Prohibits federal government from requiring reporters to reveal sources
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the full House passed Congressman Alan Grayson’s (D-FL09) amendment to this year’s Commerce, Science, and Justice Committee Appropriations Bill prohibiting the federal government from requiring journalists to reveal their sources.
“Freedom of the Press is a cornerstone of our democracy,” Congressman Grayson said. “Threatening journalists with prosecution to force them to reveal their sources undermines that freedom. Thomas Jefferson said ‘were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.’ I’m glad that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle voted today to protect the Constitution.”
The amendment passed 245-182. Seventy-one Republicans joined 174 Democrats in voting for the amendment. The same amendment passed last year by a closer vote of 225-183.
The amendment will appear in H.R. 2578, the Fiscal Year 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill. The specific section reads:
None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to compel a person to testify about information or sources that the person states in a motion to quash the subpoena that he has obtained as a journalist or reporter and that he regards as confidential.
“Confidential sources have helped reporters bring to light scandals and misdeeds that otherwise would have remained hidden,“ Congressman Grayson added. “From Watergate, to the Pentagon Papers, to the abuses of prisoners in the War on Terror, the media has held those in power answerable for their actions. This amendment protects those journalists who are working to keep Americans informed.”
Congressman Alan Grayson represents Florida’s 9th Congressional District, which includes Osceola County, as well as parts of Orange and Polk counties.
