[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1082 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1082

               To provide support for democracy in Iran.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 19, 2003

Mr. Brownback (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Santorum, and 
 Mr. Campbell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
               To provide support for democracy in Iran.

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

SECTION 1. IRAN DEMOCRACY ACT.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Democracy Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) There is currently not a democratic government in Iran. 
        Instead, Iran is an ideological dictatorship presided over by 
        an unelected Supreme Leader with limitless veto power, an 
        unelected Expediency Council, and Council of Guardians capable 
        of eviscerating any reforms, and a President elected only after 
        the Council disqualified 234 other candidates for being too 
        liberal, reformist, or secular.
            (2) The April 2003 report of the Department of State states 
        that Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism 
        in 2002.
            (3) That report also states that Iran continues to provide 
        funding, safehaven, training, and weapons to known terrorist 
        groups, notably Hizballah, HAMAS, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, 
        and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
            (4) Human rights have failed to improve in Iran under the 
        pseudo-reformers. Torture, executions after unfair trials, and 
        censorship of all media remain rampant throughout the country. 
        Stoning and beheading are used as methods of punishment.

SEC. 3. POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States to--
            (1) support transparent, full democracy in Iran;
            (2) support an internationally-monitored referendum in Iran 
        by which the Iranian people can peacefully change the system of 
        government in Iran;
            (3) support the aspirations of the Iranian people to live 
        in freedom; and
            (4) help the Iranian people achieve a free press and build 
        an open, democratic, and free society.

SEC. 4. RADIO FARDA REFORM.

    (a) In General.--The Broadcasting Board of Governors shall--
            (1) require the head of Radio Farda to develop programming 
        for Radio Farda, after consulting with--
                    (A) Iranian-Americans and other Iranian exiles 
                who--
                            (i) support a referendum described in 
                        section 3(2); and
                            (ii) oppose the current Government of Iran; 
                        and
                    (B) the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) 
                at the Department of State and the Bureau of 
                Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the 
                Department of State; and
            (2) ensure that a significant percentage of the programming 
        on Radio Farda is devoted to discussing democratic change in 
        Iran including an internationally-monitored democratic 
        referendum in Iran as described in section 3(2).
    (b) Translations of Written and Video Materials for the Iranian 
People.--
            (1) Requirement.--The MEPI and ECA shall provide grants to 
        appropriate entities to create and maintain websites, translate 
        and distribute books, videos, documents, and other materials on 
        democracy, rule of law free market economics, and related 
        topics.
            (2) Consultation.--The MEPI and ECA shall consult with 
        nongovernmental entities and with Iranian-American opposition 
        groups that support the holding of an internationally-monitored 
        referendum in Iran as described in section 3(2) to select 
        materials to be translated into Persian.
    (c) Iran Democracy Support Initiative.--
            (1) Authority.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
        the MEPI and ECA are authorized to award grants to an eligible 
        entity for the purpose of funding programs and activities to 
        promote a democratic referendum in Iran.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The following persons are eligible 
        for grants under paragraph (1):
                    (A) A person who provides radio or television 
                broadcasting into Iran that includes programming 
                intended to promote an internationally-monitored 
                democratic referendum in Iran.
                    (B) A person who is working to promote the holding 
                of an internationally-monitored referendum in Iran, as 
                described in section 3(2).
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, not less than 10 percent of the funds appropriated to 
the International Broadcasting Operations account for fiscal year 2004 
shall be made available to carry out the provisions of this Act.
                                 <all>