,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #chah ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ba1 #bjbj,mr4 ,rubio 7for himself and ,mr4 ,cardin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to protect and promote the freedom of the press globally4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,world ,press ,freedom ,protection and ,reciprocity ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,foreign person ,the term foreign person means an individual who is not-- 7,a7 a ,united ,states citizen2 or 7,b7 an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,internationally-recognized right to freedom of expression ,the term internationally-recognized right to freedom of expression are the rights set forth in-- 7,a7 ,article #ai of the ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights1 done at ,paris ,december #aj1 #aidh2 and 7,b7 ,article #ai of the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights1 done at ,new ,york ,december #ai1 #aiff4 7#d7 ,major non-,,nato ally ,the term major non-,,nato ally means a country designated by the ,president as a major non-,,nato ally pursuant to section #eag of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcbak74 #c4 ,statement of policy 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,freedom of the press is a critical component of democratic governance that enhances transparency1 accountability1 and participation of civil society4 7#b7 ,united ,states ,government efforts to protect and expand freedom of the press and free expression strengthen the national interests of the ,united ,states by-- 7,a7 supporting democracy2 7,b7 promoting good governance and public health2 7,c7 mitigating conflict2 and 7,d7 encouraging transparency and civil society development around the world4 7#c7 ,journalists1 media personnel1 and other individuals and organizations around the world that receive and impart information and ideas face increasing restrictions1 threats1 censorship1 arbitrary detention1 torture1 enforced disappearances1 extrajudicial killings1 and other violence for exercising their internationally-recognized right to freedom of expression4 7#d7 ,impunity for attacks on journalists1 bloggers1 and media personnel is an acute problem around the world and a primary challenge to protecting freedom of expression and freedom of the press4 7#e7 ,according to research and press freedom rankings issued annually by ,freedom ,house1 the ,committee to ,protect ,journalists1 and ,reporters ,without ,borders1 some of the countries with the most restrictive media and information environments include ,cuba1 ,djibouti1 ,eritrea1 ,iran1 ,laos1 ,myanmar1 ,north ,korea1 the ,philippines1 ,saudi ,arabia1 ,syria1 ,turkmenistan1 and ,vietnam4 7#f7 ,since a failed coup attempt in #bjaf1 the ,government of the ,republic of ,turkey has used terrorism and national security laws to shutter hundreds of media outlets and jail dozens of journalists1 compounding the effects of more than a decade of expanding ruling party influence over the ownership of mainstream media in the country at the expense of independent outlets4 7#g7 ,the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 which maintains one of the most restrictive media and information environments in the world1 seeks to control free speech inside and outside of ,china through-- 7,a7 censorship2 7,b7 onerous media organization registration requirements2 7,c7 harassment and retaliation2 7,d7 imprisonment2 7,e7 conditioning of press credential renewals for all journalists and visa issuance for foreign journalists on positive coverage of ,china2 and 7,f7 the operation of a digital surveillance system so pervasive that both routine and sensitive reporting activities and many aspects of daily life are subject to government monitoring4 7#h7 ,the ,russian ,federation has continued to use sophisticated tools to block and control information online and employ draconian laws to pressure independent media4 7#i7 ,the expansion and export of new technologies used for censorship and surveillance-- 7,a7 represent a notable threat to human rights1 including press freedoms1 transparency1 and democratic governance globally2 and 7,b7 constitute a critical challenge to ,united ,states national interests4 7#aj7 ,other countries' restrictions on the activities of ,united ,states journalists and media personnel1 other countries' censorship and blocking of websites of ,united ,states news and media corporations1 and other restrictions on the cross-border flow of information-- 7,a7 damage the competitiveness of ,united ,states corporations2 7,b7 limit ,united ,states access to information critical for ,united ,states investors1 consumers1 and others making market and financial decisions2 and 7,c7 should be considered a restriction of trade and the creation of an unfair competitive advantage benefitting foreign government-controlled news organizations and other foreign news and media corporations4 7b7 ,policy statement ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 to advocate for detained and targeted journalists and other media personnel overseas1 including citizen journalists and bloggers2 7#b7 to call on governments1 in both bilateral discussions and through multilateral organizations-- 7,a7 to end restrictions on the internationally-recognized right to freedom of expression2 and 7,b7 to abide by international commitments set forth in-- 7i7 ,article #ai of the ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights1 done at ,paris ,december #aj1 #aidh2 and 7ii7 ,article #ai of the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights1 done at ,new ,york ,december #ai1 #aiff2 7#c7 to urge foreign governments-- 7,a7 to transparently investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks against journalists1 bloggers1 and other media personnel2 and 7,b7 to halt efforts to censor or block access to news from ,united ,states journalists and media personnel and the websites of ,united ,states news and media organizations2 7#d7 to highlight threats against freedom of the press in the ,department of ,state's ,annual ,country ,reports on ,human ,rights ,practices1 as required under section #aaf7;d77#ab7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baean7d77#ab771 and other public statements by senior ,department of ,state officials2 7#e7 to seek1 as part of bilateral diplomatic negotiations globally1 conditions for-- 7,a7 a free flow of news and information2 7,b7 internet freedom2 and 7,c7 an end to visas restrictions for ,united ,states media personnel2 7#f7 to link expansion of the free flow of news and information with ongoing and future trade agreements and other bilateral agreements and communiques by seeking language eliminating-- 7,a7 all limitations on market access for news agency services2 and 7,b7 any restrictions on cross-border data flows involving journalists and the media1 including data flowing through the internet2 7#g7 to ensure that pursuing bilateral relationships with foreign governments1 particularly governments with restrictive press and information environments1 based on the principles of reciprocity across many sectors1 including economic1 diplomatic1 educational1 religious1 and in the free flow of news and information2 and 7#h7 to clearly differentiate1 in official statements1 media communications1 and messaging1 between the citizens of a country and the government of such country4 #d4 ,statement of policy regarding protection of foreign journalists and other media personnel globally ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to consider foreign government officials who are responsible for1 are complicit in1 or have directly or indirectly engaged in severe restrictions of the internationally-recognized right to freedom of expression1 such as arbitrary detention1 imprisonment1 enforced disappearance1 torture1 extrajudicial killing1 and other substantial threats to the life and liberty of a person1 as having committed gross violations of internationally recognized human rights for purposes of imposing sanctions with respect to such officials under-- 7#a7 the ,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights ,accountability ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note2 subtitle ,f of title ,,xii of ,public ,law #aad-cbh72 and 7#b7 section #gjca7;c7 of the ,department of ,state1 ,foreign ,operations1 and ,related ,programs ,appropriations ,act1 #bjai 7division ,f of ,public ,law #aaf-f74 #e4 ,plan to promote reciprocal access for ,united ,states news and media organizations 7a7 ,plan 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,president shall establish a plan for negotiating access for ,united ,states news and media companies and their employees globally and work to enhance reciprocity given to news and media companies operating in the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that summarizes the plan required under paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,policy statements 7#a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7,a7 ,united ,states news and media organizations1 including ,united ,states-based media organizations1 and information portals are blocked or censored by certain foreign governments1 while the ,united ,states market remains open to websites of foreign news and media organizations and information portals1 including state-owned propaganda organizations4 7,b7 ,the stark lack of reciprocity in market access for news and media organizations and country access for journalists and media personnel-- 7i7 limits constructive contacts between the ,united ,states and the world2 and 7ii7 allows some foreign governments unbalanced influence over their people's views of the ,united ,states and perceptions in the ,united ,states of their policies and programs4 7,c7 ,foreign governments with a sizable media and information footprint in the ,united ,states have a distinct interest in maintaining such footprint4 7#b7 ,sense of congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that1 in the interest of increasing reciprocal access for ,united ,states journalists and news and media organizations and expanding press freedoms globally1 the ,president should proactively pursue bilateral agreements with governments referred to in paragraph 7#a7 to ensure reciprocal access by both countries4 #f4 ,authorization of imposition of sanctions 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president may impose the sanctions described in subsection 7b7 with respect to any foreign person the ,president determines1 based on credible evidence-- 7#a7 is responsible for the jailing1 killing1 or torture of journalists or significant efforts to harass1 restrict the activities of1 terminate the visas of1 or threaten the safety of ,united ,states journalists and media personnel4 7#b7 acted as an agent1 or on behalf1 of a foreign person in a matter relating to an activity described in paragraph 7#a72 or 7#c7 is a government official1 or a senior associate of such an official1 that is responsible for1 or complicit in1 ordering1 controlling1 or otherwise directing an activity described in paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,sanctions described ,a foreign person described in subsection 7a7 who is an individual-- 7#a7 shall be ineligible to receive a visa from the ,united ,states1 enter the ,united ,states1 or be admitted to the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 if such individual has been issued a visa or other documentation by the ,united ,states that provides any immigration benefit1 shall have such visa or other documentation revoked1 in accordance with section #bba7;i7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abja7;i774 7c7 ,termination of sanctions 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,president may terminate the application of sanctions under subsection 7b7 with respect to an individual if the ,president makes a determination that-- 7,a7 credible information exists that the individual did not engage in the activity for which the sanctions were imposed2 7,b7 the individual has been prosecuted appropriately for the activity for which the sanctions imposed2 7,c7 the individual has-- 7i7 credibly demonstrated a significant change in behavior2 7ii7 been subject to an appropriate consequence for the activity for which the sanctions were imposed2 and 7iii7 credibly committed to not engage in an activity described in that subsection in the future2 or 7,d7 the termination of the application of sanctions is in the national security interests of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,notification ,not later than #ae days before the date on which the application of sanctions is terminated under paragraph 7#a7 with respect to an individual1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate1 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives that describes the justification for such termination4 7d7 ,exception ,sanctions described in subsection 7b7 shall not apply to an individual if admitting the individual into the ,united ,states is necessary to permit the ,united ,states to comply with the ,agreement regarding the ,headquarters of the ,united ,nations1 signed at ,lake ,success ,june #bf1 #aidg1 and entered into force ,november #ba1 #aidg1 between the ,united ,nations and the ,united ,states1 or any other applicable international obligation of the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,waiver ,the ,president may waive the application of the sanctions described in subsection 7b7 with respect to an individual if the ,president-- 7#a7 determines that such a waiver is in the national interest of the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 upon granting such a waiver1 submits a report to the committees specified in subsection 7c77#b7 that-- 7,a7 details the evidence and justification for the necessity of the waiver2 and 7,b7 explains how the waiver relates to the national security of the ,united ,states4 7f7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for #e years1 the ,president shall submit a report to the committees referred to in subsection 7c77#b7 that identifies each individual with respect to which the application of sanctions has been terminated under subsection 7c7 during the preceding year1 including the country of origin of the individual and the dates on which such sanctions were imposed or terminated1 as applicable4 7#b7 ,form ,the report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may include a classified annex4 7#c7 ,exclusion of personally identifiable information ,the ,president may not include any personally identifiable information of any ,united ,states citizen in a report submitted under paragraph 7#a74 7#d7 ,applicability of ,privacy ,act ,any information obtained by the ,president to complete a report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall be subject to section #eeb;a of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,privacy ,act74 #g4 ,clear labeling for informational materials distributed on behalf of foreign missions or foreign principals ,section #d7;b7 of the ,foreign ,agents ,registration ,act of #aich 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fad7;b77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,informational materials required to be labeled under this subsection that are in the form of prints shall be marked or stamped conspicuously at the top of the first page with a statement1 in the language or languages used therein1 that sets forth the information required under this subsection44 #h4 ,annual country reports on human rights practices 7a7 ,report relating to economic assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,section #aaf7;d7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baean7d77 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#aa77;,c71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#ab77;,c77ii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#ac7 an assessment of freedom of expression with respect to electronic information in each foreign country1 including the extent to which government authorities in each country-- 7,a7 attempt to filter1 censor1 shape1 or otherwise block or remove nonviolent expression of political1 religious1 ideological opinion via the internet1 including electronic mail1 and the means by which such authorities attempt to block or remove such expression2 7,b7 have persecuted or otherwise punished an individual or group for the nonviolent expression of political1 religious1 or ideological opinion via the internet1 including electronic mail2 7,c7 have sought to collect1 request1 obtain1 or disclose personally identifiable information of a person in connection with such person's nonviolent expression of political1 religious1 or ideological opinion on a foreign platform1 including expression that would be protected by the ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights and the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights2 and 7,d7 monitor wire communications and electronic communications without regard to the principles of privacy1 human rights1 democracy1 and rule of law1 to the extent that these practices are known4 4 7#b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #aaf of such ,act1 as amended by paragraph 7#a71 is further amended by adding at the end the following3 7h7 ,consultation requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,in compiling data and making assessments under subsection 7d77#ac71 ,united ,states diplomatic personnel shall consult with human rights organizations1 technology and internet companies1 and other appropriate nongovernmental organizations4 7#b7 ,definitions ,in this subsection and in subsection 7d77#ac7-- 7,a7 the term electronic communication has the meaning given such term in section #beaj7ab7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code2 7,b7 the term internet has the meaning given the term ,internet in section #bca7;e77#c7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bca7;e77#c772 7,c7 the term personally identifiable information means data in a form that identifies a specific person2 and 7,d7 the term wire communication has the meaning given such term in section #beaj7a7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code4 4 7b7 ,report relating to security assistance ,section #ejb;,b7b7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjd7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 as subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b72 7#b7 by inserting 7#a7 after 7b72 7#c7 by striking ,wherever applicable1 such report shall include and inserting the following3 7#b7 ,wherever applicable1 each report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 2 7#d7 by striking consolidated information and inserting the following3 7,a7 consolidated information 2 7#e7 by striking ,act of #aihg74 ,wherever applicable1 such report shall include information and inserting the following3 8,act of #aihg72 7,b7 information 2 7#f7 by striking sterilization4 ,such report shall also include1 wherever applicable1 information and inserting the following3 8sterilization2 7,c7 information 2 7#g7 by striking ,act of #aiih74 ,wherever applicable1 such report shall include a description and inserting the following3 8,act of #aiih72 and 7,d7 a description 2 7#h7 by striking ,such report shall also include1 for each country and inserting the following3 7#c7 ,each report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall include1 for each country 2 7#i7 by striking ,each report under this section shall list and inserting the following3 7#d7 ,each report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall list 2 7#aj7 by striking ,each report under this section shall describe and inserting the following3 7#e7 ,each report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall describe 2 7#aa7 by striking ,each report under this section shall also include and inserting the following3 7#f7 ,each report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 2 7#ab7 by striking 7i7 wherever applicable and inserting the following3 7,a7 wherever applicable 2 7#ac7 by striking hostilities1 7ii7 what steps and inserting 8hostilities2 7,b7 what steps 2 7#ad7 by striking practices1 and 7iii7 such other information and inserting 8practices2 and 7,c7 such other information 2 and 7#ae7 by striking ,in determining and inserting the following3 7#g7 ,each report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall include an assessment of freedom of expression with respect to electronic information in each foreign country1 which shall consist of-- 7,a7 an assessment of the extent to which government authorities in each country attempt to filter1 censor1 shape1 or otherwise block or remove nonviolent expression of political1 religious1 or ideological opinion via the internet1 including electronic mail2 7,b7 a description of the means by which such authorities attempt to block or remove such expression2 7,c7 an assessment of the extent to which government authorities in each country have persecuted or otherwise punished an individual or group for the nonviolent expression of political1 religious1 or ideological opinion or belief via the internet1 including electronic mail2 7,d7 an assessment of the extent to which government authorities in each country have sought to collect1 request1 obtain1 or disclose personally identifiable information of a person in connection with such person's nonviolent expression of political1 religious1 or ideological opinion or belief on a foreign platform1 including expression that would be protected by the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights1 done at ,new ,york ,december #ai1 #aiff2 and 7,e7 an assessment of the extent to which wire communications and electronic communications are monitored without regard to the principles of privacy1 human rights1 democracy1 and rule of law1 to the extent that these practices are known4 7#h7 ,in determining 4