H.Res. 1217

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1217 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1217

Expressing support for the citizens of the United Kingdom as they 
continue to face assaults on their rights to free speech and freedom of 
expression.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 27, 2026

Mr. Rulli (for himself, Mr. Davidson, and Mr. Van Drew) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways 
and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the citizens of the United Kingdom as they 
continue to face assaults on their rights to free speech and freedom of 
expression.

Whereas the right to free speech and freedom of expression, guaranteed by the 
First Amendment to the Constitution, is critical to upholding the 
fundamental underpinnings of democracy in the United States and in 
democracies around the world;
Whereas freedom of speech and freedom of expression foster conversation, debate, 
and understanding;
Whereas citizens of the United States should not have their rights to free 
speech or freedom of expression restricted by any foreign government;
Whereas Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other officials of the United Kingdom 
have taken actions that censor, imprison, or otherwise punish their own 
citizens for exercising their rights to free speech and freedom of 
expression;
Whereas the refusal of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other officials of the 
United Kingdom to halt mass migration into the United Kingdom has 
contributed to social unrest and prompted citizens of the United Kingdom 
to express their displeasure with such policies online;
Whereas Toby Young, founder and director of the Free Speech Union, and his 
organization have experienced an influx of members as a result of 
citizens of the United Kingdom facing consequences for exercising their 
rights to free speech and freedom of expression;
Whereas, in September 2025, more than 100,000 individuals assembled in London to 
protest the violations of their rights to free speech and freedom of 
expression;
Whereas oversight by the Committee on the Judiciary has revealed that the 
government of the United Kingdom seeks to censor United States-based 
platforms and legitimate criticisms of its policies;
Whereas the Online Safety Act grants government regulators broad authority to 
regulate forms of expression that they arbitrarily deem offensive or 
improper;
Whereas London Metropolitan Police Chief Mark Rowley has repeatedly threatened 
to arrest both citizens of the United Kingdom and of the United States 
for online comments, and has singled out Elon Musk, the owner of the 
social media platform X;
Whereas five armed police officers detained Irish comedian Graham Linehan upon 
his arrival at Heathrow Airport from Arizona in connection with posts he 
had made on X;
Whereas Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, has called for the 
arrest of Elon Musk and regards him as a criminal in connection with 
comments Musk made on his own platform;
Whereas Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, director of March for Life UK, was arrested twice 
within five months for silently praying outside an abortion clinic;
Whereas Adam Smith-Connor, a British Army veteran, was convicted and forced to 
pay a fine for silently praying outside an abortion clinic; and
Whereas British authorities arrest more than 12,000 individuals in the United 
Kingdom each year for speech-related offenses, averaging roughly 30 
individuals per day: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses disapproval of Prime Minister Keir Starmer 
and the Labour Party for violating the rights to freedom of 
speech and expression of the citizens of the United Kingdom;
(2) condemns statements and actions by officials of the 
United Kingdom that seek to extradite American citizens for 
exercising the right to freedom of speech guaranteed under the 
Constitution of the United States;
(3) urges the Trump Administration to employ all necessary 
resources, including tariffs, sanctions, revocation of visas, 
and other measures, to hold accountable officials of the United 
Kingdom who act as though they are above the Constitution of 
the United States;
(4) urges the Trump Administration to refuse recognition of 
any laws or orders of the United Kingdom that infringe upon the 
rights to freedom of speech and expression;
(5) reaffirms that, in commemoration of the 250th 
anniversary of the United States of America, our Founding 
Fathers and patriots fought against a tyrannical government 
that levied unjust taxes, violated fundamental rights, and 
restricted the rights to freedom of speech and expression; and
(6) reaffirms that the constitutionally protected rights of 
American citizens take precedence over any actions by officials 
of the United Kingdom aimed at undermining such rights.
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