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International Press Freedom Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-1495| Senate 
| Updated: 4/29/2021
Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine

Democratic Senator

Virginia

Cosponsors (3)
Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
International Press Freedom Act of 2021 This bill establishes programs to address international threats to press freedom and allows qualifying threatened journalists to be admitted into the United States. The bill establishes an Office on International Press Freedom within the Department of State. The office's duties shall include (1) advocating for freedom of the press and freedom of expression abroad, (2) advising on U.S. policy on advancing such freedoms abroad, and (3) representing the United States in matters relating to such freedoms. The bill also establishes the At-Risk Journalists Fund. The State Department shall use the fund to support journalists operating in restrictive environments and provide emergency assistance to journalists who have been threatened. If the assistance provided through the fund is insufficient to protect the safety of an alien journalist who has been threatened, the journalist may receive a foreign media nonimmigrant visa upon meeting certain qualifications. The State Department must prioritize the review of a visa application for such a threatened journalist. Similarly, the Department of Homeland Security must consider providing humanitarian parole to threatened journalists and provide an admission preference to certain threatened journalists (generally if the journalist's life or safety is at risk and if paroling the journalist would further U.S. foreign policy or national security interests). The Department of Justice must provide training to all officials adjudicating refugee cases about issues involving freedom of the press. The State Department must also provide training on such issues to certain Foreign Service officers working overseas.
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Timeline
Apr 29, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Apr 29, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2362)
Nov 1, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-7650
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • April 29, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 29, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2362)


  • November 1, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-7650
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 117-7650: International Press Freedom Act of 2022
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAppropriationsAssault and harassment offensesCongressional oversightCrime preventionCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of StateDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsForeign aid and international reliefForeign laborGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresMental healthNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRefugees, asylum, displaced personsRight of privacyViolent crimeVisas and passports

International Press Freedom Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-1495| Senate 
| Updated: 4/29/2021
International Press Freedom Act of 2021 This bill establishes programs to address international threats to press freedom and allows qualifying threatened journalists to be admitted into the United States. The bill establishes an Office on International Press Freedom within the Department of State. The office's duties shall include (1) advocating for freedom of the press and freedom of expression abroad, (2) advising on U.S. policy on advancing such freedoms abroad, and (3) representing the United States in matters relating to such freedoms. The bill also establishes the At-Risk Journalists Fund. The State Department shall use the fund to support journalists operating in restrictive environments and provide emergency assistance to journalists who have been threatened. If the assistance provided through the fund is insufficient to protect the safety of an alien journalist who has been threatened, the journalist may receive a foreign media nonimmigrant visa upon meeting certain qualifications. The State Department must prioritize the review of a visa application for such a threatened journalist. Similarly, the Department of Homeland Security must consider providing humanitarian parole to threatened journalists and provide an admission preference to certain threatened journalists (generally if the journalist's life or safety is at risk and if paroling the journalist would further U.S. foreign policy or national security interests). The Department of Justice must provide training to all officials adjudicating refugee cases about issues involving freedom of the press. The State Department must also provide training on such issues to certain Foreign Service officers working overseas.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Apr 29, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Apr 29, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2362)
Nov 1, 2022

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-7650
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • April 29, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 29, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2362)


  • November 1, 2022

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-7650
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine

Democratic Senator

Virginia

Cosponsors (3)
Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 117-7650: International Press Freedom Act of 2022
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAppropriationsAssault and harassment offensesCongressional oversightCrime preventionCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of StateDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsForeign aid and international reliefForeign laborGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresMental healthNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRefugees, asylum, displaced personsRight of privacyViolent crimeVisas and passports