On the recordDecember 8, 2022
my Democratic colleague is objecting to legislation that simply allows Americans to see when the government is trying to censor them. My colleague states that his objection is largely on procedural grounds, and he has concerns that my bill hasn't been marked up in committee, but the committee to which this bill was referred has had over a year to review the legislation, and no progress has been made. I would ask that my colleague commit to working with me on my legislation to address this important First Amendment issue in the next Congress. This problem is simply too significant to ignore. Our government works for the American people. To ensure this continues, the First Amendment prohibits the government from controlling what Americans say or read. But now government is using Big Tech to accomplish that censorship. Without disclosure of such communications, Americans' free speech rights become a dead letter because there is no way to address improper government efforts to ban speech. My legislation would preserve these rights by allowing Americans to see when government is trying to silence them. This is a basic element of self-government. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
