,i #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bbdb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #e1 #bjae ,mr4 ,smith of ,new ,jersey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 and ,mr4 ,pitts7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committees on the ,judiciary and ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to protect the internationally recognized right of free expression1 ensure the free flow of information1 and protect journalists and media personnel globally4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,world ,press ,freedom ,protection ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security1 and the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs1 and the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,foreign person ,the term foreign person means an individual who is neither a citizen or national of the ,united ,states4 #c4 ,authorization of imposition of sanctions for restrictions on the right to the freedom of expression and restrictions on journalists 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president may impose the sanctions described in subsection 7b7 with respect to a foreign person if the ,president determines1 based on credible information1 that the foreign person-- 7#a7 is responsible for severe restrictions on the freedom of expression or freedom of the press1 including the arrest1 harassment1 torture1 mistreatment1 threats1 fines1 or the pervasive surveillance of journalists1 blockage or censorship of the ,internet that hinders the free flow of information from journalists1 or other serious violations of the international right to the freedom of expression2 or 7#b7 has materially assisted1 sponsored1 or provided financial1 material1 or technological support for1 or goods or services in support of1 an activity described in paragraph 7#a7 4 7b7 ,inadmissibility to ,united ,states ,the sanctions described in this subsection are the following3 7#a7 ineligibility to receive a visa to enter the ,united ,states or to be admitted to the ,united ,states2 or 7#b7 if the foreign person has been issued a visa or other documentation to be used to enter the ,united ,states1 revocation1 in accordance with section #bba7;i7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abja7;i771 of the visa or other documentation4 7c7 ,consideration of certain information in imposing sanctions ,in determining whether to impose sanctions under subsection 7b71 the ,president shall consider-- 7#a7 information provided by the chairperson and ranking member of each of the appropriate congressional committees2 and 7#b7 credible information obtained by other countries and nongovernmental organizations that monitor violations of human rights4 7d7 ,waiver for national security interests ,the ,president may waive the application of subsection 7b7 with respect to a foreign person if the ,president determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,exception ,to ,comply ,with ,united ,nations ,headquarters ,agreement ,subsection 7b7 shall not apply to a foreign person if admitting the foreign person into the ,united ,states is necessary to permit the ,united ,states to comply with the ,agreement between the ,united ,nations and the ,united ,states of ,america regarding the ,headquarters of the ,united ,nations1 signed at ,lake ,success ,june #bf1 #aidg1 and entered into force ,november #ba1 #aidg1 and other applicable international obligations of the ,united ,states4 7f7 ,termination of sanctions ,the ,president may terminate the application of sanctions under subsection 7b7 with respect to a foreign person if the ,president determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees not later than #ae days before the termination of the sanctions that-- 7#a7 credible information exists that the foreign person did not engage in the activity for which sanctions were imposed2 7#b7 the foreign person has been prosecuted appropriately for the activity for which sanctions were imposed2 or 7#c7 the foreign person has credibly demonstrated a significant change in behavior1 has paid an appropriate consequence for the activity for which sanctions were imposed1 and has credibly committed to not engage in an activity described in subsection 7a7 in the future4 7g7 ,regulatory authority ,the ,president shall issue such regulations1 licenses1 and orders as are necessary to carry out this section4 #d4 ,reports by ,president to ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report that includes-- 7#a7 a list of each foreign person with respect to which the ,president imposed sanctions pursuant to section #c during the year preceding the submission of the report2 7#b7 the number of foreign persons with respect to which the ,president terminated sanctions under section #c during that year2 7#c7 the dates on which such sanctions were imposed or terminated1 as the case may be2 7#d7 the reasons for imposing or terminating such sanctions2 and 7#e7 a description of the efforts of the ,president to encourage the governments of other countries to impose sanctions that are similar to the sanctions authorized by section #c4 7b7 ,dates for submission 7#a7 ,initial report ,the ,president shall submit the initial report required by this subsection not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 ,subsequent reports 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,president shall submit each subsequent report required by this subsection on ,december #aj1 or the first day thereafter on which both ,houses of ,congress are in session1 of-- 7i7 the calendar year in which the initial report is submitted if the initial report is submitted before ,december #aj of such calendar year2 and 7ii7 each subsequent calendar year4 7,b7 ,congressional statement ,congress notes that ,december #aj of each calendar year has been recognized in the ,united ,states and internationally since #aiej as ,human ,rights ,day and thus the importance of ,december #aj of each calendar year as the date of submission of the subsequent reports required by this subsection4 7c7 ,form ,the report required by subsection 7a7 shall be submitted unclassified form1 but may contain a classified annex if necessary4 7d7 ,public availability 7#a7 ,in general ,the unclassified portion of the report required by subsection 7a7 shall be made available to the public1 including through publication in the ,federal ,register4 7#b7 ,nonapplicability of confidentiality requirement with respect to visa records ,if the ,president decides to publish the names of individuals sanctioned in a report required under this section1 the ,president may do so without regard to the requirements of section #bbb7;f7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abjb7;f77 with respect to confidentiality of records pertaining to the issuance or refusal of visas or permits to enter the ,united ,states4 #e4 ,limiting visas to executives of state-owned news and media organizations operating in the ,united ,states 7a7 ,policy ,statement ,given the critical importance of the press freedoms and the free flow of cross-border information for diplomatic1 political1 and financial relations globally1 and for purposes of investors1 businesses1 and politicians making informed decisions1 it should be the policy of the ,united ,states ,government to respond strongly and persuasively to the growing number of restrictions1 threats1 detentions1 harassment1 arrests1 pervasive surveillance1 killings1 and delays or denials of visas faced by foreign journalists and their domestic employees1 especially the blockage and censorship of the websites of news corporations4 7b7 ,limitation on ,i-,visas ,section #aja7;a77#ae77;,i7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ae77;,i77 is amended by inserting subject to section #bad7s71 before upon a basis4 7c7 ,restrictions on ,visas to ,executives of ,state-,owned ,media ,section #bad of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahd7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7s7 ,restrictions on ,visas to ,executives of ,state-,owned ,media 7#a7 ,in general ,in the case of an alien who is an executive of a state-owned media organization of a foreign state and is applying for a visa under section #aja7;a77#ae77;,i7 during a fiscal year1 the visa shall be refused if any ,united ,states journalist or news organization personnel were expelled1 had visas denied1 or faced intimidation or violence or other restrictions in the course of working in the foreign state during the previous fiscal year4 7#b7 ,definition ,for purposes of this subsection1 the term executive of a state-owned media organization of a foreign state means a representative1 operating in a managerial or executive capacity of a media organization that is majority owned1 operated1 or controlled by a foreign government operating in the ,united ,states4 4 7d7 ,transition rule 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,president may order the immediate revocation1 delay1 or refusal of visas under section #aja7;a77#ae77;,i7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ae77;,i77 issued to1 or sought by1 executives of a state-owned media organization of a foreign state before the date of the enactment of this ,act in proportion to the expulsions1 visa delays or denials1 and intimidation experienced by ,united ,states journalists or news organization personnel in the course of working in the foreign state during the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which this ,act is enacted4 7#b7 ,definition ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 the term executive of a state-owned media organization of a foreign state means a representative1 operating in a managerial or executive capacity of a media organization that is majority owned1 operated1 or controlled by a foreign government operating in the ,united ,states4 #f4 ,inclusion of additional information relating to restrictions faced by journalists worldwide in the annual country reports on human rights practices ,the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa is amended-- 7#a7 in section #aaf7;d77#ab7 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baean7d77#ab77-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 for each country-- 7i7 a detailed description of the restrictions imposed against journalists and their domestic personnel1 including a description of surveillance1 harassment1 detentions1 death threats or physical attacks1 censorship1 including on the ,internet1 denials or delays of visas or travel documents1 direct sources of pressure or intimidation1 or any other restrictions that limit the ability to report information freely or restricts the free flow of information whether by governments1 military1 intelligence or police forces or criminal groups1 armed extremists1 or rebel groups2 and 7ii7 a brief assessment of the country's practices with respect to foreign journalists and their domestic personnel by describing the country's practices as very restrictive1 restrictive1 partially restrictive1 or mostly free2 and 2 and 7#b7 in the first subsection 7i7 of section #ejb;,b 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjd7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 for each country-- 7#e7 7,a7 a detailed description of the restrictions imposed against journalists and their domestic personnel1 including a description of surveillance1 harassment1 detentions1 death threats or physical attacks1 censorship1 including on the ,internet1 denials or delays of visas or travel documents1 direct sources of pressure or intimidation1 or any other restrictions that limit the ability to report information freely or restricts the free flow of information whether by governments1 military1 intelligence or police forces or criminal groups1 armed extremists1 or rebel groups2 and 7,b7 a brief assessment of the country's practices with respect to foreign journalists and their domestic personnel by describing the country's practices as very restrictive1 restrictive1 partially restrictive1 or mostly free4 4 #g4 ,restrictions on the freedom of expression and censorship of the ,internet treated as a restriction on trade 7a7 ,finding ,congress finds that restrictions on the activities of ,united ,states journalists and media personnel and the censorship and blockage of websites and the cross-border flow of information damages the competitiveness of ,united ,states corporations and limits access to information critical for investors1 consumers1 and others making market and financial decisions and should be considered a restriction of trade and an unfair competitive advantage benefitting foreign government-controlled news organizations and other news and media corporations4 7b7 ,statement of policy ,congress declares the following3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states ,government should seek as part of international treaty negotiations and in negotiations and bilateral discussions with ,china1 ,vietnam1 ,saudi ,arabia1 and other countries rated ,not ,free by ,freedom ,house's annual ,freedom of the ,press survey1 conditions for a free and unfettered operation of websites1 an end to visas restrictions for journalists1 an end to harassment1 intimidation1 and surveillance of foreign journalists and an end to the abuse of state secrets laws1 including ,china's restrictions on the sharing of information between ,chinese and foreign journalists4 7#b7 ,in addition1 the ,united ,states ,government should seek to link expansion of the free flow of information with ongoing and future trade agreements1 and other bilateral agreements and communiques1 by seeking language eliminating any and all limitations on market access for news agency services and eliminate any restrictions on cross-border data flows involving journalists and the media1 including in the ,trans-,pacific ,partnership1 ,bilateral ,investment ,treaties1 or any other trade negotiations planned or in progress and seek stipulations guaranteeing fair treatment of ,united ,states and other foreign journalists and their publications1 consistent with the treatment received by foreign journalists operating in the ,united ,states and free and unfettered operation of websites in ,china and other countries where they are blocked or censored4 7c7 ,sense of ,congress ,in order to promote freedom of the press and recognize the importance of that internationally recognized right to economic freedom and economic security1 it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 restrictions on journalists and media websites and the censorship of the ,internet are significant foreign trade barriers2 7#b7 the ,united ,states ,trade ,representative should include a list of ,united ,states websites blocked in foreign countries in reporting on trade barriers in its annual report on foreign trade barriers2 and 7#c7 the ,united ,states ,government should pursue1 at the ,world ,trade ,organization 7,,wto7 1 disputes to end blockage of ,united ,states websites by foreign governments1 which would include requirements for other members of the ,,wto to regularly publish a list of any banned or censored websites and provide website owners an opportunity to appeal4