Global Press Freedom Act
Bill: S.204 | Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian (D-HI)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Global Press Freedom Act
This bill establishes the Office of Press Freedom to advance the protection and well-being of members of the press abroad and to engage with foreign governments and global press freedom organizations concerning freedom of the press and of expression.
Led by the Ambassador-at-Large for Press Freedom, who shall be appointed by the President, the office must (1) coordinate efforts between relevant U.S. embassy personnel and press organizations or threatened individuals in situations in which press freedom is threatened abroad, (2) publicly and privately denounce oppression of the press abroad, and (3) recommend appropriate responses by the U.S. government when press freedoms are infringed upon. The office must also develop a press freedom curriculum for the National Foreign Affairs Training Center to help Foreign Service officers better understand issues of press freedom and tools that are available to help protect journalists and promote freedom of the press norms.
The Government Accountability Office must assess and report on effects and changes resulting from certain requirements related to press freedom.

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 Representatives 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 a fundamental civil, political, 
        and human right that is foundational in the United States 
        democratic system and enshrined in the First Amendment of the 
        United States Constitution, which states (in part) ``Congress 
        shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech or of 
        the press . . .''.
            (2) Freedom of the press is essential to a free, open, and 
        democratic system.
            (3) Historically, United States foreign policy has advanced 
        freedom of the press as a central tenet, at home and abroad.
            (4) 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 freedom of 
        expression and of the press.
            (5) Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
        states, ``Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and 
        expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions 
        without interference and to seek, receive and impart 
        information and ideas through any media and regardless of 
        frontiers.''.
            (6) In 1823, Thomas Jefferson wrote, ``the only security of 
        all is in a free press''.
            (7) A free and independent press has long been recognized 
        as an important aspect of the United States national security 
        and actions taken by foreign governments or organizations that 
        weaken free press protections are a national security threat to 
        the United States.
            (8) The right to freedom of the press is under renewed and, 
        in some cases, increasing assault around the world, with 
        rhetoric delegitimizing and discrediting the media or 
        journalists, online harassment, physical attacks, legal 
        campaigns, censorship, and surveillance, all of which threaten 
        the ability of journalists to do their jobs safely and freely.
            (9) In the past decade, the world has seen a significant 
        deterioration of press freedoms.
            (10) According to Freedom House's ``Freedom in the Media 
        2019'' study--
                    (A) 19 percent of the countries it designates as 
                ``Free'' with respect to press and journalistic freedom 
                have seen reductions in their press freedom score 
                during the past 5 years; and
                    (B) 28 percent of the countries it designates as 
                ``Not Free'' have experienced further declines in press 
                freedom during the past 5 years.
            (11) According to Reporters Without Border's 2020 World 
        Press Freedom Index--
                    (A) approximately 74 percent of the countries of 
                the world are classified as ``problematic situation'' 
                or worse with respect to journalistic freedom;
                    (B) approximately 26 percent of the countries of 
                the world have ``satisfactory'' or ``good'' press 
                freedom environments;
                    (C) among the countries that have recently suffered 
                the largest declines in press freedom are Poland, 
                Turkey, Burundi, Hungary, Bolivia, and Serbia;
                    (D) around the world, 2019 marked the fourth 
                consecutive year in which 300 or more journalists were 
                jailed;
                    (E) the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated state 
                censorship, harassment, and violence in both 
                authoritarian and democratic states; and
                    (F) authorities have detained journalists for 
                reporting on the pandemic in many nations, including 
                China, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Mali, Belarus, Azerbaijan, 
                Iran, the Philippines, Tajikistan, Poland, the 
                Democratic Republic of Congo, and Serbia.
            (12) According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 
        2020--
                    (A) at least 250 journalists worldwide were in 
                prison for the fifth consecutive year, with China, 
                Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia responsible for nearly 
                \1/2\ of the jailed journalists;
                    (B) of the journalists detained--
                            (i) 19 percent were detained without 
                        charge;
                            (ii) 67 percent were imprisoned on anti-
                        state charges; and
                            (iii) nearly all were local journalists 
                        covering events in their own country;
                    (C) at least 32 journalists were killed in the line 
                of duty, 22 of whom were targeted for murder, which 
                represents a sharp increase from 2019; and
                    (D) there was complete impunity in an estimated 86 
                percent of the cases of murdered journalists in the 
                last decade.
            (13) 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 (recognizing 
                threats to freedom of the press and expression around 
                the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a 
                priority in efforts of the Government of the United 
                States to promote democracy and good governance).
            (14) 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 the press, and that cannot be 
                limited without being lost.'';
                    (B) an address to Congress on February 6, 1986, in 
                which President Ronald Reagan stated, ``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 democracy than a free and active 
                press'';
                    (D) a statement by former Secretary of State 
                Madeline Albright on May 31, 2018, reporting 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 vibrant, functioning democracy. 
                Despite some progress, journalists around the world 
                continue to be persecuted, targeted with violence, or 
                even killed--all too often with impunity.''.
            (15) Protection of a free and open press is not a partisan 
        issue.
            (16) It is imperative that Congress further enshrine the 
        Department of State's role in protecting this basic human right 
        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;
            (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 aspects of 
        American foreign policy; and
            (4) to work with foreign governments that affirm and 
        protect press freedom--
                    (A) to develop multilateral initiatives to combat 
                suppression of the free and independent press; and
                    (B) to hold accountable those governments that 
                violate and attack press freedoms.

SEC. 4. OFFICE OF PRESS FREEDOM; AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR PRESS FREEDOM.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established, within the United States 
Department of State, the Office of Press Freedom (referred to in this 
Act as the ``Office''), which--
            (1) shall be situated in the Bureau of Democracy, 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 appointed 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 advise the Secretary of State regarding matters related to 
press freedom.
    (c) Duties.--The Ambassador shall have the following duties:
            (1) General responsibilities.--The Ambassador shall have 
        the primary responsibility--
                    (A) to advance the protection and well-being of 
                members of the United States and foreign press abroad;
                    (B) to denounce violations of press freedom or 
                freedom of expression by foreign governments 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 fulfillment of the responsibilities 
        described in paragraph (1), shall--
                    (A) coordinate efforts between relevant United 
                States embassy personnel and press organizations or 
                threatened individuals in situations in which freedom 
                of the press is threatened abroad;
                    (B) publicly and privately denounce oppression of 
                the press abroad;
                    (C) represent the United States in issues 
                concerning press freedom in diplomatic engagement with 
                foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, 
                the United Nations, and other international 
                organizations in which the United States is a member;
                    (D) recommend appropriate responses by the United 
                States Government when press freedoms 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 regarding matters 
                affecting press freedom abroad; and
                    (B) shall make recommendations regarding the 
                polices 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 Ambassador shall--
                    (A) work with the staff of the Office to ensure the 
                success of the Office in carrying out its mission--
                            (i) to promote press freedom abroad; and
                            (ii) to protect members of the press in 
                        foreign countries;
                    (B) not later than 1 year after being appointed, 
                ensure that there is a reasonable process for measuring 
                the efficacy of the Office in carrying out the missions 
                described in subparagraph (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 
                                established 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 
                                section 5; and
                            (ii) make a copy of the report submitted 
                        pursuant to clause (i) available to the public; 
                        and
                    (D) review and approve the language in 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 enable the 
                Office to carry out the tasks and responsibilities 
                described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3);
                    (B) to comply with the reporting requirements 
                described in paragraph (4); and
                    (C) for necessary travel to carry out this section.

SEC. 5. PRESS FREEDOM CURRICULUM.

    (a) Development.--The Ambassador and the Office shall develop 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 
protect journalists and promote freedom of the press norms, including--
            (1) the historic and current issues facing press freedom, 
        including countries of specific concern;
            (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 promotion 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 journalistic 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 complete the study of the 
curriculum described in subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the 
first day of such assignment.

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--
            (1) assessing the effects of including the information 
        described in section 116(d)(12) of the Foreign Assistance Act 
        of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)(12)) in the annual Country Reports 
        on Human Rights Practices; and
            (2) determining how reporting on instances of governmental 
        suppression of free press abroad and inaction in addressing 
        press freedom violations has changed since the enactment of the 
        Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress 
and to the Secretary of State that--
            (1) summarizes the results of the study required under 
        subsection (a); and
            (2) provides recommendations for any legislative or 
        regulatory action that would improve the efforts of the 
        Department of State to report on issues of press freedom 
        abroad.
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