House Republicans File Bill Targeting Government ‘Censorship’

House Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday targeting the Biden administration’s alleged influence over social media platforms’ content moderation practices. House Commerce Committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.; House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; and House Oversight Committee ranking member James Comer, R-Ky., introduced the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act HR-8752. The bill bans federal officials from using “official authority, influence, or resources -- including contracting, grantmaking, rulemaking, licensing, permitting, investigatory, or enforcement actions -- to promote the censorship of lawful speech or advocate that a third party or private entity censor speech,” they said. It carries penalties mirroring those levied against officials who engage in political activity in their official capacities, including pay reductions, debarment and civil penalties, they said.