Whereas the essential role of the independent press and journalists in a free and democratic society has been recognized since the colonial period of the United States and is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution; Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution proclaims: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or preventing the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. ; Whereas Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted at Paris, December 10, 1948, states, Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. ; Whereas the United States has made promotion of press freedom worldwide a core part of its human rights and democracy promotion efforts; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has accelerated the decline of local news, documented by PEN America in the report Losing the News, shuttering critical information resources, particularly for rural populations and marginalized communities; Whereas journalists have a long established and recognized right to report, and actions by law enforcement or other authorities that prevent them from doing so through intimidation, violence, arrest, or detention is an affront to the First Amendment; Whereas the United States has experienced mass protests in cities and communities around the Nation following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020; Whereas Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, wrote that Covering protests and demonstrations is vital, both in order to inform the public about the demands of the protesters and also to hold officials accountable