Journalist Protection Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 3203 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3203 To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a penalty for assault against journalists, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 5, 2025 Mr. Swalwell (for himself and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a penalty for assault against journalists, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Journalist Protection Act''. SEC. 2. ASSAULT AGAINST JOURNALISTS. (a) In General.--Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 120. Assault against journalists ``(a) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Bodily injury; serious bodily injury.--The terms `bodily injury' and `serious bodily injury' have the meanings given those terms in section 1365(h). ``(2) Journalist.--The term `journalist' means an individual who-- ``(A) is an employee, independent contractor, or agent of an entity or service that disseminates news or information-- ``(i) by means of a newspaper, nonfiction book, wire service, news agency, news website, mobile application or other news or information service (whether distributed digitally or otherwise), news program, magazine, or other periodical (whether in print, electronic, or other format); or ``(ii) through a television broadcast, radio broadcast, multichannel video programming distributor (as defined in section 602 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522)), or motion picture for public showing; and ``(B) engages in