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Journalist Protection: New Penalties for Assault and Impeding Work

This act introduces new penalties for assaulting journalists who are gathering information for news. It aims to provide greater safety for individuals involved in informing the public, which may impact the free flow of information and access to it.
Key points
The act creates a new offense: assault against a journalist, with penalties up to 3 years for bodily injury and up to 6 years for serious bodily injury.
Protection applies to journalists while newsgathering or when the assault intends to intimidate or impede their work.
It defines who a journalist is and what newsgathering entails, covering various media forms.
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_4857
Sponsor: Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]
Process start date: 2021-07-29