for debate and a decision.
If passed, the legislation introduced by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) would establish protections for journalists at the federal level.
The bill carries a number very similar to quite different legislation that, if passed, would greatly impact the Radio industry. But, that bill appears to have fizzled.
What is heading to the Senate is H.R. 4330, the “Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act.
If signed into law, it prohibits the federal government from compelling journalists and providers of telecommunications services (e.g., phone and internet companies) to disclose certain protected information, except in limited circumstances such as to prevent terrorism or imminent violence.
Specifically, the bill protects from disclosure any information identifying a source, as well as any records, contents of a communication, documents, or information obtained or created by journalists in the course of their work. Further, the bill protects specified third parties, such as telecommunications carriers or social media companies, from being compelled to provide testimony or any document consisting of a record, information, or other communication that is stored by the third party on behalf of a journalist.
These proposed protections for journalists at the federal level regarding the revelation of their confidential sources except in defined circumstances such as threats to national security, passed with large bipartisan support, were cheered by NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt.
“A free press is a necessary and vital hallmark of American democracy, enabling the unencumbered reporting of news and information that affects our communities, our nation and the world,” LeGeyt said. “This legislation honors the sanctity of journalists’ relationship with their sources and ensures members of the press may continue their important work without fear or favor.”
Raskin introduced the bill in the House on July 1, with co-sponsors Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and John Yarmuth (D-Ky.). Interestingly, no other Republicans supported the bill as co-sponsors yet approval was swift when it reached the House floor.
Now, it is S.2457 that needs passage. Introduced on July 22 in the Senate by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), it presently carries no co-sponsors. This could make the PRESS Act’s push in the Senate a bit more difficult.
Meanwhile, H.R. 4330′s passage comes as H.R. 4130 has all but fizzled despite a big PR push from musicFIRST and its voice, former Rep. Joe Crowley, the New York Democrat who infamously lost his primary re-election bid to Alexandria Ocascio-Cortez.
Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) is the last new co-sponsor of that legislation, the “American Music Fairness Act.” Her support came on the final day of March. Meanwhile, the NAB-supported resolution, the “Local Radio Freedom Act,” has gained enough co-sponsors to ice the AMFA.
