[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 242 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 242
Recognizing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's success in promoting
democracy and its continuing contribution to United States national
interests.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 4, 2001
Mr. Hyde (for himself and Mr. Lantos) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's success in promoting
democracy and its continuing contribution to United States national
interests.
Whereas on May 1, 1951, Radio Free Europe inaugurated its full
schedule of broadcast services to the people of Eastern
Europe and, subsequently, Radio Liberty initiated its
broadcast services to the peoples of the Soviet Union on
March 1, 1953, just before the death of Stalin;
Whereas now fifty years later, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL, Inc.) continues to promote democracy and human
rights and serve United States national interests by
fulfilling its mission ``to promote democratic values and
institutions by disseminating factual information and
ideas'';
Whereas Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were established in the
darkest days of the cold war as a substitute for the free
media which no longer existed in the communist-dominated
countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet
Union;
Whereas Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty developed a unique form
of international broadcasting known as surrogate
broadcasting by airing local news about the countries to
which they broadcast as well as providing regional and
international news, thus preventing the communist
governments from establishing a monopoly on the
dissemination of information and providing an alternative
to the state-controlled, party dominated domestic media;
Whereas the broadcast of uncensored news and information by Radio
Free Europe and Radio Liberty was a critical element
contributing to the collapse of the totalitarian communist
governments of Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet
Union;
Whereas since the fall of the Iron Curtain, RFE/RL has continued to
inform and therefore strengthen democratic forces in
Central Europe and the countries of the former Soviet
Union, and has contributed to the development of a new
generation of political and economic leaders who have
worked to strengthen civil society, free market economies,
and democratic government institutions;
Whereas United States Government funding established and continues
to support international broadcasting, including RFE/RL,
and this funding is among the most useful and effective in
promoting and enhancing the Nation's national security over
the past half century;
Whereas RFE/RL has successfully downsized in response to
legislative mandate and adapted its programming to the
changing international broadcast environment in order to
serve a broad spectrum of target audiences--people living
in fledgling democracies where private media are still weak
and do not enjoy full editorial independence, transitional
societies where democratic institutions and practices are
poorly developed, as well as countries which still have
tightly controlled state media;
Whereas RFE/RL continues to provide objective news, analysis, and
discussion of domestic and regional issues crucial to
democratic and free-market transformations in emerging
democracies as well as strengthening civil society in these
areas;
Whereas RFE/RL broadcasts seek to combat ethnic, racial, and
religious intolerance and promote mutual understanding
among peoples;
Whereas RFE/RL provides a model for local media, assists in
training to encourage media professionalism and
independence, and develops partnerships with local media
outlets in emerging democracies;
Whereas RFE/RL is a unique broadcasting institution long regarded
by its audience as an alternative national media that
provides both credibility and security for local
journalists who work as its stringers and editors in the
broadcast region; and
Whereas RFE/RL fosters closer relations between the United States
and other democratic states, and the states of Central
Europe and the former Soviet republics: Now therefore be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress--
(1) congratulates the editors, journalists, and managers of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on a half century of effort in
promoting democratic values, and particularly their
contribution to promoting freedom of the press and freedom of
expression in areas of the world where such liberties have been
denied or are not yet fully institutionalized; and
(2) recognizes the major contribution of Radio Free Europe/
Radio Liberty to the growth of democracy throughout the world
and its continuing efforts to advance the vital national
interests of the United States in building a world community
that is more peaceful, democratic, free, and stable.
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