H.R.140 — Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act
House Roll Call
H.R.140
| Bill | H.R.140 — Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Passage |
| Vote type | Yea-and-Nay |
| Result | Passed |
| Totals | Yea 219 / Nay 206 / Present 0 / Not Voting 9 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 219 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D | 0 | 206 | 0 | 7 |
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Passage
Bill Analysis
Bill Summary: HR 140 - Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act
The Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act (HR 140) aims to safeguard First Amendment rights by prohibiting federal government agencies from engaging in actions that would infringe upon free speech. Specifically, the bill addresses concerns regarding government interference in online discourse and the dissemination of information, particularly through social media platforms.
Key Provisions:
- The bill establishes that federal agencies cannot compel or coerce social media companies to remove content or censor users based on the content of their speech.
- It prohibits federal officials from communicating with social media platforms to influence content moderation policies or practices, thereby reinforcing the autonomy of these platforms in managing user-generated content.
- The legislation aims to protect individuals from retaliatory actions by the government for expressing their views, particularly in the context of political speech.
Funding/Authorities: HR 140 does not allocate specific funding but empowers individuals to seek legal recourse against federal agencies that violate the provisions of the bill. This includes the ability to file lawsuits for damages and seek injunctive relief.
Programs or Agencies Affected: The bill primarily impacts federal agencies involved in communication and information dissemination, including but not limited to the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Justice. It also affects social media companies by delineating the boundaries of government interaction with their content moderation practices.
Beneficiaries and Regulation: The primary beneficiaries of this legislation are individuals exercising their free speech rights, particularly those engaging in political discourse online. The bill aims to regulate government actions that may lead to censorship or suppression of diverse viewpoints.
Key Timelines: After its introduction, HR 140 was received in the Senate, where it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for further consideration. The legislative process will determine the timeline for potential amendments, debates, and votes.
Yea (219)
K
Kelly Armstrong
D
Dan Bishop
K
Ken Buck
L
Larry Bucshon
M
Michael Burgess
K
Ken Calvert
J
Jerry Carl
L
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
A
Anthony D'Esposito
J
John Duarte
J
Jeff Duncan
A
A. Ferguson
S
Scott Franklin
M
Matt Gaetz
M
Mike Gallagher
M
Mike Garcia
B
Bob Good
K
Kay Granger
G
Garret Graves
M
Mark Green
B
Bill Johnson
D
Doug Lamborn
J
Jake LaTurner
D
Debbie Lesko
B
Blaine Luetkemeyer
L
Lisa McClain
P
Patrick McHenry
M
Marcus Molinaro
A
Alexander Mooney
G
Greg Pence
B
Bill Posey
C
Cathy Rodgers
M
Matthew Rosendale
J
John Rutherford
G
George Santos
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
M
Michelle Steel
C
Chris Stewart
M
Michael Waltz
B
Brad Wenstrup
B
Brandon Williams
Nay (206)
C
Colin Allred
E
Earl Blumenauer
J
Jamaal Bowman
C
Cori Bush
Y
Yadira Caraveo
T
Tony Cárdenas
M
Matt Cartwright
D
David Cicilline
G
Gerald Connolly
J
Jason Crow
L
Lloyd Doggett
A
Anna Eshoo
R
Ruben Gallego
J
John Garamendi
R
Raúl Grijalva
B
Brian Higgins
J
Jeff Jackson
S
Sheila Jackson Lee
D
Daniel Kildee
D
Derek Kilmer
A
Ann Kuster
B
Barbara Lee
K
Kathy Manning
L
Lucy McBath
G
Grace Napolitano
W
Wiley Nickel
B
Bill Pascrell
D
Donald Payne
M
Mary Peltola
K
Katie Porter
C
C. Ruppersberger
J
John Sarbanes
A
Abigail Spanberger
E
Eric Swalwell
R
Rashida Tlaib
D
David Trone
N
Nydia Velázquez
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
J
Jennifer Wexton
S
Susan Wild
