[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 9 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RADIO FREE AFGHANISTAN ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 293, S. 1779.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by 
title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1779) to authorize the establishment of ``Radio 
     Free Afghanistan,'' and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
with an amendment to insert the part printed in italic.

                                S. 1779

       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 Afghanistan 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF RADIO FREE AFGHANISTAN.

       (a) Requirement of a Detailed Plan.--Not later than 15 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, RFE/RL, 
     Incorporated, shall submit to the Broadcasting Board of 
     Governors a report setting forth a detailed plan for the 
     provision by RFE/RL, Incorporated, of surrogate broadcasting 
     services in the Dari and Pashto languages to Afghanistan. 
     Such broadcasting services shall be known as ``Radio Free 
     Afghanistan''.
       (b) Grant Authority.--
       (1) In general.--Effective 15 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, or the date on which the report 
     required by subsection (a) is submitted, whichever is later, 
     the Broadcasting Board of Governors is authorized to make 
     grants to support Radio Free Afghanistan.
       (2) Supersedes existing limitation on total annual grant 
     amounts.--Grants made to RFE/RL, Incorporated, during the 
     fiscal year 2002 for support of Radio Free Afghanistan may be 
     made without regard to section 308(c) of the United States 
     International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6207(c)).
       (c) Available Authorities.--In addition to the authorities 
     in this Act, the authorities applicable to carry out United 
     States Government broadcasting activities under the United 
     States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, the 
     United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994, the 
     Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, and 
     other provisions of law consistent with such purpose may be 
     used to carry out the grant authority of subsection (b).
       (d) Standards; Oversight.--Radio Free Afghanistan shall 
     adhere to the same standards of professionalism and 
     accountability, and shall be subject to the same oversight 
     mechanisms, as other services of RFE/RL, Incorporated.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--In addition to such amounts as are 
     otherwise available for such purposes, the following amounts 
     are authorized to be appropriated to carry out United States 
     Government broadcasting activities under the United States 
     Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, the United 
     States International Broadcasting Act of 1994, the Foreign 
     Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, and this Act, 
     and to carry out other authorities in law consistent with 
     such purposes:
       (1) For ``International Broadcasting Operations'', 
     $8,000,000 for the fiscal year 2002.
       (2) For ``Broadcasting Capital Improvements'', $9,000,000 
     for the fiscal year 2002.
       (b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant 
     to subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until 
     expended.

     SEC. 4. REPEAL OF BAN ON UNITED STATES TRANSMITTER IN KUWAIT.

       Section 226 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, 
     Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law 103-236; 108 Stat. 
     423), is repealed.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee 
amendment be agreed to and the bill, as amended, be read a third time; 
the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 2998 and that the Senate turn to its immediate 
consideration; that all after the enacting clause be stricken; the text 
of S. 1779, as amended, be inserted in lieu thereof, the bill, as 
amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, that any statements related thereto be printed in 
the Record, and that S. 1779 be returned to the calendar.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  The bill (H.R. 2998), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

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