Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009
PL 111-166 (H.R.3714), enacted 05/17/2010

124 STAT. 1186 
PUBLIC LAW 111–166—MAY 17, 2010 
Public Law 111–166 
111th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include in the Annual Country 
Reports on Human Rights Practices information about freedom of the press in 
foreign countries, 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 ‘‘Daniel Pearl Freedom of the 
Press Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO 
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS WORLDWIDE IN ANNUAL COUNTRY 
REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES. 
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended— 
(1) in section 116(d) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)), as amended 
by section 333(c) of this division— 
(A) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (11)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(12) wherever applicable— 
‘‘(A) a description of the status of freedom of the press, 
including initiatives in favor of freedom of the press and 
efforts to improve or preserve, as appropriate, the independ-
ence of the media, together with an assessment of progress 
made as a result of those efforts; 
‘‘(B) an identification of countries in which there were 
violations of freedom of the press, including direct physical 
attacks, imprisonment, indirect sources of pressure, and 
censorship by governments, military, intelligence, or police 
forces, criminal groups, or armed extremist or rebel groups; 
and 
‘‘(C) in countries where there are particularly severe 
violations of freedom of the press— 
‘‘(i) whether government authorities of each such 
country participate in, facilitate, or condone such viola-
tions of the freedom of the press; and 
‘‘(ii) what steps the government of each such 
country has taken to preserve the safety and independ-
ence of the media, and to ensure the prosecution of 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
Daniel Pearl 
Freedom of the 
Press Act of 
2009. 
May 17, 2010 
[H.R. 3714] 
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10:01 Dec 06, 2012
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124 STAT. 1187 
PUBLIC LAW 111–166—MAY 17, 2010 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3714: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 155 (2009): Dec. 15, 16, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 156 (2010): April 29, considered and passed Senate. 
those individuals who attack or murder journalists.’’; 
and 
(2) in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304), by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(i) The report required by subsection (b) shall include, wher-
ever applicable— 
‘‘(1) a description of the status of freedom of the press, 
including initiatives in favor of freedom of the press and efforts 
to improve or preserve, as appropriate, the independence of 
the media, together with an assessment of progress made as 
a result of those efforts; 
‘‘(2) an identification of countries in which there were viola-
tions of freedom of the press, including direct physical attacks, 
imprisonment, indirect sources of pressure, and censorship by 
governments, military, intelligence, or police forces, criminal 
groups, or armed extremist or rebel groups; and 
‘‘(3) in countries where there are particularly severe viola-
tions of freedom of the press— 
‘‘(A) whether government authorities of each such 
country participate in, facilitate, or condone such violations 
of the freedom of the press; and 
‘‘(B) what steps the government of each such country 
has taken to preserve the safety and independence of the 
media, and to ensure the prosecution of those individuals 
who attack or murder journalists.’’. 
Approved May 17, 2010. 
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