{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/in-response-to-l-a-riots-tillis-reintroduces-bill-to-make-blocking-public-roads-a-federal-crime", "In Response to L.A. Riots, Tillis Reintroduces Bill to Make Blocking Public Roads a Federal Crime", "2025-06-23", "2025", "2025-06", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently reintroduced the Safe and Open Streets Act, legislation that would make it a federal crime to purposely obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by blocking a public road or highway.\n\nThe Safe and Open Streets Act is in direct response to radical tactics of anti-ICE protestors who have intentionally blocked roads and highways across the country, including in Los Angeles, stranding drivers and compromising the free flow of commerce. The Safe and Open Streets Act would penalize lawbreakers through fines or up to five years of imprisonment.\n\n\u201cThe emerging tactic of radical protestors blocking roads and stopping commerce is not only obnoxious to innocent commuters, but it\u2019s also dangerous and will eventually get people killed. It needs to be a crime throughout the country,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the Safe and Open Streets Act so that radical activists who resort to these reckless and dangerous tactics are held accountable under the full weight of the law for endangering public safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cBlocking major roads to stop traffic flows is nothing short of lawlessness that should not be tolerated,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThese activists are not only intentionally creating a dangerous situation for themselves, but perhaps for a citizen who is awaiting an ambulance or a hard worker who will lose their job for being late. The Safe and Open Streets Act is critical to stopping this reckless behavior, particularly by Hamas sympathizers, in our U.S. cities.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor nearly a week, we watched as domestic terrorists assaulted ICE and law enforcement officers, set fire to cop cars, and blocked the streets of Los Angeles\u2014all while Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass sat on their tails and did nothing,\u201d said Senator Tuberville. \u201cThis is a prime example of what happens when lawlessness goes unpunished. The First Amendment gives us the right to freedom of assembly, but it doesn\u2019t give the right to block our streets and put American lives at risk. I\u2019m proud to join the Safe and Open Streets Act that penalizes and holds radical protestors accountable who put citizens in danger by purposely blocking our roadways.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtestors who willfully block traffic pose a serious threat to public safety by impacting the flow of emergency vehicles and personnel,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cThey can also significantly inconvenience Americans trying to get to and from work, school, or important personal business. The First Amendment protects the right to assemble and protest peacefully, but it does not permit such behavior. I'm proud to join Sen. Tillis and our colleagues in ensuring America's streets are kept clear for everyone.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn America, people have the right to peacefully gather and make their voices heard. They do not have the right to obstruct roads, riot, and undermine people\u2019s livelihoods,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy.\n\nFull text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"]], "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.tillis.senate.gov/2025/6/in-response-to-l-a-riots-tillis-reintroduces-bill-to-make-blocking-public-roads-a-federal-crime"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.885991845279932, "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"}