IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 191 

Opposing fake news and alternative facts. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 10, 2017 

Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself, Mr. TED LIEU of California, and Mr. LEWIS of 

Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Opposing fake news and alternative facts. 

Whereas the First Amendment to the United States Constitution states, that ‘‘Congress shall make no law respecting 

an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the 

press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, 

and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances’’; 

Whereas the Free Press Clause of the First Amendment protects publication of information and opinions, and applies 

to a wide variety of media; 

Whereas the United States has historically and proudly enjoyed freedom of the press; 

Whereas the United States is a democracy, not an autocracy; 


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•HRES 191 IH 

Whereas on February 24, 2017, the White House blocked a 

number of news outlets from attending a question-andanswer session; 

Whereas the news organizations blocked have reported on 

President Trump’s collaboration with Russia; 

Whereas the most recent ‘‘fake news’’ the American people 

are receiving have come from the President himself and 

his spokespersons; 

Whereas on January 21, 2017, White House press secretary 

Sean Spicer stated, ‘‘This was the largest audience to 

ever witness an inauguration—period—both in person 

and around the globe.’’; 

Whereas on January 21, 2017, White House press secretary 

Sean Spicer stated, ‘‘We know that 420,000 people used 

the D.C. Metro public transit yesterday, which actually 

compares to 317,000 that used it for President Obama’s 

last inaugural.’’; 

Whereas on January 21, 2017, White House press secretary 

Sean Spicer stated, ‘‘This was the first time in our nation’s history that floor coverings have been used to protect the grass on the Mall. That had the effect of highlighting any areas where people were not standing, while 

in years past the grass eliminated this visual.’’; 

Whereas on January 21, 2017, President Donald Trump 

stated, ‘‘I looked out, the field was—it looked like a million, million and a half people.’’; 

Whereas on January 23, 2017, President Donald Trump 

stated, ‘‘that between 3 million and 5 million illegal votes 

caused him to lose the popular vote.’’; 

Whereas on January 24, 2017, White House Counselor to the 

President Kellyanne Conway stated, ‘‘Here’s the fact: 


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•HRES 191 IH 

The No. 1 source of income into Mexico are Mexicans 

working here and sending the money back.’’; 

Whereas on January 25, 2017, President Donald Trump 

stated, ‘‘We should’ve taken the oil. And if we took the 

oil you wouldn’t have ISIS. And we would have had 

wealth.’’; 

Whereas on February 2, 2017, White House Counselor to the 

President Kellyanne Conway stated, ‘‘I bet it’s brand new 

information to people that President Obama had a 6- 

month ban on the Iraqi refugee program after two Iraqis 

came here to this country, were radicalized and they were 

the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre. 

Most people don’t know that because it didn’t get covered.’’; 

Whereas on February 19, 2017, President Donald Trump 

stated, ‘‘We’ve allowed thousands and thousands of people into our country. And there was no way to vet those 

people. There was no documentation. There was no nothing.’’; and 

Whereas on February 19, 2017, President Donald Trump 

stated ‘‘When WikiLeaks, which I had nothing to do 

with, comes out and happens to give, they’re not giving 

classified information.’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) it is Congress’ duty to uphold the Constitu4 tion of the United States and all of the fundamental 

5 rights, including the freedom of the press; 


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•HRES 191 IH 

1 (2) the President must immediately acknowl2 edge his support of the First Amendment and ex3 press his support for United States democracy; 

4 (3) the United States should continue being a 

5 democracy, not an autocracy; 

6 (4) White House spokespersons should not 

7 issue fake news; and 

8 (5) White House spokespersons who offer alter9 native or inaccurate facts should retract their state10 ments immediately. 

Æ 


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