I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1976 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 2, 2009 Ms. Watson (for herself, Ms. Richardson, Ms. Slaughter, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Towns, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Fortenberry, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. Schiff, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Costa, Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Royce, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Sherman, and Ms. Eshoo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To authorize grants for nongovernmental organizations that use independently produced documentary films to promote better understanding of the United States abroad and better understanding of global perspectives and other countries in the United States.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the International Documentary Exchange Act of 2009.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Since September 11, 2001, a distorted perception of the United States has grown abroad, even as many Americans struggle to understand the increasingly complex world beyond the borders of the United States. (2)This public diplomacy crisis poses an ongoing threat to United States security, diplomatic relations, commerce, and citizen-to-citizen relationships between the United States and other countries. (3)Independently produced documentary films have proven to be an effective means of communicating United States ideas and values to populations of other countries. (4)It is in the interest of the United States to provide assistance to United States nongovernmental organizations that produce and distribute independently produced documentary films.

3.

Grants for international documentary exchange programs to promote better understanding of the United States abroad and better understanding of global perspectives and other countries in the United States

(a)

Assistance

The Secretary of State is authorized to make grants, on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may determine, to United States nongovernmental organizations that use independently produced documentary films to promote better understanding of the United States abroad and better understanding of global perspectives and other countries in the United States. (b)

Activities supported

Grants provided under subsection (a) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used to carry out the following activities: (1)Fund, distribute, and promote accessible, compelling, and credible documentary films that convey a diversity of views about life in the United States to foreign audiences and bring insightful foreign perspectives to United States audiences. (2)Support documentaries described in paragraph (1) that are made by independent foreign and domestic producers, selected through a peer review process. (3)Develop a network of overseas partners to produce, distribute, and broadcast such documentaries. (c)

Special factors

In making the grants described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall give preference to nongovernmental organizations that— (1)provide at least 35 percent of the total project cost in matching funds from non-Federal sources; and (2)have prior experience supporting independently produced documentary films that have been broadcast on public television in the United States. (d)

Report

Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that contains a detailed description of the implementation of this section for the prior year. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015 to carry out this section. (2)

Availability

Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended.