[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2183 Considered and Passed Senate (CPS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2183

  United States international programming to Ukraine and neighboring 
                                regions.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 27, 2014

  Mr. McConnell introduced the following bill; which was read twice, 
              considered, read the third time, and passed

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  United States international programming to Ukraine and neighboring 
                                regions.

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

SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.

    (a) Congress finds and declares the following:
            (1) The Russian Government has deliberately blocked the 
        Ukrainian people's access to uncensored sources of information 
        and has provided alternative news and information that is both 
        inaccurate and inflammatory.
            (2) United States international programming exists to 
        advance the United States interests and values by presenting 
        accurate and comprehensive news and information, which is the 
        foundation for democratic governance.
            (3) The opinions and views of the Ukrainian people, 
        especially those people located in the eastern regions and 
        Crimea, are not being accurately represented in Russian 
        dominated mass media.
            (4) Russian forces have seized more than five television 
        stations in Crimea and taken over transmissions, switching to a 
        24/7 Russian propaganda format; this increase in programming 
        augments the already robust pro-Russian programming to Ukraine.
            (5) United States international programming has the 
        potential to combat this anti-democratic propaganda.
    (b) Programming.--Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), 
Incorporated, and the Voice of America service to Ukraine and 
neighboring regions shall--
            (1) provide news and information that is accessible, 
        credible, and accurate;
            (2) emphasize investigative and analytical journalism to 
        highlight inconsistencies and misinformation provided by 
        Russian or pro-Russian media outlets;
            (3) prioritize programming to areas where access to 
        uncensored sources of information is limited or non-existent, 
        especially populations serviced by Russian supported media 
        outlets;
            (4) increase the number of reporters and organizational 
        presence in eastern Ukraine, especially in Crimea;
            (5) promote democratic processes, respect for human rights, 
        freedom of the press, and territorial sovereignty; and
            (6) take necessary preparatory steps to continue and 
        increase programming and content that promotes democracy and 
        government transparency in Russia.
    (c) Programming Surge.--RFE/RL, Incorporated, and Voice of America 
programming to Ukraine and neighboring regions shall--
            (1) prioritize programming to eastern Ukraine, including 
        Crimea, and Moldova, and to ethnic and linguistic Russian 
        populations, as well as to Tatar minorities;
            (2) prioritize news and information that directly 
        contributes to the target audiences' understanding of political 
        and economic developments in Ukraine and Moldova, including 
        countering misinformation that may originate from other news 
        outlets, especially Russian supported news outlets;
            (3) provide programming content 24 hours a day, seven days 
        a week to target populations, using all available and effective 
        distribution outlets, including--
                    (A) at least 8 weekly hours of total original 
                television and video content in Ukrainian, Russian, and 
                Tatar languages, not inclusive of live video streaming 
                coverage of breaking news, to be distributed on 
                satellite, digital, and through regional television 
                affiliates by the Voice of America; and
                    (B) at least 14 weekly hours the total audio 
                content in Ukrainian, Russian, and Tatar languages to 
                be distributed on satellite, digital, and through 
                regional radio affiliates of RFE/RL, Incorporated;
            (4) expand the use, audience, and audience engagement of 
        mobile news and multimedia platforms by RFE/RL, Incorporated, 
        and the Voice of America, including through Internet-based 
        social networking platforms; and
            (5) partner with private sector broadcasters and affiliates 
        to seek and start co-production for new, original content, when 
        possible, to increase distribution.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 2014, in addition to funds otherwise made 
available for such purposes, up to $10,000,000 to carry out programming 
in the Ukrainian, Balkan, Russian, and Tatar language services of RFE/
RL, Incorporated, and the Voice of America, for the purpose of 
bolstering existing United States programming to the people of Ukraine 
and neighboring regions, and increasing programming capacity and 
jamming circumvention technology to overcome any disruptions to 
service.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 15 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall submit to the 
Committees on Foreign Affairs and Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and the Committees on Foreign Relations and 
Appropriations of the Senate a detailed report on plans to increase 
broadcasts pursuant to subsections (a) and (b).
                                 <all>