WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Michael A. Rulli (OH-06) introduced the Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion Act, known as the GRANITE Act, to stop foreign governments from enforcing censorship judgments against Americans. “Foreign bureaucrats do not get to decide what Americans can say,” said Rulli. “My bill makes clear that if a foreign government tries to punish an American for speech protected by the First Amendment, that judgment is dead on arrival in our courts. The Constitution protects our right to speak freely. It does not bend to Brussels or London.” The GRANITE Act would bar domestic courts from recognizing or enforcing any foreign judgment, fine, order, or demand that penalizes, restricts, or compels disclosure related to protected expression, when that judgment would be unenforceable under the First Amendment. The bill also strips foreign governments and officials of sovereign immunity when they attempt to impose these censorship judgments, opening the door for Americans to seek declaratory relief in U.S. district court.
Support legislation to prevent U.S. courts from recognizing or enforcing foreign censorship judgments, fines, orders, or demands against Americans when they would violate First Amendment protections, and to allow Americans to seek declaratory relief against foreign governments or officials attempting to impose them.
Occurrences
Evidence
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The GRANITE Act would bar domestic courts from recognizing or enforcing any foreign judgment, fine, order, or demand
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Mr. Rulli introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Assessments
The judged commitment is to support legislation with the GRANITE Act’s stated protections, not to secure enactment of those protections. Verified evidence shows Rulli introduced the bill and that the bill would bar domestic courts from recognizing or enforcing foreign censorship judgments, fines, orders, or demands. Because introducing/sponsoring the legislation is a material candidate action fulfilling the support-legislation commitment, this is delivered in the same term; enactment of the underlying legal outcome is not proven.