H.R. 140Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act

4 recorded actions296 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: James Comer [R-KY-01]
Cosponsors: 16 · 16 Republicans
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Committees: Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Latest action: Mar 14, 2023 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

IntroducedJan 9, 2023
Passed the HouseMar 9, 2023
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act

This bill generally prohibits federal employees from censoring the speech of others while acting in an official capacity.

Specifically, the bill prohibits employees of executive agencies or who are otherwise in the competitive service from (1) using their official authority to censor a private entity; or (2) engaging in censorship of a private entity while on duty, wearing a uniform, or using official government property. The bill provides certain exceptions for law enforcement, subject to specified reporting requirements.

Employees are subject to disciplinary action, civil penalties, or both for violations.

The bill defines censor or censorship to mean influencing or coercing, or directing another to influence or coerce, for the removal of lawful speech, the addition of disclaimers, or the restriction of access with respect to any interactive computer service (e.g., social media).

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 140 as passed House on Mar 9, 2023. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

Roll calls on H.R. 1404 roll calls on this measure

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Mar 8, 2023Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveMar 9, 2023

How every member votedHouse roll call 141

House Mar 9, 2023 · the primary vote

On Passage

Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act

Passed

219 Yea 206 Nay 9 not voting

Party-line vote No voting member broke with their own party.

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How the chamber split

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DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

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All members434 members

Democratic213 members

Republican221 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors16 · 16 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 140 and vote against it. 2 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 14012 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 140 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIOfiled by AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO

Agriculture · Budget/Appropriations · Health Issues · Homeland Security +13 more12 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

LINKEDIN CORPORATION

Environment/Superfund · Economics/Economic Development · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Computer Industry +2 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNIONIts PAC: National Treasury Employees Union PAC

Budget/Appropriations · Government Issues · Health Issues · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

NUMBERSUSA ACTIONfiled by OFF HILL STRATEGIES L.L.C.

Immigration4 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2023Filing

AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM

Retirement · Budget/Appropriations · Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Economics/Economic Development +15 more2 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2023Filing

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEESfiled by MCCARTHY ADVANCED CONSULTING LLC

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Homeland Security · Government Issues1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2023Filing

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEESfiled by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Environment/Superfund · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Government Issues +14 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2023Filing

AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY

Housing · Intelligence · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Agriculture +26 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2023Filing

FINSECAIts PAC: Finseca PAC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Insurance · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace1 filing · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2024Filing

HERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICA

Budget/Appropriations · Education · Government Issues · Defense +12 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2023Filing

41 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-04. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.