Gillibrand Votes to Preserve Freedom of the Press

Press Release

Gillibrand Votes to Preserve Freedom of the Press

Today, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand voted for the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 [H.R. 2102], a bipartisan bill that will support the freedom of the press by protecting their confidential sources. Passage of this bill is essential because there is not a clear standard in federal courts for recognizing a reporter's privilege of having confidential sources.

"This legislation will allow more individuals to freely come forward with information that could be beneficial to the public's knowledge. The media often exposes scandals and abuses in the federal government and the private sector, and this bill will help maintain their vital role in society." Congresswoman Gillibrand added, "From uncovering the horrible conditions at the Walter Reed Medical Center to the Watergate scandal, the press has always served as an important check on government, and this bill will enhance their mission."

The Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 establishes federal rules for prosecutors and journalists to protect the confidentiality of sources. The bill contains exceptions for matters dealing with terrorism, national security issues, and the death or bodily harm to members of the public.

Some examples of how confidential sources have exposed abuses in the federal government include Watergate, the Pentagon Papers, Iran-Contra, the conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 is supported by the major national print and broadcast media companies, including The Associated Press, Bloomberg News, CBS, ClearChannel, CNN, Cox, Gannett, Hearst, NBC, News Corporation, The New York Times, TIME, and The Washington Post.

Congresswoman Gillibrand believes it is important to increase the media's ability to continue to provide transparency and accountability to government officials.

The Congresswoman was the first member of Congress to post her daily schedule of meetings on-line each day in her Sunlight Report http://gillibrand.house.gov/sunlight.html and was among the first to post all her earmark requests and financial disclosure statements on her Congressional website http://gillibrand.house.gov. Just last week she sponsored a successful amendment to provide even more transparency in the federal agencies.

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