[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 49 (Thursday, March 27, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCONNELL:
  S. 2183. A bill entitled ``United States International Programming to 
Ukraine and Neighboring Regions'' ; considered and passed.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2183

       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).
                                 ______