[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2397 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2397

To amend the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to authorize further 
actions to promote freedom of information and democracy in North Korea, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 4, 2017

  Mr. Yoho (for himself, Mr. Royce of California, Mr. Engel, and Mr. 
   Sherman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to authorize further 
actions to promote freedom of information and democracy in North Korea, 
                        and for other purposes.

    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 ``Distribution and Promotion of Rights 
and Knowledge Act of 2017'' or the ``DPRK Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. ACTIONS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND DEMOCRACY IN 
              NORTH KOREA.

    The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) of section 103 (22 U.S.C. 7813)--
                    (A) by striking ``radio broadcasting'' and 
                inserting ``broadcasting, including news 
                rebroadcasting,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``increase broadcasts'' and 
                inserting ``increase such broadcasts, including news 
                rebroadcasts,''; and
            (2) in subsection (a) of section 104 (22 U.S.C. 7814)--
                    (A) by striking ``The President'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) In general.--The President'';
                    (B) by inserting ``, USB drives, micro SD cards, 
                audio players, video players, cell phones, wi-fi, 
                wireless internet, webpages, internet, wireless 
                telecommunications, and other electronic media that 
                shares information'' before the period at the end; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
            ``(2) Distribution.--In accordance with the sense of 
        Congress described in section 103, the President, acting 
        through the Secretary of State, is authorized to distribute or 
        provide grants to distribute information receiving devices, 
        electronically readable devices, and other informational 
        sources into North Korea, including devices and informational 
        sources specified in paragraph (1). To carry out this 
        paragraph, the President is authorized to issue directions to 
        facilitate the free-flow of information into North Korea.
            ``(3) Research and development grant program.--In 
        accordance with the authorization described in paragraphs (1) 
        and (2) to increase the availability and distribution of 
        sources of information inside North Korea, the President, 
        acting through the Secretary of State, is authorized to 
        establish a grant program to make grants to eligible entities 
        to develop or distribute (or both) new products or methods to 
        allow North Koreans easier access to outside information. Such 
        program may involve public-private partnerships.
            ``(4) Culture.--In accordance with the sense of Congress 
        described in section 103, the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
        may broadcast American, Korean, Chinese, and other popular 
        music, television, movies, and popular cultural references as 
        part of its programming.
            ``(5) Rights and laws.--In accordance with the sense of 
        Congress described in section 103, the Broadcasting Board of 
        Governors shall broadcast to North Korea in the Korean language 
        information on rights, laws, and freedoms afforded through the 
        North Korean Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human 
        Rights, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human 
        Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and any 
        other applicable treaties or international agreements to which 
        North Korea is bound.
            ``(6) Broadcasting report.--Not later than--
                    ``(A) 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
                this paragraph, the Secretary of State, in consultation 
                with the Broadcasting Board of Governors, shall submit 
                to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
                that sets forth a detailed plan for improving 
                broadcasting content for the purpose of targeting new 
                audiences and increasing listenership; and
                    ``(B) one year after the date of the enactment of 
                this paragraph and annually thereafter for each of the 
                next five years, the Secretary of State, in 
                consultation with the Broadcasting Board of Governors, 
                shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
                committees a report on the effectiveness of actions 
                taken pursuant to this section, including data 
                reflecting audience and listenership, device 
                distribution and usage, technological development and 
                advancement usage, and other appropriate information to 
                fully inform Congress.''.
                                 <all>