NEW YORK—In response to news that the U.S. House of Representatives voted today to pass the Save the Internet Act (H.R. 1644) by a 232-190 margin, with one Republican supporting the measure and all but four Democrats voting for the bill (those four did not vote on the bill), Thomas O. Melia, PEN America Washington D.C. Director, issued the following statement in support of this important effort:

“Today’s vote to reinstate net neutrality protections across the country is a victory for everyone who has worked to defend an open Internet the last two years—from residents in small towns across the country to free expression and civil liberties experts to the elected officials who listened to the concerns of their constituents. We thank Speaker Pelosi and Representatives Pallone and Doyle for their leadership and advocacy to push this bill through the House of Representatives. After the FCC’s 2017 repeal of net neutrality regulation, guarantees of equal online access are no longer to be taken for granted; these freedoms must be fought for and defended. That is why the Save the Internet Act is critically needed to protect access to information online for all. We look forward to continuing our advocacy when this bill appears before the Senate.”

Learn more about our advocacy to support net neutrality, including the open coalition we sent with 99 other free expression and civil liberties organizations in advance of the vote before the U.S. House of Representatives.

###

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. pen.org

CONTACT: Anoosh Gasparian, External Relations Manager: [email protected]