Udall to Celebrate Sunshine Week by Advocating for Open Government, Defending Free Press

Source: Tom Udall Press Office

U.S. Senator Tom Udall, Today, March 15th, will mark Sunshine Week — a national initiative to educate the public on the importance of an open and transparent government — by advocating for transparency in our government, defending the critical role of the free press, and calling for campaign finance reform to shine a light on dark money in politics.

Starting at 10 a.m. ET, Udall will join Senate Democrats and experts at a press conference to call for increased government transparency and accountability in an age of “alternative facts.” Udall will give remarks and answer questions about the importance of protecting free press and the role it plays in creating open government.

Then, at 9:30 a.m. MT / 11:30 a.m. ET, Udall will give a speech on the Senate floor — broadcast on C-SPAN 2 — highlighting the importance of the free press in our democracy. He will emphasize that an independent press encourages debate, disagreement, and the free flow of ideas; educates voters; and acts as a check and balance against government abuse and corruption.

Later in the day, at 2 pm ET, Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, will join a bicameral discussion on “Building Native America Together: Infrastructure Innovation and Improvements for the New Administration and Indian Country” with the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and House Committee on Natural Resources. Udall will emphasize the importance of investing in infrastructure on Tribal lands and improving access to broadband for Native communities.