Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1) a press whose ability to investigate and publish is overly constrained by government regulation is neither free nor vibrant; (2) United States citizens have a right to better understand the policies, programs, and operations being pursued by the Department of Defense, the objectives of the leaders of the Department, the effectiveness of such leadership, and how the Department employs and deploys personnel and spends the tax dollars of citizens; (3) press access to the Pentagon informs and serves the public interests described in paragraph (2); (4) reliable, independent, and comprehensive reporting on the Department of Defense— (A) has led to policy and program changes that have directly served the national interest and improved the quality of life and service for members of the Armed Forces; (B) promotes the broad public understanding and support of the Armed Forces needed to attain the national security objectives of the United States; and (C) requires information beyond official government briefings and materials, including information facilitated by the ability of reporters to work and gather news inside the Pentagon; and (5) press access to the Pentagon is essential for meaningful oversight and enables reporting that informs Congress in carrying out its legislative authority, including by surfacing information that serves as the basis for investigative inquiries, reports, hearings, and legislation.