[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 242 Referred in Senate (RFS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 242


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 6, 2001

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign 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.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 5, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.