,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bdbe  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bj1 #bjbc,mr4   
,paul 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,s*mitt1 ,mr4    
,vance1 ,mr4 ,tub]ville1 ,ms4 ,lummis1 &
 ,mr4 ,braun7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2  
:i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,homel& ,security &       
,gov]nm5tal ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to    
prohibit ,f$]al employees & contractors 
f direct+ onl9e plat=ms to c5sor any    
spee* t is protect$ by ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t 
to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & =
 o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is    
,act may be cit$ z ! ,free ,spee*       
,protection ,act4  #b4 ,def9itions ,9   
?is ,act3 7#a7 ,cov]$ in=mation ,! t]m  
cov]$ in=mation means in=mation relat+  
to-- 7,a7 a phone call2  7,b7 any type (
 digital communication1 includ+ a po/ on
 a cov]$ plat=m1 an e-mail1 a text1 & a 
direct message2  7,c7 a photo2  7,d7    
%opp+ & comm]ce hi/ory2  7,e7 location  
data1 includ+ a driv+ r\te & ride hail+ 
in=mation2  7,f7 an ,,ip address2  7,g7 

metadata2  7,h7 se>* hi/ory2  7,i7 ! "n1
 age1 or demographic in=mation ( a us] (
 a cov]$ plat=m2 &  7,j7 a cal5d> item4 
7#b7 ,cov]$ plat=m ,! t]m cov]$ plat=m  
means-- 7,a7 an int]active comput]      
s]vice1 z t t]m is def9$ 9 section      
#bcj7;f7 ( ! ,communications ,act (     
#aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bcj7;f772 &  7,b7 
any plat=m ?r\gh :i* a m$ia organization
 dissem9ates in=mation1 )\t reg>d to    
:e!r ! organization dissem9ates t       
in=mation-- 7i7 ?r\gh broadca/ or pr9t2 
7ii7 onl9e2 or  7iii7 ?r\gh any o!r     
*annel4  7#c7 ,director ,! t]m ,director
 means ! ,director ( ! ,(fice (         
,managem5t & ,budget4  7#d7 ,employee   
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,except :]e o!rwise       
expressly provid$1 ! t]m employee-- 7i7 
means an employee ( an ,executive ag5cy2
 &  7ii7 includes-- 7,i7 an individual1 
o!r ?an an employee ( an ,executive     
ag5cy1 work+ "u a contract ) an         
,executive ag5cy2 &  7,,ii7 ! ,presid5t 
& ! ,vice ,presid5t4  7,b7 ,rule (      
con/ruction ,) respect to an individual 

describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a77ii77,i71    
solely = ! purposes ( ?is ,act1 !       
,executive ag5cy t has ent]$ into !     
contract "u :i* ! employee is work+ %all
 be con/ru$ to be ! ,executive ag5cy    
employ+ ! employee4  7#e7 ,executive    
ag5cy ,! t]m ,executive ag5cy-- 7,a7 has
 ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #aje (    
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 &  7,b7  
includes ! ,executive ,(fice ( !        
,presid5t4  7#f7 ,provid] ,! t]m provid]
 means a provid] ( a cov]$ plat=m4  #c4 
,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! 
,fir/ ,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates gu>antees-- 7,a7 fre$oms  
conc]n+ religion1 expression1 assembly1 
& petition ( ! gov]nm5t2  7,b7 ! fre$om 
( expression by prohibit+ ! gov]nm5t f  
re/rict+ ! press or ! "r ( an individual
 to speak freely2 &  7,c7 ! "r ( an     
individual to assemble peaceably & to   
petition ! gov]nm5t4  7#b7 ,fre$om (    
spee* is an ess5tial elem5t ( lib]ty t  
re/ra9s tyranny & emp[]s individuals4   
7#c7 ,writ+ 9 support ( a ,bill (       

,rights1 ,?omas ,jeff]son /at$ t t"h are
 rights :i* x is useless to surr5d] to !
 gov]nm5t1 & :i* yet1 gov]nm5ts h always
 be5 fond to invade4 ,^! are ! rights ( 
?9k+ & publi%+ our ?\ghts by speak+ or  
writ+44  7#d7 ,! ,supreme ,c\rt ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z
 ! ,c\rt7 has upheld ! "r to speak free 
f gov]nm5tal int]f]5ce z a fundam5tal   
"r4  7#e7 ,! ,c\rt1 9 ,palko v4         
,connecticut1 #cjb ,u4,s4 #cai 7#aicg71 
wrote t fre$om ( ?\ght & spee* is !     
matrix1 ! indisp5sable condition1 (     
ne>ly e o!r =m ( fre$om4  7#f7 ,9 ,turn]
 ,broadca/+ ,sy/em1 ,inc4 v4 ,f$]al     
,communications ,commission1 #eab ,u4,s4
 #fbb 7#aiid71 ! ,c\rt /at$ ! foll[+3   
,at ! he>t ( ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t lies !    
pr9ciple t ea* p]son %\ld decide =      
himself or h]self ! ideas & beliefs     
des]v+ ( expression1 consid]ation1 &    
adh]5ce4 ,our political sy/em & cultural
 life re/ ^u ?is ideal4 ,gov]nm5t action
 t /ifles spee* on acc\nt ( its message1
 or t requires ! utt]ance ( a p>ticul>  

message favor$ by ! ,gov]nm5t1          
contrav5es ?is ess5tial "r 4 4 4 & poses
 ! inh]5t risk t ,gov]nm5t seeks n to   
advance a legitimate regulatory goal1 b 
to suppress unpopul> ideas or manipulate
 ! public debate ?r\gh co]cion r ?an    
p]suasion4 ,^! re/rictions #8raise !    
spect] t ! ,gov]nm5t may effectively    
drive c]ta9 ideas or viewpo9ts f !      
m>ketplace4' ,= ^! reasons1 ! ,fir/     
,am5dm5t1 subject only to n>r[ &        
well-und]/ood exceptions1 does n        
c\nt5ance gov]nm5t control ov] ! cont5t 
( messages express$ by private          
individuals44  7#g7 ,9 ,r4,a4,v4 v4     
,city ( ,/4 ,paul1 #eje ,u4,s4 #cgg     
7#aiib71 ! ,c\rt expla9$ t ! ,fir/      
,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates g5]ally prev5ts gov]nm5t f       
proscrib+ spee*1 or ev5 expressive      
conduct1 because ( disapproval ( ! ideas
 express$4 ,cont5t-bas$ re/rictions are 
presumptively invalid44  7#h7 ,! case ( 
,br&5burg v4 ,ohio1 #cie ,u4,s4 #ddd    
7#aifi71 /&s = ! proposition t spee* c  

be suppress$ only if ! spee* is int5d$1 
& is likely to produce1 imm95t lawless  
action4  7#i7 ,ju/ice ,william ,br5nan1 
9 8 majority op9ion = ! ,c\rt 9 ,texas  
v4 ,johnson1 #dia ,u4,s4 #cig 7#aihi71  
ass]t$ t if !re is a b$rock pr9ciple    
und]ly+ ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t1 x is t !      
gov]nm5t may n prohibit ! expression (  
an idea simply because society f9ds !   
idea itself (f5sive or disagreeable44   
7#aj7 ,ju/ice ,neil ,gorsu*1 9 8        
majority op9ion = ! ,c\rt 9 #cjc        
,creative ,,llc v4 ,el5is1  ,u4,s4      
7#bjbc71 /at$1 ,! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t        
envisions ! ,unit$ ,/ates z a ri* &     
complex place :]e all p]sons are free to
 ?9k & speak z !y wi%1 n z ! gov]nm5t   
dem&s44  7#aa7 ,z evid5c$ 9 disclosures 
f v>i\s social m$ia companies1 ,f$]al   
(ficials 9 rec5t ye>s h s\ght to c5sor  
legal spee* on plat=ms op]at$ by ^?     
companies by us+ ! p[] ( _! (fices to   
influ5ce :at op9ions1 views1 & o!r      
cont5t t us]s ( ^? plat=ms may          
dissem9ate4  7#ab7 ,:ite ,h\se (ficials 

& (ficials ( ,executive ag5cies s\ght to
 sil5ce n>ratives on social m$ia plat=ms
 on issues relat+ to ! ,,covid-#ai      
p&emic4  7#ac7 ,! ,c5t]s = ,disease     
,control & ,prev5tion engag$ ) (ficials 
at ,facebook & ,twitt] to reque/ t c]ta9
 po/s be flagg$ z dis9=mation & held    
regul> meet+s ) ^? companies to %>e     
in/ances ( :at gov]nm5t (ficials det]m9$
 to be mis9=mation ab\t ! ,,covid-#ai   
p&emic t _h be5 spread on ! plat=ms     
op]at$ by ^? companies4  7#ad7 ,9 ! mid/
 ( ! #bjbj election cycle1 ! ,f$]al     
,bureau ( ,inve/igation communicat$ )   
high-level te*nology company executives 
& sugge/$ t a ,new ,york ,po/ /ory      
reg>d+ ! cont5ts ( ,hunt] ,bid5's laptop
 7 "p ( a hack & leak op]ation4  7#ae7  
,on ,april #bg1 #bjbb1 ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,homel& ,security ann\nc$ ! creation ( a
 ,dis9=mation ,gov]nance ,bo>d 7ref]r$  
to 9 ?is p>agraph z ! ,bo>d74 ,!        
,director ( ! ,bo>d1 ,n9a ,jank[icz1    
s\ght to e/abli% an analytic ex*ange )  
indu/ry p>tn]s4 ,9 congressional        

te/imony1 ,secret>y ( ,homel& ,security 
,alej&ro ,mayorkas provid$ mislead+     
te/imony ab\t ! actions ( ! ,bo>d4      
7#af7 ,s9ce #bjbj1 #b nonpr(it          
organizations affiliat$ ) ! ,global     
,dis9=mation ,index 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is    
p>agraph z ,,gdi7 h receiv$ a total (   
#ccj1jjj 9 grants f ,f$]al ag5cies4     
,,gdi ma9ta9s a li/ ( global news       
publications rat$ high risk =           
dis9=mation4 ,major adv]tis+ companies  
seek guidance f ?is purport$ nonp>tisan 
gr\p to det]m9e :]e adv]tis+ money %\ld 
be sp5t4 ,despite ! self-proclaim$      
nonp>tisan nature ( ! li/1 ,,gdi        
includes a ho/ ( reputable m$ia outlets1
 su* z ,reason1 ,real,clear,politics1 & 
! ,new ,york ,po/4  #d4 ,employee       
prohibitions  7a7 ,prohibitions  7#a7 ,9
 g5]al ,an employee act+ "u (ficial     
au?ority or influ5ce may n-- 7,a7 use   
any =m ( communication 7)\t reg>d to    
:e!r ! communication is visible to      
memb]s ( ! public7 to direct1 co]ce1    
compel1 or enc\rage a provid] to take1  

sugge/ or imply t a provid] %\ld take1  
or reque/ t a provid] take any action to
 c5sor spee* t is protect$ by !         
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ 
by-- 7i7 remov+ t spee* f ! applicable  
cov]$ plat=m2  7ii7 suppress+ t spee* on
 ! applicable cov]$ plat=m2  7iii7      
remov+ or susp5d+ a p>ticul> us] 7or a  
class ( us]s7 f ! applicable cov]$      
plat=m or o!rwise limit+ ! access ( a   
p>ticul> us] 7or a class ( us]s7 to !   
cov]$ plat=m2  7iv7 label+ t spee* z    
dis9=mation1 mis9=mation1 or false1 or  
by mak+ any simil> *>act]ization )      
respect to ! spee*2 or  7v7 o!rwise     
block+1 bann+1 delet+1 deprioritiz+1    
demonetiz+1 deboo/+1 limit+ ! rea* (1 or
 re/rict+ access to ! spee*2  7,b7      
direct or enc\rage a provid] to %>e ) an
 ,executive ag5cy cov]$ in=mation       
conta9+ data or in=mation reg>d+ a      
p>ticul> topic1 or a us] or gr\p ( us]s 
on ! applicable cov]$ plat=m1 includ+   
any cov]$ in=mation %>$ or /or$ by us]s 
on ! cov]$ plat=m2  7,c7 "w1 directly or

 indirectly1 ) any private or public    
entity or p]son to take an action t is  
prohibit$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 or 7,b72  
or  7,d7 on behalf ( ! ,executive ag5cy 
employ+ ! employee-- 7i7 ent] into a    
p>tn]%ip ) a provid] to monitor any     
cont5t dissem9at$ on ! applicable cov]$ 
plat=m2 or  7ii7 solicit1 accept1 or    
ent] into a contract or o!r agreem5t    
7includ+ a no-co/ agreem5t7 = free      
adv]tis+ or ano!r promotion on a cov]$  
plat=m4  7#b7 ,exception ,not)/&+       
subp>agraph 7,b7 ( p>agraph 7#a71 !     
prohibition "u t subp>agraph %all n     
apply ) respect to an action by an      
,executive ag5cy or employee pursuant to
 a w>rant t is issu$ by-- 7,a7 a c\rt ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates ( compet5t jurisdiction 
9 accordance ) ! proc$ures describ$ 9   
rule #da ( ! ,f$]al ,rules ( ,crim9al   
,proc$ure2 or  7,b7 a ,/ate c\rt (      
compet5t jurisdiction4  7#c7 ,employee  
discipl9e  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,not)/&+ any   
provision ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code1 & subject to subp>agraph 7,b71 ! 

head ( an ,executive ag5cy employ+ an   
employee :o violates any provision (    
p>agraph 7#a7 7or1 9 ! case ( ! head (  
an ,executive ag5cy :o violates any     
provision ( p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,presid5t7 
%all impose on t employee-- 7i7         
discipl9>y action consi/+ ( removal1    
r$uction 9 grade1 susp5sion1 or deb>m5t 
f employm5t ) ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7ii7 a  
civil p5alty 9 an am\nt t is n less ?an 
#aj1jjj2  7iii7 ineligibility = any     
annuity "u *apt] #hc or #hd ( title #e1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 &  7iv7 p]man5t    
revocation ( any applicable security    
cle>ance held by ! employee4  7,b7      
,specific contractor discipl9e ,9 ! case
 ( an employee describ$ 9 section       
#b7d77;,a77ii77,i7 :o violates any      
provision ( p>agraph 7#a71 9 addition to
 any discipl9e t may be applicable "u   
subp>agraph 7,a7 ( ?is p>agraph1 t      
employee %all be b>r$ f work+ "u any    
contract ) ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t4  7b7     
,private "r ( action  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a  
p]son1 ! acc\nt1 cont5t1 spee*1 or o!r  

in=mation ( :i* has be5 affect$ 9       
violation ( ?is section1 may br+ a civil
 action 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,di/rict ,c\rt
 = ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia = reasonable  
attorneys' fees1 injunctive relief1 &   
actual damages aga9/-- 7,a7 ! applicable
 ,executive ag5cy2 &  7,b7 ! employee ( 
! applicable ,executive ag5cy :o        
committ$ ! violation4  7#b7 ,presumption
 ( liability ,9 a civil action br\ght "u
 p>agraph 7#a71 !re %all be a rebuttable
 presumption aga9/ ! applicable         
,executive ag5cy or employee if ! p]son 
br++ ! action demon/rates t ! applicable
 employee communicat$ ) a provid] on a  
matt] relat+ to-- 7,a7 cov]$ in=mation )
 respect to t p]son2 or  7,b7 a /atem5t 
made by t p]son on ! applicable cov]$   
plat=m4  #e4 ,report+ requirem5ts  7a7  
,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] !    
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & n less    
frequ5tly ?an once e #ij days !reaft]1 !
 head ( ea* ,executive ag5cy %all submit
 to ! ,director & ! *air & rank+ memb] (
 ! ,committee on ,homel& ,security &    

,gov]nm5tal ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate1 !      
,committee on ! ,judici>y ( ! ,s5ate1 ! 
,committee on ,ov]sight & ,acc\ntability
 ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 & !       
,committee on ! ,judici>y ( ! ,h\se (   
,repres5tatives a report t discloses1 = 
! p]iod cov]$ by ! report1 ea*          
communication betwe5 a repres5tative ( a
 provid] & an employee ( t ,executive   
ag5cy-- 7#a7 includ+ any su*            
communication t con/itutes a violation (
 section #d7;a77#a72 &  7#b7 n includ+  
any su* communication t relates to      
combat+ *ild pornography or             
exploitation1 human traffick+1 or !     
illegal transport+ or transact+ 9       
controll$ sub/ances4  7b7 ,cont5ts ,ea* 
report submitt$ "u subsection 7a7 %all  
include1 ) respect to a communication   
describ$ 9 t subsection-- 7#a7 ! "n &   
pr(essional title ( ea* employee & ea*  
repres5tative ( a provid] engag$ 9 !    
communication2 &  7#b7 if !             
communication con/itutes a violation (  
section #d7;a77#a7-- 7,a7 a detail$     

explanation ( ! nature ( ! violation2 & 
7,b7 ! date ( ! violation4  7c7         
,publication  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an 
#e days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,director  
receives a report "u subsection 7a71 !  
,director %all-- 7,a7 collect ! report &
 assign ! report a unique track+ numb]2 
&  7,b7 publi% on a publicly accessible 
& se>*able website ! cont5ts ( ! report 
& ! track+ numb] = ! report4  7#b7      
,subject ( report ,) respect to a report
 submitt$ pursuant to subsection 7a7 (  
:i* an individual is a subject1 n lat]  
?an ! end ( ! bus9ess day foll[+ !      
bus9ess day on :i* ! report is submitt$1
 ! ,director %all make a reasonable ef=t
 to contact any p]son or entity directly
 affect$ by a violation ( ?is ,act      
describ$ 9 ! report to in=m t p]son ( ! 
report4  #f4 ,cyb]security infra/ructure
 & security ag5cy report ,n lat] ?an    
#ahj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is  
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,homel& ,security   
%all submit to ! ,director & ! *air &   
rank+ memb] ( ! ,committee on ,homel&   

,security & ,gov]nm5tal ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,ov]sight &    
,acc\ntability ( ! ,h\se (              
,repres5tatives a report t discloses any
 action ( an employee ( ! ,cyb]security 
& ,infra/ructure ,security ,ag5cy t--   
7#a7 occurr$ betwe5 ,novemb] #af1 #bjah1
 & ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act2 &  7#b7
 w\ld h be5 9 violation ( section       
#d7;a77#a74  #g4 ,t]m9ation (           
,dis9=mation ,gov]nance ,bo>d  7a7      
,t]m9ation ,! ,dis9=mation ,gov]nance   
,bo>d e/abli%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,homel& 
,security1 if 9 exi/5ce on ! date (     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 is t]m9at$4  7b7   
,prohibition aga9/ ,f$]al fund+ ,no     
,f$]al funds may be us$ to e/abli% or   
support ! activities ( any o!r entity t 
is sub/antially simil> to ! ,dis9=mation
 ,gov]nance ,bo>d t]m9at$ pursuant to   
subsection 7a74  #h4 ,prohibition on    
mis9=mation & dis9=mation grants ,! head
 ( an ,executive ag5cy may n aw>d a     
grant relat+ to programm+ on mis9=mation
 or dis9=mation4  #i4 ,grant t]ms  7a7  

,c]tification ,! recipi5t ( a grant     
aw>d$ by an ,executive ag5cy on or aft] 
! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act %all c]tify
 to ! head ( ! ,executive ag5cy t !     
recipi5t or a subgrantee ( ! recipi5t1  
dur+ ! t]m ( ! grant1 w n designate any 
creator ( news cont5t1 reg>dless (      
m$ium1 z a s\rce ( mis9=mation or       
dis9=mation4  7b7 ,publication ,n lat]  
?an #aj days aft] ! date on :i* an      
,executive ag5cy aw>ds a grant1 ! head (
 ! ,executive ag5cy %all publi% !       
c]tification receiv$ "u subsection 7a7 )
 respect to ! grant on ,grants4gov1 or  
any successor website4  7c7 ,p5alty ,^u 
a det]m9ation by ! head ( an ,executive 
ag5cy t a recipi5t or subgrantee ( a    
recipi5t has violat$ ! c]tification ( ! 
recipi5t "u subsection 7a71 ! recipi5t  
or subgrantee1 respectively1 %all-- 7#a7
 repay ! grant associat$ ) !            
c]tification2 &  7#b7 be ineligible to  
receive a grant f ! ,executive ag5cy4   
#aj4 ,presid5tial w> p[]s "u !          
,communications ,act ( #aicd  7a7 ,9    

g5]al ,section #gjf ( ! ,communications 
,act ( #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #fjf7 is    
am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ subsections 7c7   
?r\gh 7g72 &  7#b7 by r$esignat+        
subsection 7h7 z subsection 7c74  7b7   
,te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5ts ,section    
#cji7;h7 ( ! ,communications ,act (     
#aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #cji7;h77 is       
am5d$-- 7#a7 by ins]t+ & be=e 7#b72 &   
7#b7 by /rik+ ,act2 & all t foll[s ?r\gh
 ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ ! foll[+3    
,act44  #aa4 ,applicability ( ,,foia    
7a7 ,def9ition ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m    
ag5cy has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section  
#eea ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4   
7b7 ,applicability ,not)/&+ any         
provision ( section #eeb ( title #e1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 any reque/ made to 
an ag5cy pursuant to t section = records
 relat+ to communication betwe5 an      
employee & a repres5tative ( a provid]--
 7#a7 %all be grant$ by ! ag5cy )\t     
reg>d to any exemption "u subsection 7b7
 ( t section1 except ! ag5cy may n      
release any id5tify+ in=mation ( a us] (

 a cov]$ plat=m )\t express writt5      
cons5t grant$ by ! us] to ! ag5cy2 &    
7#b7 may n be grant$ by ! ag5cy if !    
communication occurr$ pursuant to a     
w>rant describ$ 9 section #d7;a77#b74