Rubio, Casey Introduce Resolution Highlighting Importance Of Press Freedom

Press Release

Today U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Casey (D-PA) announced the introduction of S.Res. 152, highlighting the importance of press freedom around the world. The bipartisan resolution recognizes the dangers that reporters face and reaffirms freedom of the press as a priority for the U.S. government.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 221 journalists worldwide were in prison as of December 1, 2014, including The Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who remains jailed in Iran. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2014 Syria was the world's deadliest country for journalists for the third year in a row.

"While our world today is more open and connected than ever before, repressive governments continue targeting journalists and media outlets in order to cover up their own corruption, brutality and incompetence," said Rubio. "The U.S. cannot overlook assaults on press freedom like the latest case in Iran where The Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian is languishing in an Iranian jail cell because of his profession as a reporter. On a day dedicated to promoting a free and independent press, we are reminded the U.S. must stand with independent journalists being persecuted around the world."

"Journalists take incredible risks to tell the truth about major events in the world. Too often reporters face intimidation and imprisonment just for doing their jobs," Casey said. "This resolution recognizes the important of press freedom and affirms that promoting freedom of the press should be a central feature of our nation's foreign policy."

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