WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) introduced an official House Resolution condemning attempts to use federal regulatory authority or litigation to suppress lawful speech–particularly speech critical of a political party or the President of the United States–and warning against the rise of authoritarianism. Ansari’s resolution comes as the Trump Administration has increasingly attacked Americans’ First Amendment rights and moved to silence critics through intimidation, regulatory threats, and legal pressure.
“Freedom of speech and the free press are constitutional values that make up the backbone of our democracy, and every American, regardless of political party, should defend them,” said Rep. Ansari. “No president and no political party should weaponize the power of our federal government to punish those who disagree with them. Silencing critics through government power is the playbook of authoritarian regimes. We’re fighting this.”
Ansari’s resolution is also endorsed by The Writers Guild of America West, a labor union representing the thousands of creators who write scripted series, features, news programs, and other content.
“The current Presidential administration is using every tool in its arsenal to silence any voices of dissent, and Disney is capitulating to these attacks on the First Amendment. What happened to Jimmy Kimmel Live! isn’t just about Hollywood, it is about our fundamental rights as citizens of a democracy to disagree with those in power without retaliation and retribution,” said Meredith Stiehm, Writers Guild of America West President.
The resolution is cosponsored by over one hundred members, including Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Donald Beyer, Jr. (VA-08), Sanford Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Andre Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Al Green (TX-09), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Pablo Hernández (PR-AL), Jim Himes (CT-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sarah Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), John Larson (CT-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Joe Morelle (NY-25), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Brittany Petterson (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Emily Randall (WA-06), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Darren Soto (FL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Veláquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), George Whitesides (CA-27), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).
Text of Rep. Ansari’s Resolution is HERE and below.
RESOLUTION TEXT
Whereas freedom of speech and freedom of the press are foundational principles of the United States, enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution and by the Founders of this country;
Whereas independent journalists, commentators, comedians, and media outlets have historically played a vital role in holding those in power accountable, regardless of political party;
Whereas the use of indirect or direct government power to silence criticism of a political party or the President of the United States undermines democratic norms and chills public discourse;
Whereas authoritarians and authoritarian regimes throughout history have sought to control or co-opt media, silence dissent, and weaponize regulatory agencies to punish critics, eroding civil liberties and undermining democracy from within;
Whereas efforts to pressure the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), or to bring politically motivated lawsuits, as tools to threaten or punish media figures for their criticism of elected officials or satire mirror tactics used by authoritarian governments to intimidate and silence critics;
Whereas the Trump Administration and President Donald John Trump has issued public calls to use the awesome power of the Federal Government to investigate, fine, or otherwise penalize media figures and networks critical of the President, silencing free speech and echoing authoritarian tactics;
Whereas late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, who has been an outspoken critic of the Trump Administration, was taken off the air indefinitely following FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatening coercive government action against the Walt Disney Company and American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (ABC) for Kimmel’s remarks;
Whereas major law firms have reportedly been enlisted to file or threaten lawsuits against networks or personalities whose programming is critical of former President Trump, further chilling free expression;
Whereas the firing or forced removal of media personalities under political pressure can have a chilling effect on dissent and signal a dangerous slide toward authoritarian practices rather than democratic accountability;
Whereas maintaining a free and open press is essential to a healthy democracy and to public accountability, and the erosion of this freedom has historically been a precursor to the rise of authoritarianism and the decline of democratic institutions:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
- Condemns the use of regulatory agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission, and the threat or filing of lawsuits as tools to suppress, intimidate, or punish lawful speech critical of any political party or the President of the United States;
- Warns that such practices echo the tactics of authoritarian regimes and pose a serious threat to the democratic traditions and constitutional freedoms of the United States;
- Reaffirms its commitment to upholding the First Amendment and protecting the freedom of the press and freedom of expression for all individuals, regardless of political viewpoint;
- Calls upon all public officials, regardless of party affiliation, to refrain from using their positions of power to pressure media organizations or individuals into censoring or silencing speech protected by the Constitution;
- Urges the Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission, and other relevant agencies to ensure that their policies and practices safeguard free expression and do not become tools of political retribution; and
- Affirms that a vibrant, independent media and the ability of Americans to criticize their government are indispensable to the preservation of democratic governance and to preventing the rise of authoritarianism.
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