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Global Press Freedom Act
12/15/2023, 4:08 PM
Summary of Bill S 2526
The bill aims to achieve this goal by directing the Secretary of State to establish a program that will provide assistance to foreign countries in order to strengthen their independent media and promote freedom of the press. This program will focus on training journalists, supporting independent media outlets, and advocating for the release of imprisoned journalists.
Additionally, the Global Press Freedom Act requires the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress on the state of press freedom in foreign countries. This report will assess the level of press freedom in each country and identify any threats or challenges faced by journalists. Overall, the Global Press Freedom Act seeks to advance the principles of free speech and democracy by supporting press freedom on a global scale. It is an important piece of legislation that aims to protect the vital role that journalists play in holding governments accountable and informing the public.
Congressional Summary of S 2526
Global Press Freedom Act
This bill establishes the Office of Press Freedom within the Department of State 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 office must (1) coordinate efforts between relevant U.S. embassy personnel and press organizations or threatened individuals in situations in which press freedom is threatened abroad, (2) publicly and privately denounce oppression of the press abroad, and (3) recommend appropriate responses by the U.S. government when press freedoms are infringed upon.
The office shall be headed by the Ambassador-at-Large for Press Freedom, who shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The State Department must ensure that there is a press freedom curriculum for the National Foreign Affairs Training Center to help Foreign Service officers better understand issues of press freedom and tools that are available to help protect journalists and promote freedom of the press norms.
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on the implementation of the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009, including how the State Department prepares information for the reports on press freedom that are required by that act.
