Supporting Freedom of the Press in Latin America and the Caribbean

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the House Caucus on the Freedom of the Press, I strongly support H. Res. 536 and its condemnation of violations of press freedom and violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to freedom of speech across Latin America and the Caribbean. Thomas Jefferson once said, ``Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.'' Those words ring true not only for our nation, but for all nations and all people dedicated to the ideals of democracy and committed to a democratic system of government.

Whether through act and intimidation by the government or non-state actors, the voices of journalists across Latin American and the Caribbean--voices raised to speak out against corruption, abuses of power, and criminal activity--are being silenced at an alarming rate. This cannot be allowed to continue. I commend the House of Representatives and the sponsors of this legislation for drawing attention to this issue, and call on regional leaders to take all necessary steps to foster, protect, and defend the inherent right of their citizens to express themselves freely, publicly, and without fear of reprisal. Every time this right is violated, the foundations of society are weakened. We must all be vigilant and unrelenting in our support of free expression around the world.

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