1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The PRESS Act, which safeguards journalists from unwarranted government surveillance, has broad bipartisan backing and passed the House unanimously last year. However, it now risks languishing in the Senate as the current Congress nears its end. A free and robust press is a cornerstone of democracy – journalists must be able to gather and report information without fear of retaliation or invasive monitoring from the government. Enacting the PRESS Act would codify vital protections for the freedom of the press that are currently based only on Justice Department guidelines that can be revised or disregarded by future administrations. With significant support across the aisle, this commonsense legislation deserves to be brought to a vote before the lame-duck session concludes. Upholding press freedoms and the public's right to access information should be a priority.