As the current congressional session begins to wind down, the PRESS ACT, which was passed unanimously by the House, is still waiting for a vote. As described by Zack Whittiker writing on TechCrunch:
The PRESS Act, if passed into law, would enshrine nationwide protections for journalists across the United States from being forced to identify or give up their confidential sources (except in emergency cases, like to prevent an act of terrorism). The bill also grants other protections, such as limiting what records the government can secretly take from journalists or their email or phone provider that could identify their sources — again, with a narrow set of exceptions for emergency threats.
Additional coverage of the PRESS Act includes:
- Freedom of the Press Foundation’s Coverage
- The Society of Professional Journalists Page (with video!)
- Coverage by the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Freedom of the press is a really important thing, and this should be a no-brainer!. However, concerned Americans who want to see the media be able to investigate corruption and misuses of power need to encourage their Senators to act in this 11th hour.
The ACLU has a convenient web form for contacting your elected official. While the form is expedient, I would encourage those who are able to send physical mail, ASAP. I understand that physical mail is more likely to be read, as it is a greater rarity in the digital age.
The letter that I sent to both of my senators is below.
Dear Senator,
My name is Matthew Reinbold and I am proud to call Woodbury, Minnesota my home. As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to prioritize bringing the PRESS Act to a vote in the Senate before the end of this year. This bipartisan bill, passed unanimously by the House in January, is a rare example of cross-party consensus on an issue central to our democracy: protecting the freedom of the press.
The PRESS Act establishes essential safeguards for journalists, preventing them from being forced to disclose the identities of their confidential sources and limiting the government’s ability to seize records that could compromise those sources. It includes thoughtful exceptions for emergencies, such as imminent threats of terrorism, ensuring national security needs are balanced with press protections.
Without such protections, journalists risk facing a chilling effect—deterring critical investigative reporting that holds those in power accountable. At a time when press freedoms are increasingly under threat and government agencies could face mounting pressure to retaliate against watchdog journalism, the PRESS Act is not just timely but urgently necessary. It strengthens First Amendment protections that underpin our democratic system and ensures that whistleblowers and other truth-tellers can come forward without fear of exposure or retribution.
The bill already has broad bipartisan support in the Senate, with sponsors including Senators Ron Wyden, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, and Dick Durbin. All that remains is for the Senate to take decisive action and bring it to a vote.
As your constituent, I ask you to demonstrate your commitment to the principles of a free press and the protections our democracy depends on. Please do everything in your power to ensure the PRESS Act reaches the Senate floor and becomes law before the year ends.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I am grateful for your service to Minnesota and your dedication to preserving our democracy in the face of potential adversity.
Sincerely,
Matthew Reinbold
