HYDE-SMITH, COTTON INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT FREE … – Cindy Hyde-Smith

HYDE-SMITH, COTTON INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT FREE SPEECH ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) on Wednesday joined forces with U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in introducing legislation to protect the First Amendment rights of students at public universities from unconstitutional speech codes and so-called free speech zones.

The Campus Free Speech Restoration Act (S.1511), includes provisions to assure free speech rights at public and private nonreligious institutions, in addition to creating a U.S. Department of Education review process and legal cause of action in federal court.

Its baffling that so many Americans accept the fact that colleges and universities, including some of the most elite in the nation, willingly suppress free speech, Hyde-Smith said. Our First Amendment rights are at the foundation of what makes our democracy unique, and I fully support this measure to restore free speech rights on college campuses across the country.

Too many of Americas public colleges have attacked the First Amendment rights of their students using so-called free speech zones and unconstitutional speech codes. This bill fights back against campus censors in order to defend open debate and free speech, which lead us to truth, said Cotton.

Additional original cosponsors include Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) cosponsored the legislation.

S.1511 would:

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HYDE-SMITH, COTTON INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT FREE ... - Cindy Hyde-Smith