WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee, released the following statement on reporting in the Capitol and Senate office buildings:

"A few hours ago we heard—from reporters—that TV journalists were being kept from reporting in the Senate hallways. As the ranking member on the Rules Committee, I had not been consulted and I immediately called on the Republican majority to follow common practice and allow the reporters to do their jobs. Then I talked to Senator Shelby, who is the chairman of the Rules Committee. He said he wouldn't move forward on a change to press access without consulting me. We must hold him to it. This is no time for limiting press access in the U.S. Senate—with Russia hearings, Attorney General Sessions testifying, and what appears to be the secretive drafting of a healthcare bill. We have to preserve freedom of the press."

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