I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9691 
To require an investigation into all non-natural deaths of journalists in 
a foreign nation, who are United States citizens or working on behalf 
of a United States-based news media entity, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 23, 2022 
Mr. CARSON (for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. THOMPSON 
of Mississippi) 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 determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require an investigation into all non-natural deaths of 
journalists in a foreign nation, who are United States 
citizens or working on behalf of a United States-based 
news media entity, 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 ‘‘Justice For Journalists 
Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:32 Jan 08, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9691.IH
H9691
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Without free speech and a free press, the 
United States would not be the country it is. Along 
with diplomacy and military strength, a free press, 
or the Fourth Estate, is another avenue to challenge 
the status quo and be a voice for the protection of 
the rule of law, civil society, and human rights. 
(2) While journalists hold the most public fac-
ing position, a free press is comprised of a breadth 
of ‘‘media workers’’. Today, the fields associated 
with providing information about current events or 
events of current interest to the public, include pho-
tographers, videographers, publishers, editors, and 
documentarians. 
(3) According to the Committee to Protect 
Journalists, 60 journalists have been killed while re-
porting on wars and humanitarian crisis around the 
world in 2022. Of the 60 journalists killed, 17 were 
murdered and the perpetrator had complete impu-
nity from the law. This number may rise as more 
cases are solved. 
(4) The Geneva Convention protects journalists 
and media workers in a variety of ways, under— 
(A) the Fourth Geneva Convention, if they 
are not nationals of the country holding them; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:32 Jan 08, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9691.IH
H9691
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(B) Article 3 common to the four Geneva 
Conventions, and by Additional Protocol II, and 
customary international law, which protect jour-
nalists in times of non-international armed con-
flict as civilians; and 
(C) Article 79 of Additional Protocol I, 
which provides that journalists are entitled to 
all rights and protections granted to civilians in 
international armed conflicts. The same holds 
true in non-international armed conflicts by vir-
tue of customary international law. 
(5) As provided in Article 19 of the United Na-
tions Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 
the International Covenant on Civil and Political 
Rights, all people enjoy the right to freedom of opin-
ion and expression, which includes the right to seek, 
receive, and impart information. 
(6) The United Nations Plan of Action defines 
the safety of journalists as encompassing not only 
physical attacks but also prosecution, arrest, impris-
onment, and denial of journalistic access, as well as 
impunity for crimes against journalists. 
(7) According to the United Nations Edu-
cational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 455 
journalists were killed while doing their jobs between 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:32 Jan 08, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9691.IH
H9691
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2016 and 2021. These cases include deaths as a re-
sult of extrajudicial killings, targeted terrorist at-
tacks, and in conflicts. In more than 8 out of 10 
cases, the perpetrators have not been brought to jus-
tice. 
(8) According to the United Nations, silencing 
journalists by killing them is the most egregious 
form of censorship. The failure of the State to pros-
ecute and punish serious crimes against journalists 
denies justice to the victims’ families, emboldens 
perpetrators, and can deter other journalists from 
reporting high-risk stories. Countries with high rates 
of impunity also have high rates of journalist fatali-
ties, underscoring the correlation between impunity 
and the perpetuation of such crimes. 
(9) Strong advocacy from civil society and 
growing awareness of the problem have led the 
United Nations Security Council and the Human 
Rights Council to adopt a series of resolutions call-
ing for prompt and effective investigations into at-
tacks on journalists. In 2021, for the first time in 
the context of international efforts to combat crime, 
States recognized the importance of ending impunity 
for crimes against journalists in General Assembly 
Resolution 76/181. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:32 Jan 08, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9691.IH
H9691
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS