Atlanta, GA – Today and tomorrow, the House is scheduled to consider H.R. 140, the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act. This bill would bar federal employees from using their official authority or influence to promote censorship or to advocate for that action by a third party. Employees found to violate the prohibition would be subject to civil penalties. In anticipation, Tea Party Patriots Action Honorary Chairman Jenny Beth Martin released the following statement:

“Under normal circumstances, this bill would be unnecessary, because it’s a foundational principle of our country that every American has a right to free speech and government efforts to suppress free speech are illegal. However, we are not living in normal circumstances. The ‘Deep State’ is out of control and has weaponized the FBI, the DOJ, the DHS, and other federal departments to suppress free speech by Americans who are challenging the status quo, whether that’s regarding the origins of Covid-19, the effectiveness of mask and vaccine mandates, or election integrity, among numerous other key issues. The ‘Twitter Files’ proved the urgency of the need for legislation reimposing the red line between the ‘Deep State’s’ self-protection and self-promotion on the one hand and the First Amendment on the other. We enthusiastically urge every Member of the House to vote for H.R. 140, the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act. This should not be a red issue or a blue issue, it should be a bipartisan issue, and we are hopeful it can pass both Houses of Congress and get to President Biden’s desk.”