Results for

  • World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act

    HR #7001 | Last Action: 5/22/2020
    World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act This bill establishes requirements related to the protection and support of journalists and media personnel abroad. Specifically, the President must establish a plan to (1) negotiate access for U.S. news and media organizations and their employees globally, and (2) work to enhance reciprocity for news and media organizations operating in the United States. The President must impose visa-blocking sanctions on any foreign person who is responsible for the jailing, killing, or torture of journalists or media personnel or significant efforts to harass or restrict the activities, terminate the visas, or threaten the safety of journalists or media personnel. Identification statements required to be placed on informational materials distributed in the United States by an agent of a foreign principal on behalf of such principal must be labeled, marked, or stamped conspicuously at the top of the first page of such materials. The annual country reports on human rights and development assistance and human rights and security assistance must include an assessment of freedom of expression with respect to electronic information in foreign countries. Lastly, the bill establishes the Global Press Freedom Defense Fund to provide assistance to foreign journalists and media personnel who are victims of restrictions on the internationally recognized right to freedom of expression, including assistance to pay for legal and other related expenses.
  • A resolution recognizing widening threats to freedom of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of free societies and democracies, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2020.

    SRES #600 | Last Action: 5/21/2020
    This resolution recognizes the importance of a free press to an informed, transparent, and safe society; condemns threats to freedom of the press and free expression around the world; and, in remembrance of journalists who lost their lives carrying out their work, calls for actions by the President, the Department of State, and foreign governments to protect and promote freedom of expression globally.
  • A resolution recognizing widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of free societies and democracies, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2020.

    SRES #595 | Last Action: 5/21/2020
    This resolution recognizes the importance of a free press to an informed, transparent, and safe society; condemns threats to freedom of the press and free expression around the world; and, in remembrance of journalists who lost their lives carrying out their work, calls for actions by the President, the Department of State, and foreign governments to protect and promote freedom of expression globally.
  • World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act

    S #3818 | Last Action: 5/21/2020
    World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act This bill establishes requirements related to the protection and support of journalists and media personnel abroad. Specifically, the President must establish a plan to (1) negotiate access for U.S. news and media organizations and their employees globally, and (2) work to enhance reciprocity for news and media organizations operating in the United States. The President may impose visa-blocking sanctions on any foreign person who is responsible for the jailing, killing, or torture of journalists or media personnel or significant efforts to harass or restrict the activities, terminate the visas, or threaten the safety of journalists or media personnel. Identification statements required to be placed on informational materials distributed in the United States by an agent of a foreign principal on behalf of such principal must be labeled, marked, or stamped conspicuously at the top of the first page of such materials. The annual country reports on human rights and development assistance and human rights and security assistance must include an assessment of freedom of expression with respect to electronic information in foreign countries. Lastly, the bill establishes the Global Press Freedom Defense Fund to provide assistance to foreign journalists and media personnel who are victims of restrictions on the internationally recognized right to freedom of expression, including assistance to pay for legal and other related expenses.
  • Global Press Freedom Act

    S #5026 | Last Action: 12/16/2020
    Global Press Freedom Act This bill establishes the Office of Press Freedom to advance the protection and well-being of members of the press abroad and to engage with foreign governments and global press freedom organizations concerning freedom of the press and of expression. The Government Accountability Office must assess and report on effects and changes resulting from certain requirements related to press freedom.
  • Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2020

    S #4245 | Last Action: 7/21/2020
    Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2020 This bill authorizes and establishes programs to promote internet freedom in Hong Kong and contains other related provisions. The Department of State may establish an interagency working group to develop a strategy to bolster internet resiliency and access in Hong Kong. The State Department shall also establish within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor a Hong Kong internet freedom program. (The bureau has existing programs to promote internet freedom globally through technology development, digital safety, policy advocacy, and research.) The Open Technology Fund may establish a Hong Kong internet freedom program. (The fund, an independent nonprofit organization that receives U.S. government funding, was originally a part of Radio Free Asia.) The bureau and the fund may award grants to qualifying private organizations to promote technology and tools in Hong Kong that promote online information access, enhance digital security, and circumvent internet blocking and other online censorship. The State Department shall report to Congress a classified strategy to (1) increase the availability of firewall circumvention technology in Hong Kong; and (2) support the preservation of an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet in Hong Kong.
  • A resolution recognizing widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2019.

    SRES #179 | Last Action: 5/1/2019
    This resolution expresses concern about threats to freedom of the press and free expression around the world on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2019. It commends journalists and media workers for their role in promoting accountability, democratic activity, and civil society and reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the press to efforts of the U.S. government in supporting democracy.
  • Responding to widening threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance on World Press Freedom Day.

    HRES #345 | Last Action: 7/15/2019
    This resolution condemns threats to freedom of the press around the world. It also remembers the bravery of journalists and media workers around the world and those who have died carrying out their work. It calls on the President and the Department of State to build upon U.S. leadership on press freedom issues.
  • Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act

    HR #5408 | Last Action: 12/12/2019
    Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act This bill directs the President, when determining whether Russia is a country of particular concern for religious freedom under certain federal laws, to consider incidents occurring in the parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia or Russia-affiliated non-state groups. (The United States may take certain actions, such as withdrawing development assistance, against a country of particular concern for religious freedom.)
  • Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act

    S #3064 | Last Action: 12/17/2019
    Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act This bill directs the President, when determining whether Russia is a country of particular concern for religious freedom under certain federal laws, to consider incidents occurring in the parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia or Russia-affiliated non-state groups. (The United States may take certain actions, such as withdrawing development assistance, against a country of particular concern for religious freedom.)
  • Healthcare Freedom Act of 2019

    HR #3594 | Last Action: 6/28/2019
    Healthcare Freedom Act of 2019 This bill expands the availability of health savings accounts. It renames such accounts as "health freedom accounts" and allows all individuals to receive increased tax deductions for contributions to such accounts. The term "qualified medical expenses" is expanded to include costs associated with direct primary care, health care sharing ministries, and medical cost sharing organizations. The bill also excludes employer contributions to health freedom accounts from employee gross income for income tax purposes.
  • Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act

    S #634 | Last Action: 2/28/2019
    Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act This bill allows individual and corporate taxpayers a tax credit for cash contributions to certain scholarship-granting and workforce training organizations. It imposes a cap of $10 billion on the sum of contributions that qualify for a tax credit under this bill. The bill requires the Department of Education, in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and Labor, to establish, host, and maintain a web portal that (1) lists all eligible scholarship-granting and workforce training organizations; (2) enables contributions to such organizations; (3) provides information about the benefits of this bill; and (4) enables a state to submit and update information about its programs and educational organizations, including information on student eligibility and allowable educational expenses.
  • Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act

    HR #1434 | Last Action: 2/28/2019
    Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act This bill allows individual and corporate taxpayers a tax credit for cash contributions to tax-exempt scholarship-granting organizations for elementary and secondary education expenses. It imposes a cap of $5 billion on the amount of contributions that qualify for a tax credit. The bill directs the Department of Education, in coordination with the Department of the Treasury, to establish, host, and maintain a web portal that (1) lists all eligible scholarship-granting organizations; (2) enables contributions to such organizations; (3) provides information about the benefits of this bill; and (4) enables a state to submit and update information about its programs and scholarship-granting organizations, including information on student eligibility and allowable educational expenses.
  • Federal Employee Access to Information Act

    S #4438 | Last Action: 8/5/2020
    Federal Employee Access to Information Act This bill prohibits personnel retaliation against federal employees and applicants for employment who file requests under the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act or who seek related administrative or judicial actions.
  • Federal Employee Access to Information Act

    HR #7936 | Last Action: 8/4/2020
    Federal Employee Access to Information Act This bill prohibits personnel retaliation against federal employees and applicants for employment who file requests under the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act or who seek related administrative or judicial actions.
  • Freedom to Compete Act

    S #124 | Last Action: 11/14/2019
    Freedom to Compete Act This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit an employer from enforcing, or threatening to enforce, any non-compete agreement in employment contracts with certain entry level, lower wage workers. A non-compete agreement entered into before the enactment of this bill shall be void and have no effect.
  • Recognizing the threats to press freedom in the United States in the wake of protests following the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance.

    HRES #999 | Last Action: 6/11/2020
    This resolution expresses support for freedom of the press and opposes the targeting of journalists. Specifically, the resolution * calls on law enforcement to protect freedom of the press and refrain from targeting journalists and media workers; * calls on government entities to clarify that credentialed press are exempt from curfews enacted in response to protests and public demonstrations; * stresses the need for accountability where law enforcement entities or protesters violate the Constitution, laws, or regulations in their treatment of journalists and media crews during protests; and * reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the press to supporting democracy, exposing corruption, and promoting good governance.
  • Private Prison Information Act of 2019

    S #2773 | Last Action: 11/5/2019
    Private Prison Information Act of 2019 This bill specifies that a record related to a non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility must be considered a federal agency record for purposes of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility must disclose information under FOIA unless the information is exempt from disclosure or the disclosure is prohibited by law. The term "non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility" means (1) a private prison, correctional, or detention facility; or (2) a state or local prison, jail, or other correctional or detention facility.
  • Private Prison Information Act of 2019

    HR #5087 | Last Action: 11/14/2019
    Private Prison Information Act of 2019 This bill specifies that a record related to a non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility must be considered a federal agency record for purposes of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility must disclose information under FOIA unless the information is exempt from disclosure or the disclosure is prohibited by law. The term "non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility" means (1) a private prison, correctional, or detention facility; or (2) a state or local prison, jail, or other correctional or detention facility.
  • A concurrent resolution affirming the importance of religious freedom as a fundamental human right that is essential to a free society and protected for all people of the United States under the Constitution of the United States, and recognizing the 234th anniversary of the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

    SCONRES #34 | Last Action: 1/15/2020
    This concurrent resolution calls for honoring the 234th anniversary of the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on Religious Freedom Day, January 16, 2020. The resolution affirms that * religious freedom includes the right of individuals of any faith and individuals of no faith to live, work, associate, and worship in accordance with their beliefs; * all people of the United States can be unified in supporting religious freedom because it is a fundamental human right; and * the American people will remain forever unshackled in matters of faith.
  • Promoting Internet Freedom and Innovation Act of 2019

    HR #1096 | Last Action: 2/7/2019
    Promoting Internet Freedom and Innovation Act of 2019 This bill establishes transparency requirements for a provider of broadband internet service and prohibits a provider from taking certain actions to restrict content. Specifically, the bill requires a broadband internet provider to disclose accurate management practices, performance information, and commercial terms sufficient for consumers to make informed choices and for entrepreneurs and small businesses to develop, market, and maintain new internet offerings. Additionally a provider is barred from (1) blocking lawful content, applications, or services; (2) prohibiting the use of non-harmful devices; (3) throttling lawful internet traffic; or (4) engaging in paid prioritization.
  • Collegiate Freedom of Association Act 2.0

    HR #6236 | Last Action: 3/12/2020
    Collegiate Freedom of Association Act2.0 This bill addresses freedom of association protections for college students in single-sex social organizations. Specifically, the bill prohibits institutions of higher education that participate in federal student-aid programs from * taking adverse actions against students who are members or prospective members of single-sex social organizations based solely on the practice of limiting membership to only individuals of one sex; or * taking actions that require or coerce members or prospective members of such organizations to waive this prohibition, including as a condition of enrolling in the institution.
  • EV Freedom Act

    HR #5770 | Last Action: 2/7/2020
    Electric Vehicle Freedom Act or theEV Freedom Act This bill establishes a national network of publicly available electric vehicle charging stations along public roads and the National Highway System in the United States.
  • Collegiate Freedom of Association Act

    HR #3128 | Last Action: 6/5/2019
    Collegiate Freedom of Association Act This bill addresses freedom of association protections for college students. Specifically, this bill gives students (or groups of students) enrolled at institutions of higher education (IHEs) the right to form or join social organizations, including single-sex social organizations. In addition, the bill prohibits IHEs that participate in federal student aid programs from * taking actions that require or coerce students or social organizations to waive their rights; * taking adverse actions against students who are members of single-sex social organizations, or against single-sex social organizations, based solely on the membership practice of limiting membership to only individuals of one sex; or * placing recruitment restrictions on single-sex social organizations, which are not imposed upon other student organizations, without the written agreement of the organizations.
  • Jamal Khashoggi Press Freedom Accountability Act of 2020

    HR #8641 | Last Action: 10/20/2020
    Jamal Khashoggi Press Freedom Accountability Act of 2020 This bill establishes measures to protect the human rights of journalists. Specifically, the bill (1) expands the scope of required reports related to violations of the human rights of journalists, (2) requires the President to impose certain property- and visa-blocking sanctions on persons responsible for gross violations of the human rights of journalists, and (3) prohibits certain foreign assistance to a governmental entity of a country if an official acting under authority of the entity has committed a gross violation of human rights against a journalist.