[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10428-H10435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RADIO FREE ASIA ACT OF 1997

  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 302 and as the 
designee of the chairman of the Committee on Internal Relations, I call 
up the bill (H.R. 2232) to provide for increased international 
broadcasting activities to China, and ask for its immediate 
consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). The bill is considered read 
for amendment.
  The text of H.R. 2232 is as follows:

                               H.R. 2232

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

[[Page H10429]]

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Radio Free Asia Act of 
     1997''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Government of the People's Republic of China 
     systematically controls the flow of information to the 
     Chinese people.
       (2) The Government of the People's Republic of China 
     demonstrated that maintaining its monopoly on political power 
     is a higher priority than economic development by announcing 
     in January 1996 that its official news agency Xinhua, will 
     supervise wire services selling economic information, 
     including Dow Jones-Telerate, Bloomberg, and Reuters 
     Business, and in announcing in February of 1996 the ``Interim 
     Internet Management Rules'', which have the effect of 
     censoring computer networks.
       (3) Under the May 30, 1997, order of Premier Li Peng, all 
     organizations that engage in business activities related to 
     international computer networking must now apply for a 
     license, increasing still further government control over 
     access to the internet.
       (4) Both Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America, as a 
     surrogate for a free press in the People's Republic of China, 
     provide an invaluable source of uncensored information to the 
     Chinese people, including objective and authoritative news of 
     in-country and regional events, as well as accurate news 
     about the United States and its policies.
       (5) Radio Free Asia currently broadcasts only 5 hours a day 
     in the Mandarin dialect and 2 hours a day in Tibetan.
       (6) Voice of America currently broadcasts only 10 hours a 
     day in Mandarin and 3\1/2\ hours a day in Tibetan.
       (7) Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America should develop 
     24-hour-a-day service in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Tibetan, as 
     well as further broadcasting capability in the dialects 
     spoken in Xinjiang and other regions of the People's Republic 
     of China.
       (8) Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, in working toward 
     continuously broadcasting the People's Republic of China in 
     multiple languages, have the capability to immediately 
     establish 24-hour-a-day Mandarin broadcasting to that nation 
     by staggering the hours of Radio Free Asia and the Voice of 
     America.
       (9) Simultaneous broadcasting on Voice of America radio and 
     Worldnet television 7 days a week in Mandarin are also 
     important and needed capabilities.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR INCREASED FUNDING 
                   FOR RADIO FREE ASIA AND VOICE OF AMERICA.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations for International 
     Broadcasting to China.--In addition to such sums as are 
     otherwise authorized to be appropriated for ``International 
     Broadcasting Activities'' for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, 
     there are authorized to be appropriated for ``International 
     Broadcasting Activities'' $46,900,000 for fiscal years 1998 
     and $31,200,000 for fiscal year 1999, which shall be 
     available only for broadcasting to China.
       (b) Limitations.--
       (1) Radio free asia.--
       (A) Of the funds authorized to be appropriated under 
     subsection (a) $26,900,000 is authorized to be appropriated 
     for fiscal year 1998 and $21,200,000 is authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 1999 for Radio Free Asia.
       (B) Of the funds under subparagraph (A), $1,200,000 is 
     authorized to be appropriated for each such fiscal year for 
     additional personnel to staff Cantonese language 
     broadcasting.
       (C) Of the funds under subparagraph (A) authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 1998, $900,000 is authorized to 
     be appropriated for additional advanced editing equipment.
       (2) 1998.--
       (A) Of the funds under subsection (a) authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 1998, $11,800,000 is authorized 
     to be appropriated for capital expenditures for the purchase 
     and construction of transmission facilities.
       (B) Of the funds under subsection (a) authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 1998, $3,000,000 is authorized 
     to be appropriated to facilitate the timely augmentation of 
     transmitters at Tinian, Marshall Islands.
       (c) Allocation.--Of the amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated under subsection (a), the Director of the United 
     States Information Agency and the Board of Broadcasting 
     Governors shall seek to ensure that the amounts made 
     available for broadcasting to nations whose people do not 
     fully enjoy freedom of expression do not decline in 
     proportion to the amounts made available for broadcasting to 
     other nations.

     SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, in consultation with the Board of Broadcasting 
     Governors, the President shall prepare and transmit to 
     Congress a report on a plan to achieve continuous 
     broadcasting of Radio Free Asia and Voice of America to the 
     People's Republic of China in multiple major dialects and 
     languages.

     SEC. 5. REDUCTION IN AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
                   MIGRATION AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, such amounts as 
     are authorized to be appropriated for ``Migration and Refugee 
     Assistance'' for fiscal year 1998 shall be reduced by 
     $21,900,000 and for fiscal year 1999 shall be reduced by 
     $6,200,000.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 302, the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the bill 
is adopted.
  The text of the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute is 
as follows:

                               H.R. 2232

       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 ``Radio Free Asia Act of 
     1997''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Government of the People's Republic of China 
     systematically controls the flow of information to the 
     Chinese people.
       (2) The Government of the People's Republic of China 
     demonstrated that maintaining its monopoly on political power 
     is a higher priority than economic development by announcing 
     in January 1996 that its official news agency Xinhua, will 
     supervise wire services selling economic information, 
     including Dow Jones-Telerate, Bloomberg, and Reuters 
     Business, and in announcing in February of 1996 the ``Interim 
     Internet Management Rules'', which have the effect of 
     censoring computer networks.
       (3) Under the May 30, 1997, order of Premier Li Peng, all 
     organizations that engage in business activities related to 
     international computer networking must now apply for a 
     license, increasing still further government control over 
     access to the internet.
       (4) Both Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America, as a 
     surrogate for a free press in the People's Republic of China, 
     provide an invaluable source of uncensored information to the 
     Chinese people, including objective and authoritative news of 
     in-country and regional events, as well as accurate news 
     about the United States and its policies.
       (5) Radio Free Asia currently broadcasts only 5 hours a day 
     in the Mandarin dialect and 2 hours a day in Tibetan.
       (6) Voice of America currently broadcasts only 10 hours a 
     day in Mandarin and 3\1/2\ hours a day in Tibetan.
       (7) Radio Free Asia and Voice of America should develop 24-
     hour-a-day service in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Tibetan, as 
     well as further broadcasting capability in the dialects 
     spoken in the People's Republic of China.
       (8) Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, in working toward 
     continuously broadcasting to the People's Republic of China 
     in multiple languages, have the capability to immediately 
     establish 24-hour-a-day Mandarin broadcasting to that nation 
     by staggering the hours of Radio Free Asia and Voice of 
     America.
       (9) Simultaneous broadcasting on Voice of America radio and 
     Worldnet television 7 days a week in Mandarin are also 
     important and needed capabilities.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR INCREASED FUNDING 
                   FOR RADIO FREE ASIA AND VOICE OF AMERICA 
                   BROADCASTING TO CHINA.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Radio Free Asia--
       (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated for ``Radio Free Asia'' $30,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 1998 and $22,000,000 for fiscal year 1999.
       (2) Limitations.--
       (A) Of the funds under paragraph (1) authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 1998, $8,000,000 is authorized 
     to be appropriated for one-time capital costs.
       (B) Of the funds under paragraph (1), $700,000 is 
     authorized to be appropriated for each such fiscal year for 
     additional personnel to staff Cantonese language 
     broadcasting.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations for International 
     Broadcasting to China and North Korea.--In addition to such 
     sums as are otherwise authorized to be appropriated for 
     ``International Broadcasting Activities'' for fiscal years 
     1998 and 1999, there are authorized to be appropriated for 
     ``International Broadcasting Activities'' $10,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 1998 and $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, which 
     shall be available only for enhanced Voice of America 
     broadcasting to China and North Korea.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations for Radio 
     Construction.--
       (1) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to such 
     sums as are otherwise authorized to be appropriated for 
     ``Radio Construction'' for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, there 
     are authorized to be appropriated for ``Radio Construction'' 
     $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $3,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 1999, which shall be available only for construction in 
     support of enhanced broadcasting to China.
       (2) Limitation.--Of the funds under paragraph (1) 
     authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1998, 
     $3,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated to facilitate the 
     timely augmentation of transmitters at Tinian, the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
       (d) Allocation.--Of the amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated for ``International Broadcasting Activities'', 
     the Director of the United States Information Agency and the 
     Board of Broadcasting Governors shall seek to ensure that the 
     amounts made available for broadcasting to nations whose 
     people do not fully enjoy freedom of expression do not 
     decline in proportion to the amounts made available for 
     broadcasting to other nations.

[[Page H10430]]

       (e) Allocation of Funds for North Korea.--Of the funds 
     under subsection (b), $2,000,000 is authorized to be 
     appropriated for each fiscal year for additional personnel 
     and broadcasting targeted at North Korea.

     SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, in consultation with the Board of Broadcasting 
     Governors, the President shall prepare and transmit to 
     Congress a report on a plan to achieve continuous 
     broadcasting of Radio Free Asia and Voice of America to the 
     People's Republic of China in multiple major dialects and 
     languages.

     SEC. 5. UTILIZATION OF UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL 
                   BROADCASTING SERVICES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE 
                   ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING FUGITIVES FROM UNITED 
                   STATES JUSTICE.

       United States international broadcasting services, 
     particularly the Voice of America, shall produce and 
     broadcast public service announcements, by radio, television, 
     and Internet, regarding fugitives from the criminal justice 
     system of the United States, including cases of international 
     child abduction.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 302, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Royce] and the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Hamilton] each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce].


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
Madam Speaker, for the last few days, the House of Representatives has 
been debating policy for the most important bilateral relationship the 
United States has, and that is our relationship with the People's 
Republic of China. We have heard different views on how we should deal 
with this emerging power. It has been a good debate, a healthy debate 
for us to have. I have supported the initiatives that are part of that 
policy for freedom in China package, because together they contribute 
to a well-crafted China policy, a policy which positions the United 
States to stand up forcefully for our values and protect our national 
security. For certain our relationship with China is not easy. It will 
be the most challenging relationship we face in the next century. 
Moving forward, we must have principles to guide this relationship. For 
one, in all our dealings with the Beijing regime, it is essential that 
we do not shy away from our values. This means calling the Chinese 
leadership on democracy and on human rights, spotlighting the organ 
harvesting many Members have spoken against on this floor, and acting 
when we can. Standing up for our values also means promoting the free 
flow of uncensored information, which is the lifeblood of our values 
that Americans cherish and wish for the Chinese people.

                              {time}  1500

  That is why I am proud to be the author of the Radio Free Asia Act of 
1997.
  Everyone here has heard of Radio Free Europe; that is our effort 
which was so effective during the cold war in bringing information to 
those stuck behind the Iron Curtain. At that time we told the people of 
Eastern Europe what was happening in their own countries, but it was 
not really us telling them. It was the voices of Hungarians and Czechs 
and Poles broadcast on Radio Free Europe, telling their fellow 
countrymen about the politics and other developments in their home 
countries, and through this surrogate broadcasting Hungarians and 
Czechs and Poles and others were able to learn about human rights 
abuses and repression in their own countries and to ask why.
  This information transmitted through the airwaves was tremendously 
effective in bringing about the demise of totalitarian regimes in these 
countries. How do we know that?
  Lech Walesa of Poland and Vaclav Havel and Alexander Dubcek of 
Czechoslovakia, men who pulled the foundation out from communism, have 
said that Radio Free Europe did more than anything else to change those 
Communist regimes of Eastern Europe. It is clear, information is deadly 
to dictators. The Chinese people deserve no less of an effort from us.
  Radio Free Asia has been up and running, breaking official silence in 
Asia for over a year now. It is patterned after Radio Free Europe. 
Radio Free Asia targets countries where Asians are unable to hear about 
developments in their own country, unable to hear about what is 
happening in their own capitals and even in their own cities and towns. 
Some 95 percent of Radio Free Asia's programing focuses on people and 
events within that targeted country. So while no Lech Walesa has 
emerged in China, I believe Radio Free Asia is one of the most powerful 
tools we have for promoting democracy and promoting human rights in 
China.
  This bill will provide the means to broadcast 24 hours a day into 
China and Tibet and to expand broadcasting in North Korea. This round-
the-clock broadcasting in Mandarin, Cantonese, Tibetan, and other 
dialects will be an invaluable source of uncensored information for the 
Chinese people, information they otherwise would be denied.
  What do the Chinese people hear on Radio Free Asia? Weekly 
commentators, a discussion of topical issues with Chinese journalists. 
They hear China In Perspective, which deals with a range of issues, 
including the Chinese media; politics in the media; Tibet Today, a 
discussion of current issues in Tibet; ``Voices of Current Party 
Members'', which is a weekly discussion with current party members 
hosted by a former editor of the People's Daily; and they have their 
own ``Crossfire'' show that they hear as well.
  That sounds like pretty standard news and information, right? But it 
is not standard in a totalitarian country. And so the Beijing regime 
has complained. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman recently denounced 
Radio Free Asia, saying it was using freedom of speech as an excuse to 
interfere in China's internal affairs. Freedom of speech and 
interference in internal affairs, and the Chinese Government has 
punished those caught listening to Radio Free Asia.
  It also has tried to shut out these broadcasts through jamming. This 
jamming is not too effective though, and it will be less effective 
after the new transmitter approved by the Radio Free Asia Act of 1997 
is built.
  The fact is that there is no denying Radio Free Asia. Just look at 
this map of China. Each orange dot on this map represents a significant 
cluster of letters received by Radio Free Asia's Chinese listeners. Up 
and running only a little over a year, Radio Free Asia has received 
hundreds of these letters, many of them from students, which indicate 
that young people are listening as well, and let me just read sections 
of two.
  This is from a worker in a labor union written this past September. 
He says, ``every day in the past 8 months, 2 hours of my day belong to 
Radio Free Asia, which brings a fresh spring breeze to the stifling and 
repressed China and lets us see the hope for a free and democratic 
China.''
  Another letter written 2 months ago, quote: ``Like most of my Chinese 
countrymen, I did not know what press freedom was and what human rights 
were, did not even know that Taiwan called itself the Republic of China 
and that the Dalai Lama even was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Then I 
bought a radio set, which made me hunger knowledge as I never have 
before.''
  I cannot imagine more powerful words, and I have nothing to add to 
those words.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of the bill. The bill authorizes $30 million for 
Radio Free Asia for fiscal year 1998, $22 million for fiscal year 1999. 
It authorizes an additional $10 million for enhanced VOA broadcasting 
in China and North Korea for fiscal year 1998, and $7 million for the 
same purpose in fiscal year 1999. The bill also authorizes an 
additional $10 million in fiscal year 1998 and $3 million for fiscal 
year 1999 for radio construction in support of enhanced broadcasting to 
China.
  The bill requires that within 90 days the President and the Board of 
Broadcasting Governors submit to the Congress a plan to achieve 24-hour 
broadcasting of Radio Free Asia and Voice of

[[Page H10431]]

America to China in multiple dialects and languages.
  The authorization funding for Radio Free Asia in this bill is 
identical to that provided in the State Department authorization 
conference language, so in a sense this is an issue that has already 
been agreed upon. There is additional authorization here for Voice of 
America broadcasting in China and North Korea and for radio 
construction that represents an increase in authorization levels from 
the State Department authorization conference language or the Commerce-
Justice-State conference contemplated funding levels.
  Insofar as I know, the administration has no objection to this bill. 
It did have some problems with the original bill. I think they have 
been addressed in the markup of the bill.
  I totally agree with the sponsors of the bill that the promotion 
through Radio Free Asia of democracy and human rights is an extremely 
important element of U.S. foreign policy and one that we should 
support. I urge then the support for the bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 
2322 sponsored by the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce]. This 
measure is an important enhancement to our international broadcasting 
to Asia.
  Broadcasting to Asia, and particularly to China, is vital to the 
spread and support of democracy and the freedom of expression. I fully 
support the measure to expand broadcast capabilities of Radio Free Asia 
and the Voice of America through additional funding for personnel, for 
transmitters and for other broadcast requirements.
  I commend the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce], the 
distinguished chairman of our Committee on International Relations 
Subcommittee on Africa for his foresight in drafting this bill. This 
additional funding that is supported by the Speaker and the President 
will increase the opportunity for the peoples living under communism in 
Asia to hear news and other programing untainted by State news 
services. Mr. Royce's worthy proposal will increase transmissions in 
Mandarin, Cantonese, Tibetan languages and other dialects. It is hoped 
that when we work with the Senate in conference on this proposal, we 
will not forget to add the Uygers in East Turkestan.
  I commend the gentleman and urge our colleagues to support this 
measure.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Asia and the Pacific.
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I would like to begin with an 
announcement. As some of the Members know, the Speaker appointed a 
bipartisan task force on the Hong Kong transition, were to give a 
quarterly report, and I want my colleagues to know that the first 
quarterly report or a summary thereof will be in the Congressional 
Record for today.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation is very important. I rise in strong 
support of it and commend my distinguished colleague, the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Royce], for introducing this legislation. Madam 
Speaker, as mentioned this legislation authorizes appropriations 
specifically for broadcasting to China and North Korea and construction 
of broadcasting facilities. The purpose of this is to enhance America's 
ability to broadcast, increase the number of languages and dialects in 
which Radio Free Asia can broadcast.
  As the chairman of the subcommittee, my colleagues might be 
interested in knowing that in order to assure that accurate, timely, 
uncensored news and information gets to China, Vietnam, Burma, 
Cambodia, North Korea and the rest of East Asia, that it is important 
to support the activities of Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America. 
Radio Free Asia can provide news to those who otherwise cannot obtain 
it because many of the governments in the region systematically control 
the flow of information to their own citizens.
  Currently United States broadcasting in Chinese dialects totals only 
7.5 hours daily by Radio Free Asia and 13 hours daily by Voice of 
America. This will permit expansion of broadcasting to 24 hours per day 
in Mandarin Chinese, plus expanded broadcasting in Cantonese, Tibetan, 
and other dialects. The combined Voice of America and Radio Free Asia 
broadcast to the region will provide listeners with a full-service 
broadcast covering local, national and international news, together 
with U.S. news and discussion of foreign policy. This would be the 
first around-the-clock broadcasting in Mandarin to China by any nation.
  This resolution would also support one-time expenditures required to 
ensure reliable transmission of broadcasts to listeners in China and 
North Korea. This includes the purchase, modification, and operation of 
a transmission station in Saipan. Actually I think it is Tinian, an 
United States territory currently providing the strongest broadcast 
signal to China. The transmitter would also give Radio Free Asia a 
permanent transmission site, something it now lacks. The increased 
funds will also go to augment relay stations that carry the message on 
to China and other Asian countries.
  Madam Speaker, in a world where Chinese military and diplomatic 
influence is growing, it is useful to remember the lessons of Radio 
Free Europe. Diplomats may have dismissed those broadcasts, but 
ordinary people listened. Eventually it was these ordinary people who 
were able to change those Communist systems.
  The people of Asia who live under authoritarian regimes deserve no 
less of a commitment from the United States. If we are serious about 
spreading the voice of democracy to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, North 
Korea, Burma, and other authoritarian States in East Asia, this 
legislation assures that the message of democracy reaches the broadest 
possible audience.
  In conclusion, Madam Speaker, this Member again would like to commend 
the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Royce] for his 
dedication and assistance in making this important increase in funding 
for Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America. It is an initiative which 
this Member has advocated in the House Committee on International 
Relations and elsewhere, and I thank this gentleman for bringing it to 
fruition.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Roemer].
  Mr. ROEMER. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend and fellow Hoosier 
from Indiana for yielding this time to me, and I rise in strong support 
of this legislation.
  I think this legislation has been explained very well by Members on 
both the Republican and the Democratic side. This bill authorizes $30 
million for Radio Free Asia for fiscal year 1998 and $22 million for 
fiscal year 1999. As importantly, the bill authorizes an additional 10 
million for enhanced VOA broadcasting in China and in North Korea for 
fiscal year 1998 and 7 million for the same purpose for fiscal year 
1999.
  As we have talked, Madam Speaker, this past week about American 
values, about human rights, about putting emphasis on these kinds of 
things in our very important bilateral relationship between the United 
States and China, this bill, I think, is at the crux of many of the 
things that the United States stands for.

                              {time}  1515

  We have engaged, I think, the past 2 weeks, when Jiang Zemin visited 
this country, in what the President has very appropriately called 
constructive engagement.
  Now, there are some in this body that feel like we should not engage 
with the Chinese. I personally strongly support the President's 
constructive engagement. That means that you sit down and listen to one 
another, you meet with one another, and, at times, you strongly 
disagree with one another.
  There is no better example, and I say to my colleagues on 
constructive engagement, there is no better example

[[Page H10432]]

of this than when the President was having a press conference with 
Jiang Zemin last week and a reporter asked them about Tiananmen Square. 
And Jiang Zemin said they did, in fact, what they had to do to restore 
economic and social stability.
  And then the President had his turn, and the President very 
forcefully said, ``I disagree, and you did the wrong thing. You did not 
do what was just, you did not stand up for human rights, and you will 
continue to be isolated in the world if you engage like that.''
  That is constructive engagement. I think in the most important 
bilateral relationship that our two countries will engage in, the 
Chinese and the American people in the next 20 and 30 and 50 years, the 
President's policy is right on the mark.
  Now, I also think that we have engaged in some very constructive 
votes this past week. I personally have voted to stop the coerced 
abortions, and I applaud this body for that. I have voted to more 
prominently monitor human rights, and I applaud this body for that. I 
encourage more religious freedom in China. I think that these are the 
kinds of things we need to engage in with the Chinese, constructive 
engagement, and not destructive rhetoric.
  I applaud the author of this bill, and I strongly encourage my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Solomon], the distinguished chairman of the Committee on 
Rules.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Madam Speaker, I certainly thank the gentleman from 
California for yielding me time.
  Madam Speaker, as we bring this China package to a close, I would 
just once again like to thank all of these people who helped make this 
happen, the gentleman from California [Mr. Cox], the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman], the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith], the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Pelosi], the gentleman from Missouri 
[Mr. Gephardt] on the other side of the aisle, and all of the rest of 
the Members and staff who have been so committed on this for such a 
long time.
  This has been a grueling process, yes, it has; several days on the 
floor, and months, even years of work, by the people that I have just 
mentioned.
  But for those who are fatigued, and I certainly am, we must remember, 
what we endure is nothing compared to what the people of China have 
endured on a daily basis, every single day throughout the 48-year reign 
of the Communists in that unfortunate country, and they are the reason 
we have been here for the past several days with this very, very vital 
legislation, for we all know that when the people of China are free, 
America and China will develop a long-lasting friendship, and that is 
the way it ought to be, based on respect, based on trust and the mutual 
interests of 1.5 billion people.
  That is why it is fitting that we end this process with the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Royce], and I commend the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Royce] on this bill to enhance the capabilities of 
Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America to broadcast the truth to the 
Chinese people.
  Madam Speaker, few things could be more heartening than to hear the 
stories from the victims of Communist repression in the former Soviet 
Union about how Radio Liberty about how Radio Free Europe and the Voice 
of America kept their hopes alive, gave them a beacon of hope during 
their darkest hours behind that Iron Curtain, and now they are free. 
Awareness of the truth and the knowledge that someone else really cared 
about them kept these people going under the worst of circumstances.
  Madam Speaker, this is real engagement, engagement with the people of 
China, not with those Communist thugs who repress them, who imprison 
them, who beat them and give them a bad name abroad with their missile 
diplomacy and rogue activities. And we all know what we have been 
talking about for the last 3 weeks.
  Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America are underfunded. They are 
only broadcasting a few hours a day and only a couple of dialects. This 
bill rectifies that by giving $50 million for this year alone.
  Madam Speaker, if the Committee on Appropriations sees fit to provide 
this money, and we all here will see they will, I can even suggest a 
perfect offset. Thursday night, this House approved my bill to oppose 
the World Bank's soft loans to the Communist Government of China by an 
overwhelming majority.
  In 1996, the World Bank loaned about $500 million to these thugs in 
Beijing. Since the United States owns about 15 percent of the World 
Bank, that means American taxpayers directly gave the Communist 
dictators in Beijing $75 million of the taxpayers' money in interest-
free, 35-year loans, and a 30-year grace period. We can put an end to 
that.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. And 
this is perhaps the fitting end to these 10 bills that we have brought 
on this floor. The gentleman is to be commended. Let us come over here 
and vote unanimously for this vital piece of legislation.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to my colleague, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher].
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
amendment and Radio Free Asia. I would like to compliment the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Royce], my colleague and fellow Orange Countian, 
who has done so much over the years on this issue. He has made it real.
  Ed, congratulations for a job well done.
  There would not be a Radio Free Asia in the works and heading toward 
going on the air if it was not for the fact that the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Royce] put in so much time and effort on this 
commendable piece of legislation.
  During the cold war, we must remember that it was not our weapons and 
technology alone that won the day and ushered the world into a new era 
of peace and prosperity. And peace and prosperity is yet to prevail, 
but we have more opportunities for that than we have had during my 
entire lifetime.
  While the courage of the Armed Forces and their technological edge 
was certainly an imperative that we needed during the cold war, our 
commitment to Radio Free Europe, the Voice of America, and Radio 
Liberty kept alive the flame of freedom in the hearts of people who 
were oppressed from the Balkans to the Baltics. This flame was in the 
hearts of America's greatest allies.
  Our greatest allies in the cold war were those people who lived in 
Communist countries. And when they knew that we did not forget them, 
the flame lived on and eventually that conflagration brought down the 
Communist empire. With communism we were able to destroy the wills of 
the leadership by mustering support among the people they repressed.
  The Good Book tells us that the truth will make you free. Today, with 
the Soviet collapse, it is our turn now; we must turn to finish the 
job. We must show the people of Asia that we have as great a commitment 
to their freedom as we had to the people of Europe.
  Radio Free Asia will affirm to the good people throughout Asia that 
we are on their side, and they need this message when they can only see 
U.S. corporations exploiting their cheap labor, exploiting their 
environmental laws that permit corporations to come in and exploit the 
environment. When they see these, they need to be reaffirmed.
  The people of Asia need a confirmation that we are on their side, and 
that is what Radio Free Asia will do. The Ughyurs, for example, in East 
Turkmenistan, now live under the heel of the Communist dictatorship in 
Beijing. We need to broadcast to those and other people, whether they 
be in Burma, Vietnam, or elsewhere, we believe in freedom, and if we 
hold firm to our principles in the United States of America, those 
principles of our Founding Fathers, we will finish the job of ending 
the cold war, and indeed the world will have a new era of peace and 
prosperity and freedom.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee].
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I, too, rise this afternoon to give my 
appreciation for the author of this legislation

[[Page H10433]]

and as well the ranking member of this committee for coming together 
around a very instructive and creative opportunity for us to recognize 
and to commemorate, if you will, the results of Radio Free Europe.
  I can almost say to this House, need I say any more, all of us who 
have grown up in the World War era are aware of the impact of Radio 
Free Europe. In fact, it became the symbol of freedom. And as we 
listened ourselves, hearing about stories and reports on Radio Free 
Europe, needless to say, those voices that were being heard were 
impacting on smaller ears, younger people, people who thought that 
freedom now could be a reality for them.
  Why not Radio Free Asia? In the time of child labor, religious 
persecution, and the denial of free thought, in one of the biggest 
markets in this world, do we not have the responsibility to say that 
economics is important but the free thought of those who live under 
those systems has to be of primary importance to those of us who claim 
capitalism on the economic side but freedom of thought and religion on 
the social justice side?
  Yes, many of us have supported most favored-nation and we recognize 
through our corporate community that Southeast Asia is an attractive 
market. But can we stand by while the dollars flow in and out, while 
the markets increase, and yet there are people in these nations who 
cannot gather in their homes to worship their God?
  There are people in these nations who cannot think freely for 
themselves to worship as they desire. And, yes, there are those who 
have been called to claim the message of whatever faith they believe in 
who cannot speak.
  Radio Free Asia has to exist. We must use it responsibly, however. It 
cannot be accusatory. It cannot be threatening. It should not be where 
it is decisive. We simply have to let them hear the truth. We simply 
have to have them hear the voices of reason. We simply have to have 
those voices of free thought who can speak about the issues in a free 
and thoughtful manner be projected on those younger ears, those ears of 
those who have not heard.
  I think Radio Free Asia will tell the real story. Once you hear and 
once you understand, then you will act. That is what this whole 
opportunity for Radio Free Asia will generate, and that is a hearing 
and understanding and an acting.
  Madam Speaker, I would simply say that the dollar is not the almighty 
dollar as some of us have heard it claimed. It must be balanced with 
the freedom of speech and understanding, the freedom of religion, the 
freedom of thought. And out of that comes a real appreciation for where 
you live, and the value of the dollar diminishes when you have freedom 
for all.
  I thank the author of the bill and encourage all of my colleagues to 
vote for this very timely legislation.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the 
gentleman from Arizona, [Mr. Salmon], who speaks Mandarin and has spent 
time in China,.
  Mr. SALMON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for introducing this 
badly needed piece of legislation. In fact, I do not think I am alone 
in believing that this alone will probably go further than almost 
anything else that we have done this week or probably this year.
  Mr. Rohrabacher made a comment, in fact quoted my favorite scripture 
from the New Testament, when he said, you shall know the truth and the 
truth shall make you free. Unfortunately, in China the truth does not 
find a way of filtering itself down to the common people on a daily 
basis.
  I saw some footage last week when President Jiang Zemin visited these 
United States about the coverage in China, and it is interesting, 
because as we know, in watching our media, when Mr. Jiang went from 
place to place, there were numerous protests regarding various 
policies, regarding policies regarding Tibet, regarding policies 
dealing with religious worship, regarding policies dealing with forced 
abortion. In fact, it was a very mixed bag of reviews. Most of the 
stops that he made had very, very angry people.
  But none of that was filtered down to the common citizens in China. 
They never heard that information. They think everything is hunky-dory 
and we all love the guy.
  That kind of information has to get down to the people so they do not 
give way to despondency, so they can keep some hope, some courage, that 
freedom is very much alive here in this country and we are still 
plugging for them.
  When we continue with MFN, which a majority of Members in this body 
supported, sometimes I wonder if they get a mixed message, a wrong 
message. Many of us who support MFN also care deeply about human 
rights. We don't believe it is OK to turn a deaf ear to the human 
misery and suffering going on in China. We believe it is time for tough 
talk.
  As the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Roemer] said, the President made 
some very tough statements last week, as he should have. That needs to 
be filtered town to the rank and file. They need to know that we care; 
they need to know we are with them, that we believe in freedom and that 
we believe it will happen if we persevere. That is what constructive 
engagement is all about.
  Congratulations, Mr. Royce. This bill is going to go a long way to 
providing truth for the Chinese people.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson].

                              {time}  1530

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2232, 
and I want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from California 
for his leadership on this very important issue.
  As a new Member of Congress, I believe this legislation involves one 
of the most important issues we have dealt with. My colleagues might 
ask why is that the case, and it is because it involves the fundamental 
issues of freedom and liberty.
  I think about my father, who is now deceased, but when wartime came 
around, he was past draft age, he had 4 children, he did not need to 
go, but he went to serve in our Armed Forces. Why did he go, as so many 
others went? Because it was not necessarily what was happening in 
America, but it was about what America stood for; it was about liberty, 
it was about freedom, it was about supporting that voice around the 
world.
  I think it is what America stands for. Today, the Voice of America, 
Radio Free Asia, needs to be strengthened in China. Madam Speaker, $10 
million for the Voice of America, $20 million for Radio Free Asia. It 
is money well spent.
  I think about Tiananmen Square and the images that that portrayed 
across America of those Chinese students, in their way, standing for 
freedom and speaking against a repressive regime. What can we do to 
help them?
  Well, there are some things that we can do in these bills that we 
have passed, and China sanction legislation represents that. But there 
is one thing that government cannot stop and that is the Voice of 
America, it is the voice of freedom, the voice of liberty. Truth, truth 
cannot be shut out. If we can get that message in, then we can 
encourage those people who are still being repressed; we can raise the 
voice and awareness of democracy.
  There is a temptation in America today that we should withdraw from 
world affairs, that we do not need to be concerned with what happens in 
China, and I reject that argument. I believe that we still need to be 
the leader of the free world. As Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, who is 
the Russian dissident who spent years in the gulag, ``If America does 
not lead the free world, then the free world will not have a leader.''
  This is a small burden to pay for the price of liberty. We should 
support it enthusiastically. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter].
  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana for his 
graciousness in yielding me this time. I commend him and the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Royce] for their tremendous leadership in bringing 
this bill to the floor of the House of Representatives.
  Madam Speaker, when we complete this series, we will have passed nine 
very significant bills designed to effect change in China. While I am 
biased on this matter, I believe this is the best of

[[Page H10434]]

the nine, and I believe that because I think it has more potential than 
any of the others in really providing for change in Chinese society.
  We know this because of the record of Radio Liberty and Radio Free 
Europe during the cold war. Madam Speaker, surrogate radios are not 
propaganda, they are the beaming of truth and ideas and news into 
censored societies, societies where those ideas from outside are not 
permitted. And under Radio Free Asia, the concepts of freedom, of 
democracy, of free enterprise, of the rule of law, of an independent 
judiciary, the very values that we as Americans believe in so deeply, 
are reaching their way today into closed societies in Asia.
  The ideas of Jefferson and Lincoln, the ideas that cannot be heard 
there, the ideas of their own people in believing in these values are 
getting through, and this legislation will cause that to be ramped up 3 
times what we are doing today, and will affect not only China, but 
Burma, Vietnam, Tibet, North Korea, Laos, places where autocratic 
regimes hold sway.
  Madam Speaker, this is cost-effective legislation and $40 million 
will provide for construction of new antennae and broadcasting 
facilities and the broadcasts themselves. Through Voice of America and 
Radio Free Asia, and let me say, Madam Speaker, that Voice of America 
is equally important in doing a marvelous job for this country all 
across this world. It is simply a different approach than the surrogate 
radios. Both are needed. We will be able to broadcast 24 hours a day in 
Mandarin, more broadcasts in Cantonese. This is exactly what we need to 
be doing.
  Madam Speaker, 3 years ago myself and Helen Bentley conceived Radio 
Free Asia. Senator Biden picked up this matter over in the Senate and 
came aboard, and we passed legislation into law, and today Dick Richter 
and his very able staff are making a real difference in that part of 
the world.
  The concept of beaming truth and uncensored news and information and 
ideas and values will change these closed societies, will make a 
difference in the lives of the Chinese people and the people of Burma 
and Vietnam and other places in Europe. They will do so at a much less 
cost than any other approach, and with tremendous effectiveness. I 
commend the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce]; I commend the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman]; the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. 
Hamilton]; the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter]. All of them have 
provided tremendous leadership in making this happen.
  This is extremely important legislation that will make a true 
difference in this world, and I commend it to all Members.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from California [Mr. Cox], chairman of the Policy Committee, 
a colleague who has spearheaded the Policy for Freedom package.
  Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank 
especially the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce]. I want to commend 
the sponsor of this vital bill, my colleague from California, the 
chairman of the Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on 
Africa, for his leading role in policymaking. Prior to his committee 
chairmanship on the Subcommittee on Africa, he was the vice chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. He went with the Speaker of 
the House this year to the People's Republic of China, to Taiwan and to 
Hong Kong, and today, after literally years of work, he is bringing to 
us this bill which is rightly praised by his colleagues on both sides 
of the aisle.
  Radio Free Asia builds on Justice Louis Brandeis' great axiom of 
civil liberties, that sunshine is the best disinfectant. That is what 
this is all about. That is what in fact makes our system so wonderfully 
resilient.
  Driving to the Capitol on a recent day, listening to our local news 
radio station, WTOP, I heard no fewer than 3 separate China Moments, 
China Moments paid for by government-owned firms in the People's 
Republic of China. They lionized President Jiang Zemin. They hyped 
Communist rule in China. They propagandized in the best Madison Avenue 
style that money can buy, and I listened to it, because I am an 
American.
  The Government of the People's Republic of China can talk directly to 
us as Americans whenever they wish to do so, through their own 
magazines, which they do in this country, through the Internet, through 
talking heads on television and via authentic, unbiased, competitive 
news media in our country. Information, not just in America, but in the 
world, is the oxygen of freedom, and at the same time, censorship is 
the staff of life for a dictatorship. The People's Republic of China's 
Government knows this full well, and as a result, control and 
suppression of information is of paramount priority for them.
  The PRC's oligarchy controls all newspapers, all radio, all 
television, through suffocating direct ownership or, just as stifling, 
censorship and regulation. It controls informal flows of information 
through the pervasive use of wiretapping, informants and surveillance, 
and it is even building an infrastructure so that the state in the 21st 
century can control the Internet. It is now seeking to jam broadcasts 
of Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America, an issue that our 
leadership raised directly with President Jiang when he was here in the 
Capitol just days ago.
  The bill of the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce]) is going to 
allow 24-hour-a-day broadcasts of Radio Free Asia in Mandarin, 
Cantonese and Tibetan as well as broadcasting in other major dialects. 
It will allow the creation of a Cantonese Language Service with 16 
journalists. I strongly commend this bill which will let sunlight shine 
into every corner of China.
  When Jiang Zemin visited the United States of America, he went to 
visit the Liberty Bell, and he read the Biblical verse on the Liberty 
Bell that reads: ``Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the 
inhabitants thereof.'' That is what Radio Free Asia will do in 
Communist China.
  Let freedom ring across the length and breadth of China, Madam 
Speaker. Pass this bill.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank our colleague, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Cox] and his able staff, and I would 
like to thank the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter], who promoted 
Radio Free Asia over the years. A tremendous amount of work has gone 
into this effort. We have had a long and thorough debate throughout the 
last few days. There have been differences, but the Chinese people are 
yearning for information; not propaganda, but unbiased information, 
that is all. So I hope bolstering Radio Free Asia is something we can 
all support. This program has the opportunity to provide more than 1.4 
billion, one-fourth of the world's population, with a daily dose of 
truth.
  I would like to close my time by reading one last letter Radio Free 
Asia received from one of its Chinese listeners. ``Congratulations on 
the first anniversary of your Mandarin broadcasts. I am one of your 
listeners writing to offer my thanks and congratulations. You have 
worked so hard and during this last year you have won some great 
victories. Here is hoping that your station in the future will gain a 
foothold in Asia and the world, and not fear cruelty and inhumanity.''
  Madam Speaker, in closing, let me yield 3 minutes to my distinguished 
colleague, the gentlewoman from San Francisco, CA [Ms. Pelosi]).
  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I intend to yield back so that he can close, because he has 
worked so hard on this issue. But I will take a little bit of the time, 
if I may.
  I thank my colleague the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce] for 
his leadership in bringing this important bill to the floor. It is 
appropriate that this piece of legislation be the last in this series 
of China bills, because it is a banner issue that we treat the people 
in Asia, Radio Free Asia in Asia and in China the way we conducted our 
approach to people in Eastern Europe throughout the cold war.
  The gentleman from California [Mr. Cox] was instrumental in putting a 
package together which had great consensus in this body. There were 
some of us who thought we could do more, but my colleague can prove us 
wrong by making these bills long, and then making these issues policy.

[[Page H10435]]

  The leadership of the gentleman from California [Mr. Cox] and the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Royce] and the gentleman from New York 
[Mr. Gilman] and others enabled us to call to the attention of our 
colleagues and to our country the concerns that we have about the 
United States-China relationship. Most certainly we believe in 
engagement, but it must be effective engagement, that instead of 
contributing to an increased trade deficit and proliferation of weapons 
of mass destruction with impunity and ignoring of the repression in 
China, instead, that effective engagement would make the world safer, 
the trade fairer, and people freer. And Radio Free Asia, the Radio Free 
Asia part of this package is further to the point of making people 
freer.
  So many people have told us, and I know that my colleagues have 
addressed this, that in the course of the cold war their consolation 
was Radio Free Europe, that people in the outside world had not 
forgotten them, that we did respect their aspirations to live in a 
freer society. It was true then in Europe, it is true now for Asia, and 
we reject the notion that democratic freedoms and individual human 
rights are Western values. Indeed, they are universal values written on 
the hearts of men. The people in China who aspire for a freer China 
have quoted Thomas Jefferson, really quoted Thomas Jefferson. They have 
lived his words, not mocked them, as President Jiang did when he came 
here.

                              {time}  1545

  They have fought, risked their personal lives, the security of their 
families, and, indeed, their lives for principles that we as a country 
have advocated.
  We say that promoting democratic values is a cornerstone of our 
foreign policy. If indeed it is in the world, it must be also in China. 
Radio Free Asia is the mechanism for us to give some encouragement to 
those who take such risks for freedom. Those people are the legitimate 
heirs of our Founding Fathers. For that reason, I commend my colleague 
for his leadership.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, for the sake of freedom in China and throughout Asia, 
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2232, as amended, the Radio Free 
Asia Act of 1997.
  Mr. KIM. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2232, a bill 
to authorize additional funds for Voice of America broadcasts in 
Chinese and Korean.
  As a young boy growing up in Seoul during the Communist invasion, I 
can remember huddling around the radio with my family listening to 
these Voice of America broadcasts. In occupied Seoul, VOA was a prime 
source of news and inspiration in desperate times by providing timely 
and accurate news, unfiltered by our North Korean oppressors.
  Today, North Korea is the most isolated, closed society in the world. 
The Communist regime maintains tight control of the dissemination of 
information within North Korea. Our VOA broadcasts are the people's 
lifeline to outside news and information, and otherwise available.
  Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet with two North 
Korean defectors who were visiting Washington. They told of how North 
Koreans--desperate for real news from the outside world--risk their 
lives to listen to VOA broadcasts. If found by North Korean 
authorities, they face certain execution on the spot. Yet thousands 
surround secret, miniature radios listening to our VOA broadcasts.
  Madam Speaker, VOA broadcasts to China and North Korea provide those 
people with their primary source of accurate news and information about 
events in their country and around the world.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mrs. LINDA SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H.R. 2232, the Radio Free Asia Act authored by Congressman 
Ed Royce. I believe this legislation is one of the most important 
pieces of the China package that the House of Representatives has been 
considering this week because it gives people hope. It is the most 
tangible way for the Chinese people to learn about the democratic rule 
of law, human rights, and current events around the world. It will also 
audibly demonstrate the aspirations of the American people to have a 
positive relationship with China as we enter the 21st century.
  The Radio Free Asia Act is a direct counterpoint to the oppressive 
policies of the Chinese Government. The lack of a free flow of 
information within China makes it all the more important that the 
broadcasts of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia are heard loud and 
clear. While the government of China can stifle their own press and 
attempt to jam our broadcasts, by increasing the number of hours on the 
air as well as the variety of dialects, a message of hope and freedom 
will be heard by countless millions.
  My colleague, Congressman Frank Wolf, recently came back from a trip 
to Tibet and he reported that the broadcasts of Radio Free Asia were a 
great source of encouragement to the Tibetan population. The least that 
we can do is to ensure that these broadcasts continue by providing the 
necessary funds to sustain and increase these broadcasts.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in passing the Radio Free Asia Act.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). Pursuant to House Resolution 
302, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5(b) of rule I, further 
proceedings on this matter are postponed.

                          ____________________