World Press Freedom Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2242
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2015-05-05 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Free trade and trade barriers
Government information and archives
Human rights
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Middle East
News media and reporting
Sanctions
Saudi Arabia
Trade agreements and negotiations
Trade restrictions
Vietnam
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: 

World Press Freedom Protection Act of 2015

 
This bill authorizes the President to impose U.S. admissibility sanctions against a foreign person who: 
 
 
is responsible for severe restrictions on the freedom of expression or freedom of the press; or 
 
has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such an activity.
 
 
The President may waive such sanctions if in U.S. national security interests, and terminate them under specified conditions. 
 
Sanctions shall not apply if necessary to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters or other applicable international obligations of the United States. 
 
The President shall report to Congress annually regarding each foreign person sanctioned, and the dates and reason for the imposition of any sanctions. 
 
It should be U.S. policy to respond strongly to the growing number of restrictions, arrests, killings, and visa delays or denials faced by foreign journalists and their domestic employees. 
 
An executive of a foreign state-owned media organization who is applying for a nonimmigrant I-visa (foreign media representative) shall be refused the visa if any U.S. journalist or news organization personnel were expelled, had visas denied, or faced violence in the course of working in such foreign state during the previous fiscal year.
 
Annual country reports of human rights practices under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall now include information about the country's practices with respect to foreign journalists and their domestic personnel. 
 
It is the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
restrictions on journalists and media websites and Internet censorship are significant foreign trade barriers; 
 
the United States Trade Representative should include a list of blocked U.S. websites in its annual report on foreign trade barriers; and 
 
the United States should pursue disputes to end foreign blockage of U.S. websites at the World Trade Organization.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House