[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2121 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.2121

                      One Hundred Seventh Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

         Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
          the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two


                                 An Act


 
  To make available funds under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to 
 expand democracy, good governance, and anti-corruption programs in the 
    Russian Federation in order to promote and strengthen democratic 
   government and civil society and independent media in that country.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Russian Democracy Act of 2002''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
        (1) Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the leadership 
    of the Russian Federation has publicly committed itself to 
    building--
            (A) a society with democratic political institutions and 
        practices, the observance of universally recognized standards 
        of human rights, and religious and press freedom; and
            (B) a market economy based on internationally accepted 
        principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of 
        law.
        (2) In order to facilitate this transition, the international 
    community has provided multilateral and bilateral technical 
    assistance, and the United States' contribution to these efforts 
    has played an important role in developing new institutions built 
    on democratic and liberal economic foundations and the rule of law.
        (3)(A) Since 1992, United States Government democratic reform 
    programs and public diplomacy programs, including training, and 
    small grants have provided access to and training in the use of the 
    Internet, brought nearly 40,000 Russian citizens to the United 
    States, and have led to the establishment of more than 65,000 
    nongovernmental organizations, thousands of independent local media 
    outlets, despite governmental opposition, and numerous political 
    parties.
        (B) These efforts contributed to the substantially free and 
    fair Russian parliamentary elections in 1995 and 1999.
        (4) The United States has assisted Russian efforts to replace 
    its centrally planned, state-controlled economy with a market 
    economy and helped create institutions and infrastructure for a 
    market economy. Approximately two-thirds of the Russian 
    Federation's gross domestic product is now generated by the private 
    sector, and the United States recognized Russia as a market economy 
    on June 7, 2002.
        (5)(A) The United States has fostered grassroots 
    entrepreneurship in the Russian Federation by focusing United 
    States economic assistance on small- and medium-sized businesses 
    and by providing training, consulting services, and small loans to 
    more than 250,000 Russian entrepreneurs.
        (B) There are now more than 900,000 small businesses in the 
    Russian Federation, producing 12 to 15 percent, depending on the 
    estimate, of the gross domestic product of the Russian Federation.
        (C) United States-funded programs have contributed to fighting 
    corruption and financial crime, such as money laundering, by 
    helping to--
            (i) establish a commercial legal infrastructure;
            (ii) develop an independent judiciary;
            (iii) support the drafting of a new criminal code, civil 
        code, and bankruptcy law;
            (iv) develop a legal and regulatory framework for the 
        Russian Federation's equivalent of the United States Securities 
        and Exchange Commission;
            (v) support Russian law schools;
            (vi) create legal aid clinics; and
            (vii) bolster law-related activities of nongovernmental 
        organizations.
        (6) Because the capability of Russian democratic forces and the 
    civil society to organize and defend democratic gains without 
    international support is uncertain, and because the gradual 
    integration of the Russian Federation into the global order of 
    free-market, democratic nations would enhance Russian cooperation 
    with the United States on a wide range of political, economic, and 
    security issues, the success of democracy in Russia is in the 
    national security interest of the United States, and the United 
    States Government should develop a far-reaching and flexible 
    strategy aimed at strengthening Russian society's support for 
    democracy and a market economy, particularly by enhancing Russian 
    democratic institutions and education, promoting the rule of law, 
    and supporting Russia's independent media.
        (7) Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Russian 
    Federation has stood with the United States and the rest of the 
    civilized world in the struggle against terrorism and has 
    cooperated in the war in Afghanistan by sharing intelligence and 
    through other means.
        (8) United States-Russia relations have improved, leading to a 
    successful summit between President Bush and President Putin in May 
    2002, resulting in a ``Foundation for Cooperation''.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
        (1) to strengthen and advance institutions of democratic 
    government and of free and independent media, and to sustain the 
    development of an independent civil society in the Russian 
    Federation based on religious and ethnic tolerance, internationally 
    recognized human rights, and an internationally recognized rule of 
    law; and
        (2) to focus United States foreign assistance programs on using 
    local expertise and to give local organizations a greater role in 
    designing and implementing such programs, while maintaining 
    appropriate oversight and monitoring.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States Government should--
        (1) recognize that a democratic and economically stable Russian 
    Federation is inherently less confrontational and destabilizing in 
    its foreign policy and therefore that the promotion of democracy in 
    Russia is in the national security interests of the United States; 
    and
        (2) continue and increase assistance to the democratic forces 
    in the Russian Federation, including the independent media, 
    regional administrations, democratic political parties, and 
    nongovernmental organizations.
    (b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United 
States--
        (1) to facilitate Russia's integration into the Western 
    community of nations, including supporting the establishment of a 
    stable democracy and a market economy within the framework of the 
    rule of law and respect for individual rights, including Russia's 
    membership in the appropriate international institutions;
        (2) to engage the Government of the Russian Federation and 
    Russian society in order to strengthen democratic reform and 
    institutions, and to promote transparency and good governance in 
    all aspects of society, including fair and honest business 
    practices, accessible and open legal systems, freedom of religion, 
    and respect for human rights;
        (3) to advance a dialogue among United States Government 
    officials, private sector individuals, and representatives of the 
    Government of the Russian Federation regarding Russia's integration 
    into the Western community of nations;
        (4) to encourage United States Government officials and private 
    sector individuals to meet regularly with democratic activists, 
    human rights activists, representatives of the independent media, 
    representatives of nongovernmental organizations, civic organizers, 
    church officials, and reform-minded politicians from Moscow and all 
    other regions of the Russian Federation;
        (5) to incorporate democratic reforms, the promotion of 
    independent media, and economic reforms in a broader United States 
    dialogue with the Government of the Russian Federation;
        (6) to encourage the Government of the Russian Federation to 
    address, in a cooperative and transparent manner consistent with 
    internationally recognized and accepted principles, cross-border 
    issues, including the nonproliferation of weapons of mass 
    destruction, environmental degradation, crime, trafficking, and 
    corruption;
        (7) to consult with the Government of the Russian Federation 
    and the Russian Parliament on the adoption of economic and social 
    reforms necessary to sustain Russian economic growth and to ensure 
    Russia's transition to a fully functioning market economy and 
    membership in the World Trade Organization;
        (8) to persuade the Government of the Russian Federation to 
    honor its commitments made to the Organization for Security and 
    Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at the November 1999 Istanbul 
    Conference, and to conduct a genuine good neighbor policy toward 
    the other independent states of the former Soviet Union in the 
    spirit of internationally accepted principles of regional 
    cooperation; and
        (9) to encourage the G-8 partners and international financial 
    institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary 
    Fund, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to 
    develop financial safeguards and transparency practices in lending 
    to the Russian Federation.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961.

    (a) In General.--
        (1) Democracy and rule of law.--Section 498(2) of the Foreign 
    Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295(2)) is amended--
            (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Democracy'' and 
        inserting ``Democracy and rule of law'';
            (B) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (G);
            (C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (I);
            (D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
            ``(E) development and support of grass-roots and 
        nongovernmental organizations promoting democracy, the rule of 
        law, transparency, and accountability in the political process, 
        including grants in small amounts to such organizations;
            ``(F) international exchanges and other forms of public 
        diplomacy to promote greater understanding on how democracy, 
        the public policy process, market institutions, and an 
        independent judiciary function in Western societies;
            ``(G) political parties and coalitions committed to 
        promoting democracy, human rights, and economic reforms;
            ``(H) support for civic organizations committed to 
        promoting human rights;''; and
            (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(J) strengthened administration of justice through 
        programs and activities carried out in accordance with section 
        498B(e), including--
                ``(i) support for nongovernmental organizations, civic 
            organizations, and political parties that favor a strong 
            and independent judiciary;
                ``(ii) support for local organizations that work with 
            judges and law enforcement officials in efforts to achieve 
            a reduction in the number of pretrial detainees; and
                ``(iii) support for the creation of legal associations 
            or groups that provide training in human rights and 
            advocacy, public education with respect to human rights-
            related laws and proposed legislation, and legal assistance 
            to persons subject to improper government interference.''.
        (2) Independent media.--Section 498 of the Foreign Assistance 
    Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295) is amended--
            (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (13) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (14), respectively; and
            (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
        ``(3) Independent media.--Developing free and independent 
    media, including--
            ``(A) supporting all forms of independent media reporting, 
        including print, radio, and television;
            ``(B) providing special support for, and unrestricted 
        public access to, nongovernmental Internet-based sources of 
        information, dissemination and reporting, including providing 
        technical and other support for web radio services, providing 
        computers and other necessary resources for Internet 
        connectivity and training new Internet users in nongovernmental 
        civic organizations on methods and uses of Internet-based 
        media; and
            ``(C) training in journalism, including investigative 
        journalism techniques that educate the public on the costs of 
        corruption and act as a deterrent against corrupt officials.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 498B(e) of such Act is amended 
by striking ``paragraph (2)(G)'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)(J)''.

SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

    (a) Assistance Programs.--In providing assistance to the Russian 
Federation under chapter 11 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.), the President is authorized to--
        (1) work with the Government of the Russian Federation, the 
    Duma, and representatives of the Russian Federation judiciary to 
    help implement a revised and improved code of criminal procedure 
    and other laws;
        (2) establish civic education programs relating to democracy, 
    public policy, the rule of law, and the importance of independent 
    media, including the establishment of ``American Centers'' and 
    public policy schools at Russian universities and encourage 
    cooperative programs with universities in the United States to 
    offer courses through Internet-based off-site learning centers at 
    Russian universities; and
        (3) support the Regional Initiatives (RI) program, which 
    provides targeted assistance in those regions of the Russian 
    Federation that have demonstrated a commitment to reform, 
    democracy, and the rule of law, and which promotes the concept of 
    such programs as a model for all regions of the Russian Federation.
    (b) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America.--RFE/RL, 
Incorporated, and the Voice of America should use new and innovative 
techniques, in cooperation with local independent media sources and 
using local languages as appropriate and as possible, to disseminate 
throughout the Russian Federation information relating to democracy, 
free-market economics, the rule of law, and human rights.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR DEMOCRACY, INDEPENDENT MEDIA, 
              AND THE RULE OF LAW.

    Of the amounts made available to carry out the provision of chapter 
11 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et 
seq.) and the FREEDOM Support Act for fiscal year 2003, $50,000,000 is 
authorized to be available for the activities authorized by paragraphs 
(2) and (3) of section 498 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as 
amended by section 4(a) of this Act.

SEC. 7. PRESERVING THE ARCHIVES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND NOBEL 
              PEACE PRIZE WINNER ANDREI SAKHAROV.

    (a) Authorization.--The President is authorized, on such terms and 
conditions as the President determines to be appropriate, to make a 
grant to Brandeis University for an endowment for the Andrei Sakharov 
Archives and Human Rights Center for the purpose of collecting and 
preserving documents related to the life of Andrei Sakharov and the 
administration of such Center.
    (b) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
President to carry out subsection (a) not more than $1,500,000.

SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF LAW.

    The provisions of section 108(c) of H.R. 3427, as enacted by 
section 1000(a)(7) of Public Law 106-113, shall apply to United States 
contributions for fiscal year 2003 to the organization described in 
section 108(c) of H.R. 3427.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.