I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7650 
To promote international press freedom, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 3, 2022 
Mr. KEATING (for himself and Mr. CICILLINE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To promote international press freedom, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘International Press 
Freedom Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
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(1) Even as the number of journalists killed in 
war zones has reached a historic low, the number of 
journalists killed or targeted in countries at peace 
continues to remain at historically high levels. In 
2020, more than 2⁄3 of all media fatalities took place 
in countries at peace. 
(2) Even as the COVID–19 pandemic reduced 
the number of journalists reporting from the field, 
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that 50 
journalists were killed in 2020. Additionally, as of 
December 2020, 387 journalists remained impris-
oned worldwide, continuing the historically high 
trend seen in previous years, and 57 journalists were 
held hostage. 
(3) As the frontier between countries at war 
and countries at peace continues to disappear, more 
must be done to protect journalists and activists de-
fending human rights and spreading awareness of 
abuse and corruption. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) a free and vibrant press is the fulcrum of 
democracy; 
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(2) the protection and advancement of the free-
dom of expression is a foundational value of the 
United States; 
(3) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 
which the General Assembly of the United Nations 
adopted in 1948 with the United States voting in 
favor, defines freedom of expression, which includes 
a free press, as a fundamental human right; 
(4) the International Covenant on Civil and Po-
litical Rights, which the United States ratified in 
1992, specifies that everyone shall have the ‘‘free-
dom to seek, receive and impart information and 
ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either oral-
ly, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or 
through any other media of his choice’’; and 
(5) it is in the national security interest of the 
United States to promote the spread of democratic 
values and institutions worldwide. 
SEC. 3. OFFICE ON INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM; CO-
ORDINATOR 
FOR 
INTERNATIONAL 
PRESS 
FREEDOM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—There is estab-
lished within the Department of State an Office on Inter-
national Press Freedom (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Office’’). 
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(b) COORDINATOR
FOR
INTERNATIONAL
PRESS 
FREEDOM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Office shall be headed 
by the Coordinator for International Press Freedom 
appointed under paragraph (2). 
(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Coordinator shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of State. 
(3) REPORTING.—The Coordinator shall report 
to the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, 
Human Rights, and Labor. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Coordinator for International 
Press Freedom shall have the following responsibilities: 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The primary responsibility 
of the Coordinator shall be— 
(A) to advance the right to freedom of the 
press and freedom of expression abroad; 
(B) to denounce violations of that right; 
(C) to recommend appropriate responses 
by the United States Government when that 
right is violated; 
(D) to recommend— 
(i) the issuance of nonimmigrant visas 
to individuals classified as threatened jour-
nalists under subsection (s) of section 214 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
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U.S.C. 1184), as added by section 6(a); 
and 
(ii) the provision of humanitarian pa-
role to certain journalists under section 
6(b); and 
(E) to make individualized determinations 
with respect to the continued risk to the lives 
and safety of such individuals and journalists, 
as described in section 6(c). 
(2) ADVISORY ROLE.—The Coordinator shall— 
(A) be the principal adviser to the Assist-
ant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human 
Rights, and Labor regarding matters affecting 
press freedom abroad; and 
(B) make recommendations regarding— 
(i) the policies of the United States 
Government toward foreign governments 
that violate freedom of the press or fail to 
ensure the safety and freedom of persons 
engaged in free expression or journalism; 
and 
(ii) policies to advance the right to 
free expression and freedom of the press 
abroad. 
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(3) DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION.—Subject to 
the direction of the Secretary of State and the As-
sistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human 
Rights, and Labor, the Coordinator is authorized to 
represent the United States in matters and cases 
relevant to press freedom abroad in— 
(A) contacts with foreign governments, 
intergovernmental organizations, and special-
ized agencies of the United Nations, the Orga-
nization for Security and Co-operation in Eu-
rope, and other international organizations of 
which the United States is a member; and 
(B) multilateral conferences and meetings 
relevant to press freedom abroad. 
(4) OTHER
DUTIES.—The Coordinator shall 
have such other responsibilities in carrying out this 
Act as the Secretary of State and the Assistant Sec-
retary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and 
Labor determine. 
(d) FUNDING.—The Secretary of State shall provide 
the Coordinator for International Press Freedom with 
such funds as may be necessary for the hiring of staff 
for— 
(1) the Office; 
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(2) the conduct of investigations by the Office; 
and 
(3) necessary travel. 
SEC. 4. AT-RISK JOURNALISTS FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the 
‘‘At-Risk Journalists Fund’’ (in this section referred to 
as the ‘‘Fund’’), to be administered by the Secretary of 
State. 
(b) PURPOSES OF THE FUND.—The Secretary of 
State shall use the amounts in the Fund for the following 
purposes: 
(1) To support journalists operating in restric-
tive environments by providing— 
(A) training in digital identity protection 
and physical security; and 
(B) psycho-social care. 
(2) To provide short-term emergency assistance 
to support and protect journalists who have been 
threatened, harassed, or attacked and need to relo-
cate, which may be provided through existing mecha-
nisms such as the Human Rights Defenders Fund of 
the Department of State. 
(3) To provide medium-term emergency assist-
ance resources for journalists in danger, including 
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continuing support to journalists described in para-
graph (2) whose relocations must be extended due to 
ongoing security concerns. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts authorized to be ap-
propriated under subsection (e) shall be obligated and ex-
pended consistent with the action plan required by section 
7032(i)(1) of the Department of State, Foreign Oper-
ations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2018 
(division K of Public Law 115–141). 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1 of 
each year, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
Fund. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The total amount expended from the 
Fund during the previous calendar year for 
each of the purposes specified in subsection (b). 
(B) A description of the specific programs 
implemented using amounts from the Fund 
during such year. 
(C) Data regarding the number and na-
tionality of journalists assisted using such 
amounts during such year. 
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(D) Such accounts of individuals assisted 
by the Fund during such year that the Sec-
retary of State considers relevant to share. 
(3) DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES 
OF CONGRESS.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro-
priate commitees of Congress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
the Committee on Appropriations, and the 
Human Rights Caucus of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Appropriations, and the Tom 
Lantos Human Rights Commission of the 
House of Representatives. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Fund $30,000,000 to carry out 
this section for each of the 5 fiscal years beginning 
with the first fiscal year that begins after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1) 
shall remain available until expended. 
(f) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
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(1) amounts authorized to be appropriated 
under subsection (e) should be appropriated in addi-
tion to amounts regularly appropriated for other 
programs to promote human rights and civil society; 
and 
(2) support for civil society activists and other 
human rights defenders provided by the Federal 
Government as of the date of the enactment of this 
Act should not be decreased. 
SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT IMPUNITY. 
(a) LIST OF COUNTRIES.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later 
than March 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the Attorney General of the 
United States and nongovernmental organizations with ex-
pertise in threats to journalists worldwide, shall create a 
list of not less than 10 countries in which journalists face 
the greatest risk of murder, assault, harassment, intimida-
tion, or other crimes. 
(b) BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND 
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Of amounts appropriated 
each fiscal year for ‘‘International Narcotics Control 
and Law Enforcement’’ for bilateral assistance for 
each country identified in the list required by sub-
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section (a), the Assistant Secretary of State for 
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Af-
fairs shall use not less than 10 percent for programs 
to assist police, prosecutors, judges, and other indi-
viduals— 
(A) to support the investigation and pros-
ecution of individuals who commit crimes 
against journalists; and 
(B) to prevent such crimes. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Assistant Secretary 
of State for International Narcotics and Law En-
forcement Affairs shall develop the programs de-
scribed in paragraph (1) in consultation with the 
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of 
the Department of State, the Department of Justice, 
and other local or international organizations with 
expertise in threats to journalists in the relevant 
country. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not 
later than March 1 of each year thereafter, the As-
sistant Secretary of State for International Nar-
cotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, in consultation 
with the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, 
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Human Rights, and Labor, shall submit to Congress 
a report outlining the efforts and level of success of 
such Assistant Secretaries in combating impunity for 
attacks against journalists, with special emphasis on 
the countries identified in the list required by sub-
section (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The number of journalists in foreign 
countries who were killed, attacked, harassed, 
or intimidated during the previous calendar 
year. 
(B) The number of cases of crimes against 
journalists in foreign countries that were pros-
ecuted, the number of convictions in those 
cases, and the sentences for individuals con-
victed, during such year. 
(C) A description of any relevant preven-
tion efforts or training conducted by the Bu-
reau of International Narcotics and Law En-
forcement Affairs of the Department of State 
for host nation officials, journalists, or other in-
dividuals during such year. 
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SEC. 6. NONIMMIGRANT VISAS AND HUMANITARIAN PA-
ROLE FOR THREATENED JOURNALISTS. 
(a) NONIMMIGRANT VISAS.— 
(1) EXPANSION
OF
FOREIGN
MEDIA
NON-
IMMIGRANT VISA CATEGORY.—Section 101(a)(15)(I) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(15)(I)) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(i)’’ before ‘‘upon a 
basis’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘him;’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
alien; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) an alien who is classified as a threat-
ened journalist under section 214(s), and the 
spouse and children of such an alien if accom-
panying or following to join the alien;’’. 
(2) THREATENED JOURNALIST DEFINED.—Sec-
tion 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1184) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(s)(1) An alien shall be classified as a threatened 
journalist under this subsection if the Secretary of State, 
the Coordinator for International Press Freedom, or an 
appropriate Chief of Mission (after consultation with the 
Secretary or the Coordinator) determines that— 
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‘‘(A) the alien is a journalist who practices (on 
a regular or professional basis) the collection and 
dissemination of information to the public through 
any means of mass communication; 
‘‘(B) the alien— 
‘‘(i) has been threatened, harassed, or at-
tacked on account of, or in the exercise of, jour-
nalistic activity; or 
‘‘(ii) has a well-founded fear of future per-
secution on account of the alien’s journalistic 
activity; 
‘‘(C) the alien has conducted reporting con-
sistent with the values and standards of professional 
journalism, including— 
‘‘(i) the collection and dissemination of in-
formation, freely and in accordance with the 
principles of attachment to the truth, plurality 
of points of view, and rationality with respect to 
the methods of establishment of fact and fact 
verification; 
‘‘(ii) the demonstration of a commitment 
to free pursuit of the truth, factual accuracy, 
and no intention to harm; 
‘‘(iii) refraining from dissemination of mis-
leading or incorrect information, and refraining 
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from concealing information that should be 
known to the public; 
‘‘(iv) the regular or professional collection 
of information and ideas and dissemination to 
the public through any means of mass commu-
nication; 
‘‘(v) the use of professional methods of es-
tablishing and verifying the facts, and endeav-
oring to be factually accurate; 
‘‘(vi) behavior and actions that are in ac-
cordance with the principles of freedom of ex-
pression; 
‘‘(vii) respect for ethical principles of the 
profession of journalism, in particular the du-
ties attached to such principles; 
‘‘(viii) the treatment of information in a 
manner that serves the general interests and 
the fundamental rights of the public, and does 
not regard information as a commercial prod-
uct; 
‘‘(ix) engagement in activities that fall 
within the framework of editorial independence; 
‘‘(x) the impartial presentation of facts, 
disregarding as much as possible his or her own 
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interests and prejudices, and rejection of all 
forms of connivance or conflict of interest; 
‘‘(xi) respect for the plurality of sources 
and points of view; 
‘‘(xii) a refusal to engage in manipulation 
of information; and 
‘‘(xiii) the observation and reporting of 
events without actively participating in them; 
and 
‘‘(D) temporary measures implemented by the 
Secretary of State using amounts authorized to be 
appropriated under section 4(e) of the International 
Press Freedom Act of 2022 are insufficient to pro-
tect the life or safety of the alien or the spouse or 
child of the alien. 
‘‘(2) In processing nonimmigrant visa applications for 
aliens described in paragraph (1) and the spouse and chil-
dren of such aliens who are accompanying or following to 
join them, the Secretary of State shall— 
‘‘(A) offer interview appointments to such 
aliens not later than 3 business days after receiving 
an application from such aliens; and 
‘‘(B) prioritize the review and processing of 
such applications ahead of any nonemergency non-
immigrant visa applications. 
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