Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to amendment 36 offered by my colleague on the left.

Protecting free speech is a vital duty and founding principle enshrined in our Constitution. Our Founders embedded this protection in the First Amendment, the very bedrock of our Republic. Yet, today, forces inside our government seek to trample this freedom through censorship and intimidation.

The so-called Disinformation Governance Board was a dystopian scheme allowing unelected bureaucrats to silence dissent. Though now dismantled, its specter remains. Recently, shocking evidence emerged of Federal agencies, specifically CISA, pressuring social media platforms to suppress lawful speech.

Make no mistake: Any attempt by the government to dictate approved narratives, stifle open debate, or chill free speech is unconstitutional. The Founders rebelled against such tyranny and wrote those protections into law, but, once again, Americans face efforts to control thought and decree acceptable speech.

Amendment 36 would remove vital protections against these abuses of power. It would open the door to continued coercion with Big Tech, the harvesting of private data without warrants, and other violations of the First and Fourth Amendments.

I call on each Member here to search your conscience. Will you defend the bill of rights or bow to illiberal forces attacking our liberties?

The choice is clear. Stand alongside the Framers of our Constitution in upholding freedom. Oppose this amendment and affirm that government has no place policing protected speech or compromising privacy rights without due process.

The American spirit rejects thought control and censorship. Our Constitution enshrines the right to voice beliefs openly, however controversial. Let's uphold this heritage. Vote down amendment 36 and any attempt to enable silencing of dissent. The integrity of our Republic hangs in the balance.

Will you defend it or will you attack it?

Amendment 36 attacks it, and so I urge all my colleagues to vote against it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source