The Republican majority in the House of Representatives passed a bill to protect free speech from censorship by government agencies or officials. The rule passed with the support of 219 votes, though 206 Democrats voted against.
The so-called Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act was led by James Comer, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Accountability. Comer stressed that under this initiative, "employees acting in their official capacity should neither take action within their authority or influence to promote the censorship of any lawful speech, nor advocate that a third party, including a private entity, censor such speech."
🚨PASSED🚨
The House passed the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act.
To protect the First Amendment, I introduced this legislation to stop federal employees from pressuring social media companies to silence Americans expressing views online.
Full statement👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/Ep4aaObkVi
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) March 9, 2023
"Protect the First Amendment" from Biden's censorship
In a tweet, Comer insisted that "to protect the First Amendment, I introduced this legislation to stop federal employees from pressuring social media companies to silence Americans expressing views online." The congressman charged that "the Biden Administration has eroded Americans' First Amendment rights by bullying social media companies to censor certain views and news on their platforms."
The vote came in the aftermath of a session of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government regarding "the politicization of the FBI and DOJ and attacks on American civil liberties."
