Bipartisan Resolution Recognizes Dangers that Reporters Face Throughout the World, Reaffirms Freedom of Press as U.S. Government Priority
Washington, D.C. – As journalists around the world continue to face persecution, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) unveiled a resolution highlighting the importance of press freedom and condemning attacks against journalists. The bipartisan resolution recognizes the dangers that reporters face and reaffirms freedom of the press as a priority for the U.S. government.
In 1993, the United Nations Proclaimed World Press Freedom Day. World Press Freedom Day serves to honor the principle of press freedom and to pay tribute to journalists around the world who have lost their lives while pursuing stories.
U.S. Representatives Steve Chabot (R-OH-1) and Adam Schiff (D-CA-28) plan to introduce a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Journalists take incredible risks to tell the truth about major events in the world, and face intimidation and violence for shining light on corruption and exposing abuse,” said Senator Casey. “This resolution recognizes the importance of press freedom for both strong and nascent democracies and affirms the importance of U.S. leadership to promote a free and fair press as a central pillar of U.S. policy at home and abroad.”
“Press freedom and freedom of expression are under assault globally,” said Senator Rubio. “This resolution reaffirms our commitment to the vital role of a free press in promoting democratic values and human rights internationally and is timely as we observe World Press Freedom Day and pay tribute to those journalists who have lost their lives or are unjustly imprisoned for reporting the truth.”
“As the son of a journalist, I know that a free press isn’t a luxury – it’s absolutely essential for a free society,” Senator Wyden said. “My father always told me that the only way to do the job right was to ask tough questions every day. Today, on World Press Freedom Day, we honor all the journalists asking tough questions of those in power, even when their own safety is at stake.”
A copy of the full resolution can be found here.
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