text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``World Press Freedom Protection Act 
  of 2015''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
          ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                      (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
                  on Financial Services, the Committee on Foreign 
                  Affairs, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the 
                  Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
                  Representatives; and
                      (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
                  on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee 
                  on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Homeland 
                  Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on 
                  the Judiciary of the Senate.
              (2) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an 
          individual who is neither a citizen or national of the United 
          States.
  
  SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS FOR RESTRICTIONS ON 
                THE RIGHT TO THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND RESTRICTIONS 
                ON JOURNALISTS.
  
      (a) In General.--The President may impose the sanctions described 
  in subsection (b) with respect to a foreign person if the President 
  determines, based on credible information, that the foreign person--
              (1) is responsible for severe restrictions on the freedom 
          of expression or freedom of the press, including the arrest, 
          harassment, torture, mistreatment, threats, fines, or the 
          pervasive surveillance of journalists, blockage or censorship 
          of the Internet that hinders the free flow of information from 
          journalists, or other serious violations of the international 
          right to the freedom of expression; or
              (2) has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided 
          financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or 
          services in support of, an activity described in paragraph (1) 
          .
      (b) Inadmissibility to United States.--The sanctions described in 
  this subsection are the following:
              (1) ineligibility to receive a visa to enter the United 
          States or to be admitted to the United States; or
              (2) if the foreign person has been issued a visa or other 
          documentation to be used to enter the United States, 
          revocation, in accordance with section 221(i) of the 
          Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), of the visa 
          or other documentation.
      (c) Consideration of Certain Information in Imposing Sanctions.--In 
  determining whether to impose sanctions under subsection (b), the 
  President shall consider--
              (1) information provided by the chairperson and ranking 
          member of each of the appropriate congressional committees; and
              (2) credible information obtained by other countries and 
          nongovernmental organizations that monitor violations of human 
          rights.
      (d) Waiver for National Security Interests.--The President may 
  waive the application of subsection (b) with respect to a foreign 
  person if the President determines that such a waiver is in the 
  national security interests of the United States.
      (e) Exception To Comply With United Nations Headquarters 
  Agreement.--Subsection (b) shall not apply to a foreign person if 
  admitting the foreign person into the United States is necessary to 
  permit the United States to comply with the Agreement between the 
  United Nations and the United States of America regarding the 
  Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 
  1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, and other applicable 
  international obligations of the United States.
      (f) Termination of Sanctions.--The President may terminate the 
  application of sanctions under subsection (b) with respect to a foreign 
  person if the President determines and reports to the appropriate 
  congressional committees not later than 15 days before the termination 
  of the sanctions that--
              (1) credible information exists that the foreign person did 
          not engage in the activity for which sanctions were imposed;
              (2) the foreign person has been prosecuted appropriately 
          for the activity for which sanctions were imposed; or
              (3) the foreign person has credibly demonstrated a 
          significant change in behavior, has paid an appropriate 
          consequence for the activity for which sanctions were imposed, 
          and has credibly committed to not engage in an activity 
          described in subsection (a) in the future.
      (g) Regulatory Authority.--The President shall issue such 
  regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this 
  section.
  
  SEC. 4. REPORTS BY PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS.
  
      (a) In General.--The President shall submit to the appropriate 
  congressional committees an annual report that includes--
              (1) a list of each foreign person with respect to which the 
          President imposed sanctions pursuant to section 3 during the 
          year preceding the submission of the report;
              (2) the number of foreign persons with respect to which the 
          President terminated sanctions under section 3 during that 
          year;
              (3) the dates on which such sanctions were imposed or 
          terminated, as the case may be;
              (4) the reasons for imposing or terminating such sanctions; 
          and
              (5) a description of the efforts of the President to 
          encourage the governments of other countries to impose 
          sanctions that are similar to the sanctions authorized by 
          section 3.
      (b) Dates for Submission.--
              (1) Initial report.--The President shall submit the initial 
          report required by this subsection not later than 180 days 
          after the date of the enactment of this Act.
              (2) Subsequent reports.--
                      (A) In general.--The President shall submit each 
                  subsequent report required by this subsection on 
                  December 10, or the first day thereafter on which both 
                  Houses of Congress are in session, of--
                              (i) the calendar year in which the initial 
                          report is submitted if the initial report is 
                          submitted before December 10 of such calendar 
                          year; and
                              (ii) each subsequent calendar year.
                      (B) Congressional statement.--Congress notes that 
                  December 10 of each calendar year has been recognized 
                  in the United States and internationally since 1950 as 
                  ``Human Rights Day'' and thus the importance of 
                  December 10 of each calendar year as the date of 
                  submission of the subsequent reports required by this 
                  subsection.
      (c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted 
  unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary.
      (d) Public Availability.--
              (1) In general.--The unclassified portion of the report 
          required by subsection (a) shall be made available to the 
          public, including through publication in the Federal Register.
              (2) Nonapplicability of confidentiality requirement with 
          respect to visa records.--If the President decides to publish 
          the names of individuals sanctioned in a report required under 
          this section, the President may do so without regard to the 
          requirements of section 222(f) of the Immigration and 
          Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1202(f)) with respect to 
          confidentiality of records pertaining to the issuance or 
          refusal of visas or permits to enter the United States.
  
  SEC. 5. LIMITING VISAS TO EXECUTIVES OF STATE-OWNED NEWS AND MEDIA 
                ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING IN THE UNITED STATES.
  
      (a) Policy Statement.--Given the critical importance of the press 
  freedoms and the free flow of cross-border information for diplomatic, 
  political, and financial relations globally, and for purposes of 
  investors, businesses, and politicians making informed decisions, it 
  should be the policy of the United States Government to respond 
  strongly and persuasively to the growing number of restrictions, 
  threats, detentions, harassment, arrests, pervasive surveillance, 
  killings, and delays or denials of visas faced by foreign journalists 
  and their domestic employees, especially the blockage and censorship of 
  the websites of news corporations.
      (b) Limitation on I-Visas.--Section 101(a)(15)(I) of the 
  Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(I)) is amended by 
  inserting ``subject to section 214(s),'' before ``upon a basis''.
      (c) Restrictions on Visas to Executives of State-Owned Media.--
  Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) is 
  amended by adding at the end the following:
      ``(s) Restrictions on Visas to Executives of State-Owned Media.--
              ``(1) In general.--In the case of an alien who is an 
          executive of a state-owned media organization of a foreign 
          state and is applying for a visa under section 101(a)(15)(I) 
          during a fiscal year, the visa shall be refused if any United 
          States journalist or news organization personnel were expelled, 
          had visas denied, or faced intimidation or violence or other 
          restrictions in the course of working in the foreign state 
          during the previous fiscal year.
              ``(2) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
          term `executive of a state-owned media organization of a 
          foreign state' means a representative, operating in a 
          managerial or executive capacity of a media organization that 
          is majority owned, operated, or controlled by a foreign 
          government operating in the United States.''.
      (d) Transition Rule.--
              (1) In general.--The President may order the immediate 
          revocation, delay, or refusal of visas under section 
          101(a)(15)(I) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
          1101(a)(15)(I)) issued to, or sought by, executives of a state-
          owned media organization of a foreign state before the date of 
          the enactment of this Act in proportion to the expulsions, visa 
          delays or denials, and intimidation experienced by United 
          States journalists or news organization personnel in the course 
          of working in the foreign state during the fiscal year 
          preceding the fiscal year in which this Act is enacted.
              (2) Definition.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the term 
          ``executive of a state-owned media organization of a foreign 
          state'' means a representative, operating in a managerial or 
          executive capacity of a media organization that is majority 
          owned, operated, or controlled by a foreign government 
          operating in the United States.
  
  SEC. 6. INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS 
                FACED BY JOURNALISTS WORLDWIDE IN THE ANNUAL COUNTRY 
                REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES.
  
      The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended--
              (1) in section 116(d)(12) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)(12))--
                      (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                  end;
                      (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at 
                  the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                      (C) by adding at the end the following:
                      ``(D) for each country--
                              ``(i) a detailed description of the 
                          restrictions imposed against journalists and 
                          their domestic personnel, including a 
                          description of surveillance, harassment, 
                          detentions, death threats or physical attacks, 
                          censorship, including on the Internet, denials 
                          or delays of visas or travel documents, direct 
                          sources of pressure or intimidation, or any 
                          other restrictions that limit the ability to 
                          report information freely or restricts the free 
                          flow of information whether by governments, 
                          military, intelligence or police forces or 
                          criminal groups, armed extremists, or rebel 
                          groups; and
                              ``(ii) a brief assessment of the country's 
                          practices with respect to foreign journalists 
                          and their domestic personnel by describing the 
                          country's practices as `very restrictive', 
                          `restrictive', `partially restrictive', or 
                          `mostly free'; and''; and
              (2) in the first subsection (i) of section 502B (22 U.S.C. 
          2304)--
                      (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the 
                  end;
                      (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
                  end and inserting ``; and''; and
                      (C) by adding at the end the following:
              ``(4) for each country--
              ``(5)
                      ``(A) a detailed description of the restrictions 
                  imposed against journalists and their domestic 
                  personnel, including a description of surveillance, 
                  harassment, detentions, death threats or physical 
                  attacks, censorship, including on the Internet, denials 
                  or delays of visas or travel documents, direct sources 
                  of pressure or intimidation, or any other restrictions 
                  that limit the ability to report information freely or 
                  restricts the free flow of information whether by 
                  governments, military, intelligence or police forces or 
                  criminal groups, armed extremists, or rebel groups; and
                      ``(B) a brief assessment of the country's practices 
                  with respect to foreign journalists and their domestic 
                  personnel by describing the country's practices as 
                  `very restrictive', `restrictive', `partially 
                  restrictive', or `mostly free'.''.
  
  SEC. 7. RESTRICTIONS ON THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND CENSORSHIP OF THE 
                INTERNET TREATED AS A RESTRICTION ON TRADE.
  
      (a) Finding.--Congress finds that restrictions on the activities of 
  United States journalists and media personnel and the censorship and 
  blockage of websites and the cross-border flow of information damages 
  the competitiveness of United States corporations and limits access to 
  information critical for investors, consumers, and others making market 
  and financial decisions and should be considered a restriction of trade 
  and an unfair competitive advantage benefitting foreign government-
  controlled news organizations and other news and media corporations.
      (b) Statement of Policy.--Congress declares the following:
              (1) The United States Government should seek as part of 
          international treaty negotiations and in negotiations and 
          bilateral discussions with China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and 
          other countries rated ``Not Free'' by Freedom House's annual 
          ``Freedom of the Press'' survey, conditions for a free and 
          unfettered operation of websites, an end to visas restrictions 
          for journalists, an end to harassment, intimidation, and 
          surveillance of foreign journalists and an end to the abuse of 
          state secrets laws, including China's restrictions on the 
          sharing of information between Chinese and foreign journalists.
              (2) In addition, the United States Government should seek 
          to link expansion of the free flow of information with ongoing 
          and future trade agreements, and other bilateral agreements and 
          communiques, by seeking language eliminating any and all 
          limitations on market access for news agency services and 
          eliminate any restrictions on cross-border data flows involving 
          journalists and the media, including in the Trans-Pacific 
          Partnership, Bilateral Investment Treaties, or any other trade 
          negotiations planned or in progress and seek stipulations 
          guaranteeing fair treatment of United States and other foreign 
          journalists and their publications, consistent with the 
          treatment received by foreign journalists operating in the 
          United States and free and unfettered operation of websites in 
          China and other countries where they are blocked or censored.
      (c) Sense of Congress.--In order to promote freedom of the press 
  and recognize the importance of that internationally recognized right 
  to economic freedom and economic security, it is the sense of Congress 
  that--
              (1) restrictions on journalists and media websites and the 
          censorship of the Internet are significant foreign trade 
          barriers;
              (2) the United States Trade Representative should include a 
          list of United States websites blocked in foreign countries in 
          reporting on trade barriers in its annual report on foreign 
          trade barriers; and
              (3) the United States Government should pursue, at the 
          World Trade Organization (WTO) , disputes to end blockage of 
          United States websites by foreign governments, which would 
          include requirements for other members of the WTO to regularly 
          publish a list of any banned or censored websites and provide 
          website owners an opportunity to appeal.
target: World Press Freedom Protection Act of 2015 This bill authorizes the President to impose U.S. admissibility sanctions against a foreign person who:   is responsible for severe restrictions on the freedom of expression or freedom of the press; or  has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such an activity.  The President may waive such sanctions if in U.S. national security interests, and terminate them under specified conditions.  Sanctions shall not apply if necessary to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters or other applicable international obligations of the United States.  The President shall report to Congress annually regarding each foreign person sanctioned, and the dates and reason for the imposition of any sanctions.  It should be U.S. policy to respond strongly to the growing number of restrictions, arrests, killings, and visa delays or denials faced by foreign journalists and their domestic employees.  An executive of a foreign state-owned media organization who is applying for a nonimmigrant I-visa (foreign media representative) shall be refused the visa if any U.S. journalist or news organization personnel were expelled, had visas denied, or faced violence in the course of working in such foreign state during the previous fiscal year. Annual country reports of human rights practices under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 shall now include information about the country's practices with respect to foreign journalists and their domestic personnel.  It is the sense of Congress that:   restrictions on journalists and media websites and Internet censorship are significant foreign trade barriers;  the United States Trade Representative should include a list of blocked U.S. websites in its annual report on foreign trade barriers; and  the United States should pursue disputes to end foreign blockage of U.S. websites at the World Trade Organization.
feat_title: World Press Freedom Protection Act of 2015