Washington — Sayer Ji, founder of the Restore the First coalition and a plaintiff in Finn v. Global Engagement Center, today publicly endorsed the JAWBONE Act (S.4749), the bipartisan Senate bill introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to create a federal cause of action against government coercion of platforms, broadcasters, and AI providers. The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to mark up the bill on Wednesday, September 16 at 10:00 AM in 253 Russell Senate Office Building.
Statement from Sayer Ji:
"I was one of twelve Americans a British non-profit put on a list, and one of the six who could prove what came next and sued. The White House cited that list. A U.S. Senator cited it. Platforms acted on it. Our reach was cut. Our accounts were closed. Our businesses were demonetized. When we went to court, the court dismissed our case on procedural grounds without ever hearing the evidence."
"Millions of Americans went through the same thing without ever being named. They got no report, no press release, no day in court. They just got smaller."
"The JAWBONE Act is the first serious federal bill I've seen that reaches this problem where it actually happens — the moment federal officials pressure a private intermediary. It reaches attempted coercion, not just successful takedowns. It provides real discovery so Americans can uncover the record that the courts have so far refused to reach. It creates ongoing transparency. It gives us a courtroom door to walk through."
"In its lane, JAWBONE may be the strongest First Amendment bill in front of Congress right now. I endorse it, and I urge the Senate Commerce Committee to report it favorably at Tuesday's markup. I urge every U.S. Senator to cosponsor it, and I urge House members to introduce a companion."
"I also urge Congress to take the next step and introduce the First Amendment Remedies Act — the broader model bill Restore the First has drafted — to cover the federal First Amendment violations JAWBONE was not written to reach. Americans have had a § 1983 remedy against state officials since 1871. They deserve the same against federal officials in 2026."
"The Senate Commerce Committee has a chance on Tuesday to do something rare: pass a real First Amendment protection with real bipartisan support, from a Republican chair and a Democratic senior senator, at a moment when we agree on almost nothing else. Whether we take that chance says something about whether the First Amendment still belongs to every American, of any viewpoint. I hope they take it."
About Restore the First. Restore the First is a viewpoint-neutral citizens' coalition of 20 organizations and 8 independent outlets — including MAHA Action, Stand for Health Freedom, Children's Health Defense, Global Wellness Forum, ICAN, World Council for Health, Food Babe, and others — asking Congress to preserve the records, hold public hearings, and pass enforceable protections against government-directed censorship. The coalition launches publicly Wednesday, September 17 at CHD's To Form a More Perfect Future conference in Washington, alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Sen. Ron Johnson, Sen. Rand Paul, and Rep. Thomas Massie.
Restore the First is a separate coalition from the JAWBONE Act's original endorsers (FIRE, ACLU, Knight First Amendment Institute, Protect The 1st Foundation, Abundance Institute, Center for Democracy and Technology). This endorsement is its own.
Contact: Sayer Ji · sayerji@gmail.com · restorethe1st.com
