Bill > HR1684

This bill establishes new criminal offenses for intentional acts (or attempts) that cause bodily injury or serious bodily injury to a journalist. The key provisions are: 1. The bill defines a "journalist" as an individual who is an employee, independent contractor, or agent of an entity or service that disseminates news or information through various media, and who engages in newsgathering with the primary intent to investigate an event or procure material in order to disseminate news or information to the public. 2. The bill prohibits intentional acts that cause bodily injury to a journalist while they are engaged in newsgathering or with the intention of intimidating or impeding their newsgathering activities. The penalty for this offense is a fine or up to 3 years in prison. 3. The bill also prohibits intentional acts that cause serious bodily injury to a journalist under the same circumstances, with a penalty of a fine or up to 6 years in prison. 4. The bill adds these new criminal offenses to Chapter 7 of Title 18 of the United States Code.