Proposed Federal Shield Law

S. 448: Free Flow of Information Act of 2009

• Text (reported out of Judiciary Committee on Dec. 10, 2009)
• Administration letter of support (Nov. 4, 2009) 
• Text agreed upon by Sponsors and White House (Oct. 30, 2009)
• Amendment (adopted Sept. 17, 2009)
• Text (Manager's Amendment, Judiciary Committee)
• Testimony of Sen. Patrick Leahy
• Text (from Thomas, Library of Congress)
• Press release: "Specter, Schumer, Lugar, Graham Introduce Shield Legislation for Reporters" (Sen. Specter website) 
  

 

H.R. 985: Free Flow of Information Act of 2009

• Text (passed House on March 31, 2009)
• Pence Floor Speech (March 31, 2009) (Rep. Pence website)
• Press release: "Pence Introduces Shield Law, Urges Consideration" (Rep. Pence website)
• Statement of Congressman Rick Boucher (Rep. Boucher website)

 

Earlier Legislation

Journalists' Privilege: Overview of the Law and Legislation in the 109th and 110th Congresses (Congressional Research Service, July 2008)

 

H.R. 2102: Free Flow of Information Act of 2007

• Text (passed House on Oct. 16, 2007)
• Text (as reported out of committee on Aug. 1, 2007)
• House Judiciary Committee hearing: "Hearing on H.R. 2102, the 'Free Flow of Information Act of 2007'" (June 14, 2007)
• Text (from Thomas, Library of Congress)
• Statement of Congressman Rick Boucher (Rep. Boucher website)
• Press release: "Pence Introduces Media Shield Bill" (Rep. Pence website)

 

S. 2035: Free Flow of Information Act of 2007

• Text (as reported out of committee on Oct. 4, 2007)
• Text (from Thomas, Library of Congress)
• Press release: "Bipartisan Coalition of Senators Introduce Free Flow of Information Act of 2007" (Sen. Specter website)

 

S. 1267: Free Flow of Information Act of 2007

• Text (from Thomas, Library of Congress)
• Press release: "Lugar, Dodd Introduce Free Flow of Information Act" (Sen. Dodd website)

 

S. 2831: Free Flow of Information Act of 2006

• Text (from Thomas, Library of Congress)

 

H. 3323: Free Flow of Information Act of 2005

• Text (from Thomas, Library of Congress))
• Press release: "Pence, Lugar Introduce Revised Media Shield Bill" (Rep. Pence website)

S. 1419: Free Flow of Information Act of 2005

• Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: "Reporters' Privilege Legislation: An Additional Investigation of Issues and Implications" (Oct. 19, 2005)
  • notice / witness list / witness testimony (from U.S. Senate, Judiciary Committee)
• Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: "Reporters’ Shield Legislation: Issues and Implications” (July 20, 2005)
  • notice / witness list / witness testimony (from U.S. Senate, Judiciary Committee)
• Text (from Thomas, Library of Congress)