Reps. Dave Min & Claudia Tenney Lead Letter Urging the Trump Administration to Immediately Work to Expand Internet Freedom in Iran

Washington, D.C. -In response to the regime's escalating communications blackout and violent retaliation against widespread protests in Iran, Representatives Dave Min (D-CA-47) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) led 16 members of Congress in urging President Trump to immediately direct the executive branch to maximize its resources to protect internet-freedom technologies for the Iranian people. Reps. Subramanyam (D-VA), Salazar (R-FL), Sherman (D-CA), Shreve (R-IN), Swalwell (D-CA), Lofgren (D-CA), Goldman (D-NY), Schneider (D-IL), Ansari (D-AZ), Suozzi (D-NY), Cohen (D-TN), Casten (D-IL), Stanton (D-AZ), Gottheimer (D-NJ), Panetta (D-CA), and Ross (D-NC) all co-signed the letter.

"The United States cannot find itself unprepared to assist when timely action could make a meaningful difference in Iran's struggle for democracy," said Rep. Min."The Iranian people deserve the same access to the tools that enable them to speak, organize, and participate in their own future as we have here in the United States."

In December, Reps. Min & Tenney led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in introducing the Feasibility Review of Emerging Equipment for Digital Open Media (FREEDOM) Act, legislation aimed at expanding internet freedomin Iran by evaluating emerging technologies that could help bypass state-imposed blackouts. As Congress works to advance the FREEDOM Act, Reps. Min & Tenney called on President Trump to begin interagency coordination, resume and leverage the Department of State's collaboration with the Open Technology Fund, harness existing technologies like Virtual Private Networks, and fully assess emerging technologies such as direct-to-cell networks.

In their letter, Reps. Min & Tenney addressed Trump's statement that the administration is ready and willing to help the Iranian protesters. As the authoritarian Iranian regime continues to intensify its use of communications blackouts, it is clear that the administration cannot delay and must act with urgency to pursue solutions that promote secure, uncensored access to information.

The full letter is available here. The National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI), Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), FDD Action endorsed the letter.