Bill · H.R. 4067· House(119-HR-4067)
Protect the First Amendment Act
- Introduced
- 6/20/2025
- Last activity
- 6/20/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Sponsored by
- Roger Williams
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Protect the First Amendment Act," aims to prevent the Federal Government from providing funds to specific organizations. It prohibits the government from using funds to contract with or grant awards to "covered entities" or nonprofit organizations that engage in "covered behavior." The term "covered entity" specifically includes NewsGuard Technologies, Inc. and the Global Disinformation Index. "Covered behavior" involves activities that demonetize or rate the credibility of a domestic entity based on lawful speech by evaluating it as misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation.
Yes
Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life?+5
The bill seeks to protect freedom of speech by preventing government funds from supporting entities that deplatform or demonetize lawful speech.
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?+5
The bill aims to protect entities from financial penalties related to their speech evaluations.
The opposite
Does this give the federal government more power?-3
The bill restricts the Federal Government's ability to use its funds for certain types of contracting and grant-making.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Prevention of Government Funding for Specific Activities: The bill stops the Federal Government from using taxpayer funds to contract with or grant awards to entities performing "covered behavior" (Section 2(a)). This ensures that government money is not used to support operations that rate or demonseitize domestic entities based on their speech.
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Protection of Domestic Entities: By prohibiting funds for those who "demonetize or rate the credibility of a domestic entity" (Section 2(b)(2)), the bill aims to prevent the financial de-platforming of news and other information outlets based on evaluations of their speech.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Specific Organizations: The bill explicitly targets NewsGuard Technologies, Inc. and the Global Disinformation Index (Section 2(b)(1)), which would prevent these specific entities from receiving federal contracts or grants.
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Impact on Nonprofits: The prohibition extends to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that engages in "covered behavior" (Section 2(b)(3)), which involves rating or demonetizing entities based on whether their speech is considered misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation (Section 2(b)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Freedom Of Speech+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Freedom Of Speech+5Increases Federal Power-3
- 6/20/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Richard McCormickRepublican · Georgia