In an attempt to hold “government censors” accountable, Representatives Dan Bishop (R-NC) and Harriet Hageman (R-WY) introduced a new bill in Washington yesterday.
The proposed legislation, called the Censorship Accountability Act, would empower Americans to sue federal officials who they believe have violated their First Amendment rights.
Rep. Bishop emphasized the importance of freedom of speech in a statement, “Freedom of speech is the bedrock principle of our nation. Unfortunately, many malicious actors, especially federal bureaucrats, are bent on undermining the First Amendment and censoring Americans at every turn.”
The Censorship Accountability Act is intended to expand the reach of existing laws that currently allow Americans to bring lawsuits, known as Bivens claims, against state employees who violate an individual’s constitutional rights.
The new bill is an attempt to provide a similar recourse against federal executive branch employees.
“My bill will change that by finally allowing Americans to sue federal employees who violate their First Amendment rights. The Censorship Industrial Complex should no longer be allowed to operate with impunity, and those who seek to destroy the freedom of speech should have to answer for it in a court of law,” added Congressman Bishop.
Echoing the sentiments, Congresswoman Hageman voiced her support for the proposed legislation, drawing attention to the importance of First Amendment rights and their relationship to other individual rights.
She said, “Our First Amendments rights are the foundation for all of our other individual rights as protected by the Constitution.”
Referring to perceived transgressions by the Biden administration, Hageman stated, “Yet censorship, suppression and deplatforming of free speech has been at the core of Biden Administration policy, and our government’s response to Covid-19 exposed a clear hostility towards religious freedom.”
The proposed legislation has garnered support from several other Representatives, including Andy Biggs, Jeff Van Drew, Matt Gaetz, Lance Gooden, Mike Johnson, Jim Jordan, Troy Nehls, and Greg Steube who are original co-sponsors of the legislation.
Bishop, a prominent voice against government censorship, has been instrumental in leading investigations into alleged collusion between Big Tech and Big Government to censor Americans.
This proposed legislation aims to promote accountability and deter government misconduct, ensuring that “individuals within the executive branch are no longer able to censor with impunity,” as noted by Congresswoman Hageman.
You can read the full bill below:
