[House Report 105-303]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
105th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 105-303
_______________________________________________________________________
RADIO FREE ASIA ACT OF 1997
_______
October 6, 1997.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Gilman, from the Committee on International Relations, submitted
the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2232]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on International Relations, to whom was
referred the bill (H.R. 2232) to provide for increased
international broadcasting activities to China, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
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.
(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.
Background and Purpose
H.R. 2232, the ``Radio Free Asia Act of 1997,'' is intended
to provide continuous, 24-hour-a-day broadcasting capability
into China and Tibet. The increased broadcast programs will be
in Mandarin, Cantonese, Tibetan, and other dialects spoken in
the People's Republic of China.
Section 2 of the bill is a series of findings describing
the media and information environment in the People's Republic
of China, and the current limited broadcast hours of Radio Free
Asia and the Voice of America, which serve as the surrogate
free press in the People's Republic of China.
Section 3 provides for the authorization of appropriations
for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 to support the activities
required to increase the hours of broadcasting. Of the funds
authorized to be appropriated for International Broadcasting,
$2 million is authorized to be appropriated for broadcasting to
North Korea.
Section 4 is a reporting requirement requiring the
President to prepare a plan to achieve the continuous
broadcasting through Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America
to the People's Republic of China.
Committee Action
On March 13, 1997, the Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on the U.S.
Information Agency, which among other duties, is responsible
for U.S. international broadcasting. Witnesses at this hearing
included: The Honorable Joseph D. Duffey, Director of the U.S.
Information Agency, and David W. Burke, Chairman of the
International Broadcasting Board of Governors.
On July 9, 1996, the Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on international
broadcasting. Witnesses for this hearing were: The Honorable
Joseph D. Duffey, Director of the U.S. Information Agency and
David W. Burke, Chairman of the international Broadcasting
Board of Governors.
The Subcommittee on International Operations and Human
Rights reported to the full committee, H.R. 2232, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute, on September 25, 1997.
The Full Committee marked up the bill on September 29,
1997, considering the subcommittee amendment in the nature of a
substitute as original text for the purposes of amendment and
taking the following preliminary actions, all by voice vote:
Adopting the Kim amendment, adding reference to North
Korea to section 3(b) of the bill.
Adoping the Smith amendment revising subsection (7)
of section 1, striking language relating to additional
advanced editing equipment, and reducing the amount for
additional personnel to staff Cantonese language
broadcasting.
Adopting the Bereuter amendment making a technical
change in a reference.
Adopting the Royce amendment relating to utilization
of U.S. International Broadcasting Services for public
service announcements relative to fugitives from U.S.
justice.
After concluding its consideration of the amendment in the
nature of a substitute, the Committee adopted the amendment and
ordered the bill reported to the House by voice vote, a quorum
being present.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(A) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee reports
the findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the
descriptive portions of this report.
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight Findings
No findings or recommendations of the Committee on
Government Reform and Oversight were received as referred to in
clause 2(l)(3)(D) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures
The Committee adopts the cost estimate of the Congressional
Budget Office, set out below, as its submission of any required
information on new budget authority, new spending authority,
new credit authority, or an increase or decrease in the
national debt required by clause 2(l)(3)(B) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to Section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
Applicablity to the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Constitutional Authority Statement
In compliance with clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee cites the
following specific powers granted to the Congress in the
Constitution as authority for enactment of H.R. 2232, as
reported by the Committee: Article I, section 8, clause 3
(relating to the regulation of commerce with foreign nations
and among the several states); and Article I, section 8, clause
18 (relating to making all laws necessary and proper for
carrying into execution powers vested by the Constitution in
the government of the United States).
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(C) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth
with respect to H.R. 2232 as reported by the Committee the
following estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office under section 403 of the Budget
Act of 1974:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, October 3, 1997.
Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman,
Chairman, Committee on International Relations, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2232, the Radio
Free Asia Act of 1997.
If your wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita
D'Monte.
Sincerely,
June E. O'Neill, Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 2232--Radio Free Asia Act of 1997
H.R. 2232 would authorize appropriations of $50 million in
1998 and $32 million in 1999 for broadcasting to China and
North Korea and construction of broadcasting facilities.
Assuming that authorized amounts would be appropriated by the
start of each fiscal year and that outlays would follow
historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that enacting the
bill would raise spending by $32 million in 1998 and $81
million over the 1998-2002 period. The authorizations in this
bill would be in addition to amounts provided in other
legislation. H.R. 1757, as passed by the House of
Representatives on June 11, 1997, would authorize $415 million
in 1998 and $405 million in 1999 for broadcasting and
construction of facilities. Together, H.R. 2232 and H.R. 1757
would raise annual funding for comparable activities by $105
million in 1998 and $77 million in 1999 over the amount
provided in 1997. Because H.R. 2232 would not affect direct
spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
The bill contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) and would
not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
Section 5 of H.R. 2232, however, would impose a new private-
sector mandate on two privately owned United States
international broadcasting services, Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty and Radio Free Asia. The bill would require these
organizations to produce and broadcast, by radio, television,
and Internet, public service announcements regarding fugitives
from the criminal justice system of the United States. Based on
information provided by representatives of these organizations,
CBO estimates that the direct cost of the new private-sector
mandate would be well below the statutory threshold ($100
million in 1996, adjusted annually for inflation) established
in UMRA in any year.
The estimate of costs to the federal government was
prepared by Sunita D'Monte. Lesley Frymier prepared the
estimate of the private-sector mandate, and Pepper Santalucia
assessed the impact on state, local, and tribal governments.
This estimate was approved by Paul N. Van de Water, Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Provides that the Act may be cited as the ``Radio Free Asia
Act of 1997.''
Section 2. Findings
Sets forth relevant findings of Congress, including that
the government of the People's Republic of China systematically
controls the flow of information to the Chinese people; that
Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America provide an invaluable
source of information to the Chinese people, but have limited
service to China; that Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America
should develop 24-hour-a-day service in Mandarin, Cantonese,
and Tibetan; and that together Radio Free Asia and the Voice of
America could immediately establish 24-hour-a-day broadcasting
to China in Mandarin.
Section 3. Authorization of appropriations for increased funding for
Radio Free Asia and Voice of America broadcasting to China
Authorizes the appropriation of $30,000,000 for fiscal year
1998 and $22,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 for Radio Free Asia.
Of the amounts authorized for fiscal year 1998 for Radio Free
Asia, $8,000,000 is authorized for one-time capital costs. Of
the amounts authorized for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for Radio
Free Asia, $700,000 is authorized for each such fiscal year for
additional personnel to staff Cantonese language broadcasting.
In addition, authorizes the appropriation of $10,000,000
for fiscal year 1998 and $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 for
International Broadcasting Activities, which shall be in
addition to such sums as are otherwise authorized and which
shall be available only for enhanced Voice of America
broadcasting to China and North Korea. Of the amounts
authorized for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for International
Broadcasting Activities, $2,000,000 is authorized for each such
fiscal year for additional personnel and broadcasting targeted
at North Korea.
In addition, authorizes $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998
and $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 for Radio Construction,
which shall be in addition to such sums as are otherwise
authorized and which shall be available only for construction
in support of enhanced broadcasting to China. Of the amount
authorized for Radio Construction for fiscal year 1998,
$3,000,000 is authorized to facilitate the timely augmentation
of transmitters at Tinian.
The Director of the U.S. Information Agency and the
Broadcasting Board of Governors shall seek to ensure that of
the funds made available for International Broadcasting
Activities, the proportion of funds made available for
broadcasting to nations whose people do not enjoy full freedom
of expression does not decline.
Section 4. Reporting requirements
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment, the
President shall transmit to Congress a plan to achieve
continuous broadcasting on Radio Free Asia and the Voice of
America to China in multiple major dialects and languages.
Section 5. Utilization of United States International Broadcasting
Services for public service announcements regarding fugitives
from United States justice
United States international broadcasting services shall
produce and broadcast public service announcements regarding
fugitives form the U.S. criminal justice system, including
cases of international child abduction.