In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) emphasized the need for a free press in countries where those freedoms and other democratic values have been undermined:
“Freedom
of expression is the keystone that holds any democracy together. As a
child in Cuba, I witnessed the deterioration of democracy as the Castro
regime took over the island and systematically destroyed all aspects of
freedom of speech and expression. Being able to speak without censorship
is a right that should never be stifled. There is a strong connection
between a country’s democratic values and the freedoms afforded to their
press. Working to preserve freedom of speech and pushing back against
those who seek to quiet their dissenters should be a top priority when
engaging with our neighbors in the region.”
This bill has eight cosponsors in the House, including three Democrats and five Republicans. It was unanimously passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in December 2015.
Of Note: According to Freedom House’s 2015 study on freedom of the press around the world,
there are five countries considered to have a “not free” press in Latin
America and the Caribbean: Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico,
and Venezuela. The status of press freedom in Cuba is considered by
Freedom House to be among the “worst of the worst,” while more than 185
million people — 19 percent of the population of North and South America — live
in countries without a free press.
Media:
Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user Dying Regime)