110 HR 2843 IH: Library of Congress Public Diplomacy U.S. House of Representatives 2007-06-22 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2843 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 22, 2007 Ms. Watson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide for the establishment and maintenance of existing libraries and resource centers at United States diplomatic and consular missions to provide information about American culture, society, and history, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This act shall be known as the Library of Congress Public Diplomacy Collection Act of 2007.

2.

Library of Congress public diplomacy collection

(a)

In general

The Librarian of Congress shall create a collection of materials of various media, print, audio, and visual for use in libraries and resource centers operated by the Department of State under the provisions of section 112(a)(4) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (commonly referred to as the Fulbright-Hays Act). (b)

Contents

The collection shall include a broad cross-section of materials of various media, print, audio, and visual. The collection should include materials which provide insight into United States culture, principles and values, law and civics, and democracy, and shall be available for public use. (c)

Donations

The Librarian may accept donations of materials that are made to the collection if the Librarian determines that such receipt will not result in any cost to the Federal Government. (d)

Availability

The Librarian shall make materials in the collection available upon request to any Chief of Mission at a United States Embassy or Consulate, and shall provide for the conveyance of such materials to a Department of State library or resource center, and for their return to the collection. (e)

Johnny Grant Film Series

As part of the collection, the Librarian shall maintain a separate collection of American films that showcase United States culture, society, values, and principles. Such collection shall be known as the Johnny Grant Film Series. Such films shall be made available to Chiefs of Mission for foreign public viewing in host countries under the provisions of subsection (d).

3.

Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy

The Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (authorized under section 1334 of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6553)) shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a biennial report containing and evaluation of the functions and effectiveness of activities authorized under this Act.

4.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

Librarian of Congress

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Librarian of Congress such sums as may be necessary to carry out the Librarian’s responsibilities under this Act. (b)

Secretary of State

In addition to amounts that are otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State to carry out purposes similar to those required under this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the Secretary’s responsibilities under this Act.