,,iii  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,res4 #gae  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #cj1 #bjbf,mr4 
,s*atz 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,wel*1 ,mr4     
,m]kley1 ,mr4 ,wyd51 ,mr4 ,ka9e1 ,mr4   
,van ,holl51 ,mr4 ,s*iff1 ,mr4 ,coons1 &
 ,mr4 ,b5net7 submitt$ ! foll[+         
resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee
 on ,=eign ,relations  ,,resolution     
,recogniz+ escalat+ ?reats to fre$om ( !
 press & fre$om ( spee* worldwide1      
includ+ increas+ h>m to j\rnali/s       
report+ 9 conflict zones & "u repressive
 regimes1 reaffirm+ ! vital role t a    
free & indep5d5t press plays 9 uphold+  
democracy1 fo/]+ economic prosp]ity1 &  
keep+ ! public in=m$1 & reaffirm+ fre$om
 ( ! press z a priority ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates ,gov]nm5t 9 support+ democracy1  
human rights1 & good gov]nance 9        
commemoration ( ,_w ,press ,fre$om ,day 
on ,may #c1 #bjbf4  ,:]eas fre$om ( !   
press is f\ndational to ,am]ican        
democracy & has be5 en%r9$ 9 ! ,fir/    
,am5dm5t to ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,con/itution

 & 9 v>i\s ,/ate con/itutions2 ,:]eas a 
free & indep5d5t press ar\nd ! _w       
supports ,unit$ ,/ates =eign policy     
goals ( c\nt]+ au?orit>ianism & promot+ 
democratic gov]nance & human rights1    
includ+ rights en%r9$ 9 ! ,=eign        
,assi/ance ,act ( #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4  
#baea et seq47 & o!r laws1 by refut+    
propag&a & enhanc+ public acc\ntability1
 transp>5cy1 & p>ticipation 9 civil     
society2 ,:]eas a robu/ indep5d5t press 
plays a key role 9 expos+ & refut+      
malign influ5ce campaigns us$ by        
au?orit>ian gov]nm5ts1 includ+ !        
,russian ,f$]ation & ! ,p's ,republic ( 
,*9a2 ,:]eas ! c5sor%ip1 victimization1 
& kill+ ( j\rnali/s ar\nd ! _w1         
p>ticul>ly 9 w> zones1 has pr(\nd       
implications = ! ability ( ! public1    
includ+ ,am]icans1 to be in=m$ ab\t     
conflicts ) local1 regional1 & global   
ramifications & o!r issues2 ,:]eas !    
,unit$ ,/ates has advanc$ press fre$om  
globally1 includ+ by lead+ ! draft+ ( ! 
,univ]sal ,decl>ation ( ,human ,rights1 

:i* 0 adopt$ by ! ,unit$ ,nations 9     
,p>is on ,decemb] #aj1 #aidh1 & /ates1 9
 article #ai1 ,ev]yone has ! "r to      
fre$om ( op9ion & expression2 ?is "r    
includes fre$om to hold op9ions )\t     
int]f]5ce & to seek1 receive & imp>t    
in=mation & ideas ?r\gh any m$ia &      
reg>dless ( fronti]s42 ,:]eas1 9 #aiic1 
! ,unit$ ,nations ,g5]al ,assembly      
proclaim$ ! ?ird day ( ,may ( ea* ye> to
 be ,_w ,press ,fre$om ,day-- 7#a7 to   
celebrate ! fundam5tal pr9ciples ( press
 fre$om2  7#b7 to evaluate press fre$om 
ar\nd ! _w2  7#c7 to def5d ! m$ia aga9/ 
attacks on its indep5d5ce2 &  7#d7 to   
pay tribute to j\rnali/s :o h lo/ _!    
lives :ile work+ 9 _! pr(ession2 ,:]eas 
,congress has pass$ legislation support+
 press fre$om abroad1 includ+-- 7#a7 !  
,daniel ,pe>l ,fre$om ( ! ,press ,act ( 
#bjji 7,public ,law #aaa-aff71 :i* exp&$
 ! exam9ation ( ! fre$om ( ! press ar\nd
 ! _w 9 ! annual ,c\ntry ,reports on    
,human ,rights ,practices publi%$ by !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate2 &  7#b7 ! ,global    

,magnitsky ,human ,rights ,acc\ntability
 ,act 7subtitle ,f ( title ,,xii (      
,public ,law #aad-cbh71 :i* has be5 us$ 
to place t>get$ visa & economic         
sanctions on individuals = _! roles 9 ! 
t>get$ kill+s ( j\rnali/s2 ,:]eas1 9    
#bjba1 9 an ef=t to combat attacks aga9/
 j\rnali/s1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate adopt$ !
 ,kha%oggi ,ban pursuant to section     
#bab7;a77#c77;,c7 ( ! ,immigration &    
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aahb7;a77#c77;,c771 :i* imposes visa   
re/rictions on individuals :o1 act+ on  
behalf ( a =eign gov]nm5t1 are believ$  
to h be5 directly engag$ 9 s]i\s1       
extrat]ritorial c\nt]-dissid5t          
activities1 includ+ activities t        
suppress1 h>ass1 surveil1 ?reat51 or h>m
 j\rnali/s1 activi/s1 or o!r p]sons     
p]ceiv$ to be dissid5ts = _! "w2 ,:]eas 
! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t has-- 7#a7    
support$ broadca/ j\rnalism ar\nd ! _w  
to provide news to millions ( p liv+ "u 
au?orit>ian regimes2 &  7#b7 provid$    
em]g5cy assi/ance to j\rnali/s fac+     

imm$iate risks to _! lives z a result ( 
_! report+2 ,:]eas ,fre$om ,h\se's      
,fre$om 9 ! ,_w #bjbf report m>k$ ! #bj?
 consecutive ye> ( decl9e 9 global      
fre$om1 ) an e/imat$ #dj p]c5t ( !      
global population liv+ 9 c\ntries deem$ 
,n ,free2 ,:]eas m$ia fre$om decl9$ m   
?an any o!r rights track$ by ! ,fre$om 9
 ! ,_w report dur+ ! la/ #bj ye>s1 fuel$
 by attacks & prosecutions aga9/        
j\rnali/s1 pressure on m$ia outlets1    
repressive regulatory & legal           
frameworks1 int]net %utd[ns1 unlawful   
ef=ts to und]m9e /rong encryption1 &    
blocks on onl9e s\rces ( in=mation2     
,:]eas1 accord+ to ! ,report]s ,)\t     
,bord]s' ,_w ,press ,fre$om ,index1     
press fre$om is at a #be-ye> l[ &1 = !  
fir/ "t 9 ! hi/ory ( ?is ,index1 m ?an  
#a_/b ( ! _w's c\ntries n[ fall into !  
difficult or v s]i\s categories = press 
fre$om2 ,:]eas ,fre$om ,h\se's ,fre$om  
on ! ,net #bjbe report m>k$ ! #ae?      
consecutive ye> ( decl9e 9 global       
int]net fre$om1 ) p 9 at lea/ #eg ( !   

#gb c\ntries cov]$ fac+ legal           
rep]cussions = express+ !mselves onl9e  
7a record high7 & p 9 #dd c\ntries fac+ 
physical assaults or dea? = _! onl9e    
comm5t>y2 ,:]eas !re are al>m+          
indications ab\t gr[+ divisions result+ 
f ! spread ( au?orit>ian in=mation      
campaigns ) ! pot5tial to weak5         
democratic societies2 ,:]eas ,unit$     
,/ates j\rnali/s h be5 kill$1 injur$1 & 
imprison$ :ile report+ abroad1 includ+--
 7#a7 ,*ri/oph] ,all51 :o 0 kill$ :ile  
cov]+ ! conflict 9 ,s\? ,sudan on ,augu/
 #bf1 #bjag1 & = :om !re has be5 no     
cr$ible inve/igation to pursue ju/ice   
aft] ne>ly #h ye>s2  7#b7 ,au/9 ,tice1  
:o 0 kidnap$ 9 ,syria & has be5 miss+   
s9ce ,augu/ #ac1 #bjab2  7#c7 ,br5t     
,r5aud1 :o 0 kill$ by ,russian =ces :ile
 cov]+ ! w> 9 ,ukra9e on ,m>* #ac1      
#bjbb2  7#d7 ,%ire5 ,abu ,akleh1 :o 0   
kill$ by ,israeli =ces on ,may #aa1     
#bjbb1 :ile report+ 9 ! ,we/ ,bank2     
7#e7 ,evan ,g]%kovi*1 :o 0 wrongfully   
deta9$ 9 ,russia f ,m>* #bjbc to ,augu/ 

#bjbd on baseless *>ges ( espionage2    
7#f7 ,alsu ,kurma%eva1 :o 0 wrongfully  
deta9$ 9 ,russia f ,octob] #bjbc to     
,augu/ #bjbd on bogus *>ges ( failure to
 regi/] z a =eign ag5t2 &  7#g7 ,dylan  
,coll9s1 a j\rnali/ at ,ag5ce           
,france-,presse 7,,afp71 :o 0 injur$ 9  
an attack on a gr\p ( j\rnali/s 9 s\!rn 
,lebanon by ,israeli =ces on ,octob]    
#ac1 #bjbc2 ,:]eas m j\rnali/s & m$ia   
work]s 7 kill$ 9 #bjbe ?an 9 any o!r ye>
 s9ce ! ,committee to ,protect ,j\rnali/
 began collect+ data m ?an #c decades   
ago2 ,:]eas1 s9ce ,octob] #g1 #bjbc1 at 
lea/ #bbg j\rnali/s & m$ia work]s h be5 
kill$ 9 ,israel1 ,gaza1 & ,lebanon1 #bjg
 ( :om 7 ,pale/9ians kill$ 9 ,gaza by ! 
,israeli milit>y1 mak+ ! ,gaza conflict 
! deadlie/ on record = j\rnali/s1       
accord+ to ! ,committee to ,protect     
,j\rnali/s2 ,:]eas = ! fif? ye> 9 a r[1 
m ?an #cjj j\rnali/s 7 imprison$        
worldwide at ! end ( #bjbe1 accord+ to !
 ,committee to ,protect ,j\rnali/s1     
includ+ ,zhang ,zhan 9 ! ,p's ,republic 

( ,*9a1 ,y]is ,curbelo ,aguil]a 9 ,cuba1
 ,mzia ,amaglobeli 9 ,georgia1          
,,rfe_/,,rl j\rnali/ ,nika ,novak 9     
,russia1 ,,rfe_/,,rl j\rnali/ ,f>id     
,mehralizada 9 ,az]baijan1 & =m]        
,,rfe_/,,rl j\rnali/ & dual ,unit$      
,/ates-,iranian national ,reza          
,valizadeh 9 ,iran2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to !
 ,committee to ,protect ,j\rnali/s #bjbe
 c5sus1 m ?an #a_/c ( ^! deta9$         
j\rnali/s are s]v+ t]ms exce$+ #e ye>s1 
includ+-- 7#a7 ,fr5* j\rnali/ ,*ri/ophe 
,gleizes 9 ,alg]ia2  7#b7 ,sev9j        
,vagifgizi 9 ,az]baijan2  7#c7 ,dzianis 
,iva%yn 9 ,bel>us2  7#d7 ,?omas ,awah1  
,jr41 ,tsi ,conrad1 ,amad\1 ,vam\lk1 &  
,man*o ,bibixy 9 ,cam]oon2  7#e7 ,ilham 
,tohti1 ,jimmy ,lai1 & ,dong ,yuyu 9 !  
,p's ,republic ( ,*9a & ,hong ,kong2    
7#f7 ,fr5*ie ,mae ,cumpio 9 !           
,philipp9es2  7#g7 ,rukh%ona ,khakimova 
9 ,tajiki/an2  7#h7 ,dauletmurat        
,tazhimuratov 9 ,uzbeki/an2 &  7#i7     
,pham ,doan ,trang & ,le ,huu ,m9h ,tuan
 9 ,vietnam2 ,:]eas1 accord+ to !       

,committee to ,protect ,j\rnali/s #bjbe 
c5sus1 ne>ly #a_/b ( ^! deta9$ j\rnali/s
 h nev] be5 s5t5c$1 includ+-- 7#a7      
,dawit ,isaak & ,sey\m ,tsehaye 9       
,eritrea2  7#b7 ,pale/9ian j\rnali/ ,ali
 ,al-,sam\di 9 ,israel2  7#c7 ,elsbe?   
,d',&a 9 ,nic>agua2 &  7#d7 ,ukra9ian   
j\rnali/s ,ana/asiya ,glukhovska &      
,iryna ,lev*5ko 9 ,russia2 ,:]eas1      
accord+ to ,,p5 ,am]ica1 m ?an #djj     
writ]s & public intellectuals1 includ+  
columni/s & editorial j\rnali/s1 7      
imprison$ across #dj diff]5t c\ntries   
dur+ #bjbe2 ,:]eas j\rnali/s & m$ia     
outlets are t>get$ by gov]nm5t actors ) 
sophi/icat$ spyw>e products t pose a    
sev]e risk to _! privacy & ! security ( 
_! s\rces & families2 ,:]eas ! c5sor%ip1
 victimization1 & kill+ ( j\rnali/s     
ar\nd ! _w1 p>ticul>ly 9 conflict zones1
 has obvi\s & pr(\nd implications = !   
ability ( ! public1 includ+ ,am]icans1  
to be in=m$1 includ+ ab\t conflicts )   
local1 regional1 & global ramifications2
 & ,:]eas press fre$om-- 7#a7 is a key  

compon5t ( democratic gov]nance1 human  
rights1 activism 9 civil society1 &     
socioeconomic developm5t2 &  7#b7       
enhances public acc\ntability1          
transp>5cy1 & p>ticipation 9 civil      
society & democratic gov]nance3 ,n[1    
!re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 decl>es 
t a free press-- 7,a7 is a c5tral       
compon5t ( free societies & democratic  
gov]nance2  7,b7 contributes to an in=m$
 civil society & gov]nm5t acc\ntability2
  7,c7 helps to expose corruption2  7,d7
 enhances public acc\ntability &        
transp>5cy ( gov]nm5ts at all levels2 & 
7,e7 dissem9ates in=mation t is ess5tial
 to improv+ public heal? & safety2  7#b7
 expresses conc]ns ab\t ?reats to !     
ex]cise ( fre$om ( expression1 includ+  
by ! press1 ar\nd ! _w2  7#c7 recognizes
 & comm5ds j\rnalism's role 9 provid+   
tru/$1 accurate1 & timely in=mation & 9 
hold+ gov]nm5ts & lead]s acc\ntable to  
citiz5s1 includ+ = human rights abuses2 
7#d7 recognizes ! indisp5sable role (   
j\rnali/s & m$ia outlets 9 in=m+ vot]s &

 ! int]national community ab\t elections
 9 multiple c\ntries worldwide 9 #bjbe2 
7#e7 recognizes ! critical importance ( 
int]national j\rnali/s' access to       
conflict zones to conduct indep5d5t     
report+2  7#f7 pays tribute to j\rnali/s
 :o made trem5d\s sacrifices1 includ+ ! 
loss ( _! lives1 9 ! pursuit ( tru? &   
ju/ice2  7#g7 condemns all actions ar\nd
 ! _w t suppress press fre$om & endang] 
! safety ( j\rnali/s2  7#h7 calls = !   
unconditional & imm$iate release ( all  
wrongfully deta9$ j\rnali/s2  7#i7      
reaffirms ! c5trality ( press fre$om to 
ef=ts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t to    
support democracy1 mitigate conflict1 & 
promote human rights & good gov]nance   
dome/ically & ar\nd ! _w2 &  7#aj7 calls
 ^u ! ,presid5t & ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate-- 
7,a7 to pres]ve & build ^u ! lead]%ip ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates on issues relat+ to     
press fre$om & j\rnali/ safety1 on !    
basis ( ! protections = fre$om ( ! press
 af=d$ to ! ,am]ican p "u ! ,fir/       
,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$   

,/ates2  7,b7 to transp>5tly inve/igate 
& br+ to ju/ice ! p]petrators ( attacks 
& ?reats aga9/ ,am]ican j\rnali/s2  7,c7
 to support transp>5t inve/igations &   
ef=ts to ensure acc\ntability = attacks 
aga9/ j\rnali/s ( o!r nationalities2 &  
7,d7 to promote ! respect & protection (
 press fre$om ar\nd ! _w4