Schiff, Pence Launch Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press

Schiff, Pence Launch Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press

In honor of World Press Freedom Day, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Mike Pence (R-IN) today kicked off a new bipartisan, bicameral caucus aimed at advancing press freedom around the world. The Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press, co-chaired by Reps. Schiff and Pence in the House and by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) in the Senate, creates a forum to combat and condemn media censorship and the persecution of journalists around the world.

"A free and open press is vital to a healthy democracy. Journalists should not have to work in fear of governments throwing them in jail or harming them or their families simply for doing their job," Schiff said. "By raising awareness of media censorship around the world, this caucus aims not only to protect journalists from persecution, but also to defend citizens' access to unfettered information."

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http://schiff.house.gov/HoR/CA29/Newsroom/Press+Releases/2006/Schiff+Pence+Launch+Congressional+Caucus+for+Freedom+of+the+Press.htm