WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, the U.S. House voted in support of Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and Representative Jamie Raskin’s (D-MD) bill H.R. 4250, the PRESS Act. This bipartisan legislation prohibits overreach by government prosecutors seeking to extract confidential information and sources from reporters and their communications providers.
In response to the House’s passage of the PRESS Act, Demand Progress Policy Director Sean Vitka issued the following statement:
“Americans depend on journalists’ ability to report freely, which is impossible if the government can covertly spy on them and their sources. The PRESS Act would for the first time establish a federal shield law, helping to thaw chilled speech and rein in the misuse of agencies’ immense investigatory powers. We applaud the House’s passage of the PRESS Act and call for the Senate to swiftly follow suit.”