Protect the First Amendment Act
Sponsored By: Representative Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
Introduced
Summary
Blocks federal contracts and grants to companies and nonprofits that rate or demonetize American speech. The bill would prohibit federal funds to specific named firms — NewsGuard Technologies, Inc. (doing business as NewsGuard) and Disinformation Index, Inc., Disinformation Index, Ltd., and Global Disinformation Index gUG (collectively doing business as Global Disinformation Index) — and to any 501(c)(3) or other entity that engages in operations that demonetize or rate the credibility of domestic news or other speech by labeling it misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
No federal funds for speech rating firms
If enacted, federal agencies would not be able to use funds to contract with or give grants to NewsGuard or Global Disinformation Index, or their successors. Agencies also would be barred from funding any nonprofit or other entity that demonetizes or rates the credibility of a U.S. outlet based on its lawful speech. Covered behavior means rating or cutting off money by calling speech misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation. For this rule, nonprofit means a 501(c)(3) charity. The ban would apply to any federal contract or grant that uses federal money.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Sponsored 6/20/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov