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International Press Freedom Act of 2022
12/29/2022, 11:48 PM
Summary of Bill HR 7650
The key provisions of the bill include the establishment of a Special Envoy for Press Freedom within the Department of State, whose role would be to advocate for press freedom internationally and coordinate efforts to support journalists at risk. The bill also calls for the creation of a Press Freedom Fund to provide financial assistance to journalists facing threats or persecution in their work.
Additionally, the International Press Freedom Act of 2022 aims to hold governments accountable for violations of press freedom by imposing sanctions on individuals or entities responsible for targeting journalists. The bill also seeks to enhance diplomatic efforts to promote press freedom and support independent media organizations in countries where freedom of the press is under threat. Overall, the International Press Freedom Act of 2022 is a bipartisan effort to strengthen the United States' commitment to press freedom globally and to support journalists in their crucial role as watchdogs of democracy. The bill reflects the recognition of the importance of a free and independent press in holding governments accountable and promoting transparency and democracy worldwide.
Congressional Summary of HR 7650
International Press Freedom Act of 2022
This bill establishes programs to address international threats to press freedom and allows qualifying threatened journalists to be admitted into the United States.
The bill establishes an Office on International Press Freedom within the Department of State. The office's duties shall include (1) advocating for freedom of the press and freedom of expression abroad, (2) advising on U.S. policy on advancing such freedoms abroad, and (3) representing the United States in matters relating to such freedoms.
The bill also establishes the At-Risk Journalists Fund. The State Department shall use the fund to support journalists operating in restrictive environments and provide emergency assistance to journalists who have been threatened.
If the assistance provided through the fund is insufficient to protect the safety of an alien journalist who has been threatened, the journalist may receive a foreign media nonimmigrant visa upon meeting certain qualifications. The State Department must prioritize the review of a visa application for such a threatened journalist.
Similarly, the Department of Homeland Security must consider providing humanitarian parole to threatened journalists and provide an admission preference to certain threatened journalists (generally if the journalist's life or safety is at risk and if paroling the journalist would further U.S. foreign policy or national security interests).
The Department of Justice must provide training to all officials adjudicating refugee cases about issues involving freedom of the press. The State Department must also provide training on such issues to certain Foreign Service officers working overseas.
