Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there is a reason why the Founders chose to enshrine the freedoms of the press in the First Amendment to the Constitution. It is an important part of a functional and informed democracy. Over the years, versions of this bill have received widespread support from across the political spectrum. In fact, the first version of this bill was introduced by none other than Vice President Pence when he was a Member of this body. Liberty depends on the freedom of the press. Good reporters are committed to holding our government accountable. A critical aspect of the freedom of the press is the pursuit of truth without intimidation or coercion from the government. Administrations of both parties have unjustly targeted journalists, but none more so in recent years than the Obama administration. The Obama administration's control on the flow of information has been described as ``the most aggressive . . . since the Nixon administration.'' The Biden administration isn't proving to be much better. In a free country, we need to make sure that the government cannot unmask journalists' sources without good cause. This bill provides those protections and recognizes the importance of independent journalism to our country. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”