HRES 345 — 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.

345 IntroducedEngrossed in House (IH)](EH)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H.

RES.Res.

345 RecognizingIn widening threats to freedoms of the pressHouse and expression around the world, reaffirming the centrality of aRepresentatives, freeU. 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.

_______________________________________________________________________S., INJuly THE15, HOUSE2019. OF REPRESENTATIVES May 1, 2019 Mr.

Schiff (for himself and Mr.

Chabot) submitted the following resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ 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.

Whereas the theme for World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2019, is ``Media for Democracy:

Whereas Thomas Jefferson, who recognized the importance of the press in a constitutional republic, wisely declared, ``.``* * * were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.'';

were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.'';

Whereas the 2019 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders, warns, ``The number of countries regarded as safe, where journalists can work in complete security, continues to decline, while authoritarian regimes tighten their grip on the media'';media.'';

(2) the 2two deadliest countries for journalists on assignment were Afghanistan and Syria;

Whereas, Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, recipients of the 2018 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award--Award (1) were arrested in December 2017 for investigating the murder by the Burmese military of 10 Rohingya men in the village of Inn Dinn in Rakhine State;State and were unjustly detained for days before they were released on May 7, 2019, as part of a mass amnesty of 6,520 prisoners;

(2) were sentenced in September 2018 to 7 years in prison on fraudulent charges of breaching the colonial-era Official Secrets Act, and remain unjustly imprisoned;

and (3) remain unjustly detained, after Burma's Supreme Court rejected their appeal on April 23, 2019;

Whereas journalist Mimi Mefo Takambou was jailed for 4 days in Cameroon in November 2018 on charges of spreading false news while investigating the death of an American missionary, where 4four out of the 7seven total journalists imprisoned in Cameroon were jailed for spreading false news, which is a rising trend in Cameroon and elsewhere around the world;

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) expressescondemns concern about threats to freedom of the press and free expression around the worldworld; on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day;

(2) commendsremembers the bravery of journalists and media workers around the world,world who, despite threats to their safety, forplay theiran essential role in-- (A) promoting government accountability;

(3) paysremembers tribute to journalists who have lost their lives carrying out their work;

<all>Attest:

Clerk.