Dick Lugar: “today is ``action day'' to support jailed journalists around the world, as declared by the independent organization…”

“today is ``action day'' to support jailed journalists around the world, as declared by the independent organization, Reporters Without Borders. I rise today to express my support for this cause and to emphasize that our country has long believed that a free press is a cornerstone of democracy, both here and abroad. Last year, at my urging, Congress created a free press institute at the National Endowment for Democracy to promote, as part of our democracy-building efforts, free, independent and sustainable news media organizations overseas. This year, I introduced the Free Flow of Information Act to allow journalists in this country to protect the identity of their confidential sources. After I introduced the legislation, a reporter for one of America's most respected media organizations, Judith Miller of the New York Times, was jailed for 85 days for failing to disclose a confidential source, while another, Matt Cooper of Time magazine, was also threatened with jail for the same reason. I believe that in order for the United States to foster the spread of freedom and democracy globally, we must support an open and free press at home. According to Reporters Without Borders, 112 journalists are currently jailed in 23 countries, including places like China, Cuba, Eritrea, and Burma. This is not good company for the United States to keep.…”