I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4898 
To establish the Office of Press Freedom, to create press freedom curriculum 
at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2023 
Mr. ALLRED (for himself and Mr. CONNOLLY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish the Office of Press Freedom, to create press 
freedom curriculum at the National Foreign Affairs 
Training Center, 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 ‘‘Global Press Freedom 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Freedom of the press is fundamental to an 
open and free society and is foundational in the 
United States democratic system and enshrined in 
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the First Amendment of the United States Constitu-
tion, which states (in part) ‘‘Congress shall make no 
law . . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the 
press . . .’’. 
(2) Historically, United States foreign policy 
has advanced freedom of the press as a central 
tenet, at home and abroad. 
(3) The United States led the drafting of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 
Paris on December 10, 1948, which enshrines the 
commitment of countries around the world to protect 
and promote universal human rights and values that 
are indispensable for human dignity, including free-
dom of expression. 
(4) Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights states, ‘‘Everyone has the right to 
freedom of opinion and expression; this right in-
cludes freedom to hold opinions without interference 
and to seek, receive and impart information and 
ideas through any media and regardless of fron-
tiers.’’. 
(5) A free and independent press has long been 
recognized as an important aspect of the United 
States’ national security and actions taken by for-
eign governments or organizations that weaken free 
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press protections are a national security threat to 
the United States. 
(6) International freedom of the press is under 
renewed and, in some cases, increasing assault, with 
rhetoric delegitimizing and discrediting the media or 
journalists, online harassment, physical attacks, gen-
der-based violence, legal campaigns, censorship, and 
surveillance, all of which threaten the ability of jour-
nalists to do their jobs safely, freely, and without 
fear of reprisal. 
(7) In the past decade, the world has seen a 
significant deterioration of press freedoms. 
(8) According to Freedom House’s ‘‘Freedom in 
the World’’ and ‘‘Freedom on the Net’’ reports— 
(A) the number of countries and territories 
scoring a zero for media freedom has ballooned 
from 14 countries to 33 countries since 2005; 
and 
(B) people in 53 countries faced arrest or 
imprisonment for expressing themselves online, 
including online journalists targeted for their 
reporting; 
(C) 40 countries blocked websites featuring 
political, social, or religious content, including 
many news outlets; and 
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(D) journalists, bloggers, human rights ac-
tivists, and other people experienced physical vi-
olence in retaliation for expressing themselves 
online in 40 countries. 
(9) According to Reporters Without Borders’ 
2022 World Press Freedom Index— 
(A) approximately 74 percent of the coun-
tries of the world are classified as ‘‘problematic 
situation’’ or worse with respect to journalistic 
freedom, with a record number of 28 countries 
receiving a ‘‘very bad’’ rating for press freedom 
situations; 
(B) approximately 26 percent of the coun-
tries of the world have ‘‘satisfactory’’ or ‘‘good’’ 
press freedom environments; 
(C) among the jurisdictions that have re-
cently suffered the largest declines in press 
freedom are Hong Kong, Myanmar, Afghani-
stan, Russia, Ukraine (attributable to Russia’s 
invasion), Georgia, Greece, Nicaragua, the Pal-
estinian Territories, Tunisia, and Mali; and 
(D) democracies are being weakened by the 
asymmetry between open societies and despotic 
regimes that control their media and online 
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platforms, while waging propaganda wars 
against democracies. 
(10) According to the Committee to Protect 
Journalists, in 2022— 
(A) at least 363 journalists worldwide were 
in prison, a new record high and a 20 percent 
increase from the 302 journalists in prison in 
2021, with Iran, China, Myanmar, Turkey, and 
Belarus all ranking among the top 5 jailers of 
journalists; 
(B) of the journalists detained— 
(i) 131 journalists were detained with-
out charge; 
(ii) 199 journalists were imprisoned 
on anti-state charges; and 
(iii) 354 detainees were local journal-
ists covering events in their own countries; 
(C) at least 67 journalists and media work-
ers were killed, which is the highest number of 
journalist killings since 2018 and almost a 50 
percent increase from the number of journalists 
killed during 2021; 
(D) at least 41 journalists and media 
workers were killed in direct connection with 
their work; and 
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(E) there was complete impunity in nearly 
80 percent of the 263 cases of journalists mur-
dered in the last decade, with perpetrators fac-
ing no judicial consequences. 
(11) Congress has recognized the importance of 
freedom of the press by enacting— 
(A) the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press 
Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–166); 
(B) the Global Magnitsky Human Rights 
Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of 
Public Law 114–328); and 
(C) S. Res. 501, 115th Congress (recog-
nizing threats to freedom of the press and ex-
pression around the world and reaffirming free-
dom of the press as a priority in efforts of the 
Government of the United States to promote 
democracy and good governance). 
(12) The importance of freedom of the press 
has been recognized by numerous United States 
presidential administrations that span ideological 
and party lines, including— 
(A) a 1786 letter to James Currie, in 
which Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson 
wrote ‘‘our liberty depends on the freedom of 
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the press, and that cannot be limited without 
being lost.’’; 
(B) an address to Congress on February 6, 
1986, in which President Ronald Reagan stat-
ed, ‘‘Victories against poverty are greatest and 
peace most secure where people live by laws 
that ensure free press, free speech, and freedom 
to worship, vote, and create wealth’’; 
(C) a statement by Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice on April 11, 2007, stating 
that ‘‘there is no more important pillar of de-
mocracy than a free and active press’’; 
(D) a statement by former Secretary of 
State Madeline Albright on May 31, 2018, re-
porting that ‘‘Freedom of the press is a basic 
aspect of democracy, invented by Americans.’’; 
and 
(E) a statement by Secretary of State 
Mike Pompeo on May 3, 2019, stating, ‘‘A free 
and independent media is indispensable to a vi-
brant, functioning democracy. Despite some 
progress, journalists around the world continue 
to be persecuted, targeted with violence, or even 
killed—all too often with impunity.’’. 
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(13) Protection of a free and open press is not 
a partisan issue. 
(14) It is imperative that Congress further en-
shrine the Department of State’s role in protecting 
international press freedom and those engaged in 
journalism abroad. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It shall be the policy of the United States— 
(1) to condemn violations of, and attacks on, 
press freedoms, and threats to the safety of journal-
ists; 
(2) to promote, and to assist other governments 
in the promotion of, the importance of a free and 
open press; 
(3) to support press freedom abroad in all as-
pects of American foreign policy; and 
(4) to work with foreign governments that af-
firm and protect press freedom— 
(A) to develop multilateral initiatives to 
combat suppression of the free and independent 
press; and 
(B) to promote accountability for individ-
uals, governments, and other actors that violate 
and attack press freedoms and journalists. 
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SEC. 4. OFFICE OF PRESS FREEDOM; AMBASSADOR-AT- 
LARGE FOR PRESS FREEDOM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established, within 
the Department of State, the Office of Press Freedom (re-
ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Office’’), which— 
(1) shall be situated in the Bureau of Democ-
racy, Human Rights, and Labor; and 
(2) shall be headed by the Ambassador-at- 
Large for Press Freedom (referred to in this Act as 
the ‘‘Ambassador’’). 
(b) APPOINTMENT.—The Ambassador shall be ap-
pointed by the President, by and with advice and consent 
of the Senate, and shall work with the Assistant Secretary 
of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to ad-
vise the Secretary of State regarding matters related to 
press freedom. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Ambassador shall have the fol-
lowing duties: 
(1) 
GENERAL
RESPONSIBILITIES.—Notwith-
standing the active role carried out by local United 
States Ambassadors in the monitoring of press free-
dom violations in their host countries, the Ambas-
sador shall have the primary responsibility— 
(A) to advance the protection and well- 
being of members of the United States and for-
eign press abroad; 
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(B) to denounce violations of press free-
dom or freedom of expression by foreign gov-
ernments or other actors; and 
(C) to engage with foreign governments 
and press freedom organizations around the 
world concerning press freedom and freedom of 
expression. 
(2) SPECIFIC TASKS.—The Ambassador, with 
the assistance of the Office and in consultation with 
the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, 
Human Rights, and Labor, and in fulfillment of the 
responsibilities described in paragraph (1), shall— 
(A) coordinate efforts between relevant 
United States embassy personnel and press or-
ganizations or threatened individuals in situa-
tions in which freedom of the press is threat-
ened abroad; 
(B) publicly and privately denounce op-
pression of the press abroad; 
(C) represent the United States in issues 
concerning press freedom in diplomatic engage-
ment with foreign governments, intergovern-
mental organizations, the United Nations, and 
other international organizations in which the 
United States is a member; 
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(D) recommend appropriate responses by 
the United States Government when press free-
doms are infringed upon; and 
(E) provide Congress and the public with 
a regular report describing the successes and 
enduring challenges of the Office, based on 
metrics that the Office shall develop. 
(3) ADVISORY ROLE.—The Ambassador— 
(A) shall be a principal advisor to the 
President and to the Secretary of State regard-
ing matters affecting press freedom abroad; and 
(B) shall make recommendations regarding 
the policies of the United States Government 
towards governments or other organizations or 
individuals that— 
(i) violate press freedoms; or 
(ii) fail to ensure the protection of 
members of the press. 
(4) REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Am-
bassador shall— 
(A) work with the staff of the Office to en-
sure the success of the Office in carrying out its 
mission— 
(i) to promote press freedom abroad; 
and 
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(ii) to protect members of the press in 
foreign countries; 
(B) not later than 1 year after being ap-
pointed, ensure that there is a reasonable proc-
ess for measuring the efficacy of the Office in 
carrying out the missions described in subpara-
graph (A); 
(C) not later than 18 months after being 
appointed, and annually thereafter— 
(i) submit a report to Congress that 
describes— 
(I) the outcomes of the activities 
of the Office based on the process es-
tablished pursuant to subparagraph 
(B); and 
(II) the efforts of the National 
Foreign Affairs Training Center to 
train Foreign Service Officers about 
press freedom in accordance with sec-
tion 5; and 
(ii) make a copy of the report sub-
mitted pursuant to clause (i) available to 
the public; and 
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(D) oversee the ‘‘Freedom of Expression’’ 
section of each country reviewed in the annual 
Country Report on Human Rights Practices. 
(5) FUNDING.—The Secretary of State shall 
provide the Ambassador with sufficient funds— 
(A) to hire the staff for the Office to en-
able the Office to carry out the tasks and re-
sponsibilities described in paragraphs (1), (2), 
and (3); 
(B) to comply with the reporting require-
ments described in paragraph (4); and 
(C) for necessary travel to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 5. PRESS FREEDOM CURRICULUM. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT.—The Secretary of State shall 
ensure that there is a press freedom curriculum for the 
National Foreign Affairs Training Center that enables 
Foreign Service Officers to better understand issues of 
press freedom and the tools that are available to help pro-
tect journalists and promote freedom of the press norms, 
including— 
(1) the historic and current issues facing press 
freedom, including countries of specific concern; 
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(2) the Department of State’s role in promoting 
press freedom as an American value, a human rights 
issue, and a national security imperative; 
(3) ways to incorporate press freedom pro-
motion into other aspects of diplomacy; and 
(4) existing tools to assist journalists in distress 
and methods for engaging foreign governments and 
institutions on behalf of individuals engaged in jour-
nalistic activity who are at risk of harm. 
(b) REQUIRED STUDY.—Any Foreign Service Officer 
who is assigned to function as a Public Diplomacy Officer, 
a Political Officer, or a Consular Officer at an overseas 
mission shall— 
(1) complete the study of the curriculum de-
scribed in subsection (a) not later than 90 days after 
the first day of such assignment; and 
(2) benefit from knowledge sharing by civil soci-
ety actors who are at the forefront of the defense 
and promotion of the freedom of information. 
SEC. 6. GAO STUDY ON THE DANIEL PEARL FREEDOM OF 
THE PRESS ACT OF 2009. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall evaluate the implementation of the Daniel 
Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 (Public Law 111– 
166) by reviewing the Department of State’s Country Re-
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submit a report to Congress and to the Secretary of State 
that— 
(1) summarizes the results of the study re-
quired under subsection (a); and 
(2) provides recommendations for any legisla-
tive or regulatory action that would improve the ef-
forts of the Department of State to report on issues 
of press freedom abroad. 
Æ 
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