{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-leads-group-of-9-senators-in-introducing-resolution-commemorating-world-press-freedom-day", "Schatz Leads Group of 9 Senators In Introducing Resolution Commemorating World Press Freedom Day", "2026-05-03", "2026", "2026-05", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) led a group of nine senators in introducing a resolution recognizing growing threats to freedom of the press around the world and reaffirming the vital role of independent journalism in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance.\n\n\u201cA free press is a cornerstone of any healthy democracy \u2013 and it\u2019s vital that we protect and defend it, at home and abroad,\u201d said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. \u201cThe growing attacks on independent journalism are alarming, particularly given the many crises and conflicts happening globally. People rely on journalists to understand what\u2019s happening in their own communities and make sense of the world. In turn, journalists go to extraordinary lengths, often at great personal risk, to report the truth. Unfortunately, we continue to see journalists lose their lives, be thrown in jail, or be threatened with lawsuits just for doing their jobs. Suppressing press freedom and targeting journalists is the oldest trick in the authoritarian playbook. Anyone who believes in democracy and freedom ought to be unreserved and unequivocal in our support for the free press.\u201d\n\nSchatz\u2019s resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). The resolution is supported by PEN America.\n\n\u201cBeing a journalist is more dangerous today than at any time in history. World Press Freedom Day is not only a celebration of the world\u2019s intrepid journalists, but a reminder that journalists\u2014and the free press at large\u2014are under attack,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cWe\u2019re calling on Congress to remember the lives of journalists killed while reporting, and recommit to defending press freedom in our own country and around the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn World Press Freedom Day, we honor the journalists who go to extraordinary lengths to bring the truth to light,\u201d said Senator Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. \u201cAs democratic values and institutions are being threatened around the world, I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues to reaffirm our commitment to protecting the freedom of the press.\u201d\n\n\u201cA free and independent press is the bedrock of our democracy, and an essential feature of democracies around the world. Editors and journalists risk threats, detention, and even death to keep citizens informed and hold public officials to account,\u201d said Senator Bennet. \u201cNow more than ever, we recognize and celebrate their contributions to maintaining our system of government, and their efforts to extend the same freedoms we enjoy at home to those still denied them abroad.\u201d\n\nPress freedom has faced a staggering global decline in recent years, and Senator Schatz has led bipartisan efforts to promote press freedom and protect journalists worldwide.\n\nA copy of the bill text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-05T05:58:12Z", "2026-05-05T05:59:44Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-leads-group-of-9-senators-in-introducing-resolution-commemorating-world-press-freedom-day"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6778619717806578, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}