III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 607 

Reaffirming the vital and indispensable role the free press serves. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 16, 2018 

Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. SCHUMER, and Mr. BLUMENTHAL) submitted 

the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming the vital and indispensable role the free press 

serves. 

Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the 

United States protects the press from government control 

and suppression; 

Whereas the freedom of the press— 

(1) has been recognized as integral to the democratic 

foundations of the United States since the beginning of 

the United States; and 

(2) has endured and been reaffirmed repeatedly 

throughout the history of the United States; 

Whereas Benjamin Franklin in 1722 wrote, ‘‘Whoever would 

overthrow the Liberty of a Nation, must begin by subduing the Freeness of Speech.’’; 


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•SRES 607 ATS 

Whereas Thomas Jefferson in 1786 wrote, ‘‘Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be 

limited without being lost.’’; 

Whereas James Madison in 1789 introduced the freedom of 

the press in the Bill of Rights to the Constitution of the 

United States; 

Whereas James Madison based the freedom of the press on 

the Declaration of Rights of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which in 1776 declared, ‘‘The freedom of the Press 

is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never 

be restrained but by despotic Governments.’’; 

Whereas President Ronald Reagan proclaimed August 4, 

1985, as Freedom of the Press Day, stating that ‘‘Freedom of the press is one of our most important freedoms 

and also one of our oldest.’’; 

Whereas President Reagan also said, ‘‘Today, our tradition 

of a free press as a vital part of our democracy is as important as ever. The news media are now using modern 

techniques to bring our citizens information not only on 

a daily basis but instantaneously as important events 

occur. This flow of information helps make possible an 

informed electorate and so contributes to our national 

system of self-government.’’; 

Whereas Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in International 

Soc. for Krishna Consciousness, Inc. v. Lee, 505 U.S. 

672 (1992), ‘‘The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is beside the point. Inconvenience does not 

absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate 

speech.’’; 

Whereas the United States Supreme Court also affirmed the 

history and intent of the freedom of the press in New 


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York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971), 

stating, ‘‘In the First Amendment, the Founding Fathers 

gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill 

its essential role in our democracy. The press was to 

serve the governed, not the governors. The Government’s 

power to censor the press was abolished so that the press 

would remain forever free to censure the Government. 

The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets 

of government and inform the people. Only a free and 

unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in 

government.’’; 

Whereas tyrannical and authoritarian governments and leaders throughout history have sought to undermine, censor, 

suppress, and control the press to advance their undemocratic goals and actions; and 

Whereas the United States, including the long-held commitment to and constitutional protection of the free press in 

the United States, has stood as a shining example of democracy, self-government, and freedom for the world to 

emulate: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the Senate— 

3 (A) affirms that the press is not the enemy 

4 of the people; 

5 (B) reaffirms the vital and indispensable 

6 role that the free press serves to inform the 

7 electorate, uncover the truth, act as a check on 

8 the inherent power of the government, further 

9 national discourse and debate, and otherwise 


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1 advance the most basic and cherished demo2 cratic norms and freedoms of the United 

3 States; and 

4 (C) condemns the attacks on the institu5 tion of the free press and views efforts to sys6 tematically undermine the credibility of the 

7 press as an attack on the democratic institu8 tions of the United States; and 

9 (2) it is the sense of the Senate that it is the 

10 sworn responsibility of all who serve the United 

11 States by taking the oath to support and defend the 

12 Constitution of the United States to uphold, cherish, 

13 and protect the entire Constitution, including the 

14 freedom of the press. 

Æ 


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