In today’s politically charged climate, it is infrequent that an issue or piece of legislation garners bipartisan support.

Last year, in a rare display of bipartisanship, an essential and long-overdue reform designed to modernize America’s infrastructure was signed into law by President Joe Biden, having received the support of dozens of congressional Republicans and nearly all Democrats.

This year, Biden and Democrats in Congress have another unique opportunity to pass an important piece of legislation on a bipartisan basis: the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, or JCPA. ...

As things currently are, Big Tech is able to disseminate the intellectual property of media outlets without offering any compensation or benefit to these local newspapers and content providers. This is not only blatantly unfair — as it represents an expropriation of outlets’ work products without any economic benefit — but it is also one of the major reasons why local newspapers across the country are facing unprecedented challenges in remaining both economically viable and as the lifeblood of their communities.

For both practical and political reasons, Biden and congressional Democrats should devote considerable attention, energy and political capital to ensuring JCPA’s passage.

For a lifelong fan of printed newspapers, it’s difficult to see them stop printing daily or cease printing altogether.

But the business is so brutal nowadays, especially in smaller cities and rural areas, it will happen more often in the next few years.

What’s not changing is the need for local journalism to continue informing citizens, holding officials accountable and binding communities.

That will require experimentation, bold and sometimes painful changes, and finding new ways to fund this essential work.

That’s happening in Yakima, where the Yakima Herald-Republic announced Feb. 1 that it’s ending daily print editions. It’s shifting to printed papers only on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays starting April 1.