[House Report 113-541]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


113th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     113-541

======================================================================



 
     UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS REFORM ACT OF 2014

                                _______
                                

 July 18, 2014.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

           Mr. Royce, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 4490]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the 
bill (H.R. 4490) to enhance the missions, objectives, and 
effectiveness of United States international communications, 
and for other purposes, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill 
as amended do pass.

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
The Amendment....................................................     1
Summary and Purpose..............................................    19
Background and Need for Legislation..............................    19
Hearings.........................................................    27
Committee Consideration..........................................    27
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................    27
New Budget Authority, Tax Expenditures, and Federal Mandates.....    28
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................    28
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................    31
Congressional Accountability Act.................................    31
New Advisory Committees..........................................    31
Earmark Identification...........................................    31
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................    31
Section-by-Section Analysis......................................    32
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............    37

                             The Amendment

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United States 
International Communications Reform Act of 2014''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; Table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and declarations.
Sec. 3. Purposes.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Broadcasting standards.
Sec. 6. Eligible broadcast areas.

  TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE UNITED 
               STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY

     Subtitle A--Establishment of the United States International 
                         Communications Agency

Sec. 101. Existence within the executive branch.
Sec. 102. Establishment of the Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency.
Sec. 103. Authorities and duties of the Board of the United States 
International Communications Agency.
Sec. 104. Establishment of the Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Communications Agency.
Sec. 105. Authorities and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the 
United States International Communications Agency.
Sec. 106. Role of the Secretary of State.
Sec. 107. Role of the Inspector General.
Sec. 108. Enhanced coordination between United States International 
Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network; Program content 
sharing; Grantee independence.
Sec. 109. Enhanced coordination among the United States International 
Communications Agency, the Freedom News Network, and the Department of 
State; Freedom News Network independence.
Sec. 110. Grants to the Freedom News Network.
Sec. 111. Other personnel and compensation limitations.
Sec. 112. Reporting requirements of the United States International 
Communications Agency.

                    Subtitle B--The Voice of America

Sec. 121. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 122. Principles of the Voice of America.
Sec. 123. Duties and responsibilities of the Voice of America.
Sec. 124. Limitation on Voice of America news, programming, and 
content; Exception for broadcasting to Cuba.
Sec. 125. Director of Voice of America.

                     Subtitle C--General Provisions

Sec. 131. Federal agency coordination in support of United States 
public diplomacy.
Sec. 132. Federal agency assistance and coordination with the United 
States International Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network 
during international broadcast surges.
Sec. 133. Freedom News Network right of first refusal in instances of 
Federal disposal of radio or television broadcast transmission 
facilities or equipment.
Sec. 134. Repeal of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 
1994.
Sec. 135. Effective date.

                   TITLE II--THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK

Sec. 201. Sense of Congress.

      Subtitle A--Consolidation of Existing Grantee Organizations

Sec. 211. Formation of the Freedom News Network from existing grantees.
Sec. 212. Mission of the Freedom News Network.
Sec. 213. Standards and principles of the Freedom News Network.

          Subtitle B--Organization of the Freedom News Network

Sec. 221. Governance of the Freedom News Network.
Sec. 222. Budget of the Freedom News Network.
Sec. 223. Assistance from other Government agencies.
Sec. 224. Reports by the Office of the Inspector General of the 
Department of State; Audits by GAO.
Sec. 225. Amendments to the United States Information and Educational 
Exchange Act of 1948.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Preservation of United States national security objectives.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.

  Congress finds and declares the following:
          (1) United States international broadcasting exists to 
        advance the United States' interests and values by presenting 
        accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information, 
        which is the foundation for democratic governance, to societies 
        that lack a free media.
          (2) Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
        states that ``[e]veryone has the right to freedom of opinion 
        and expression'', and that ``this right includes freedom to 
        hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and 
        impart information and ideas through any media and regardless 
        of frontiers''.
          (3) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before the 
        Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on 
        January 23, 2013, that the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
        (BBG) ``is practically a defunct agency in terms of its 
        capacity to be able to tell a message around the world. So 
        we're abdicating the ideological arena and need to get back 
        into it.''.
          (4) The BBG, which was created by Congress to oversee the 
        United States' international broadcasting in the wake of the 
        Cold War, has, because of structural and managerial issues, had 
        limited success to date in both coordinating the various 
        components of the international broadcasting framework and 
        managing the day-to-day operations of the Federal components of 
        the international broadcasting framework.
          (5) The lack of regular attendance by board members and a 
        periodic inability to form a quorum have plagued the BBG and, 
        as a result, it has been functionally incapable of running the 
        agency.
          (6) The board of governors has only achieved the full slate 
        of all nine governors for seven of its 17 years of existence, 
        which highlights the difficulties of confirming and retaining 
        governors under the current structure.
          (7) Both the Department of State's Office of Inspector 
        General and the Government Accountability Office have issued 
        reports which outline a severely dysfunctional organizational 
        structure of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
          (8) The Inspector General of the Department of State 
        concluded in its January 2013 report that dysfunction of the 
        BBG stems from ``a flawed legislative structure and acute 
        internal dissension''.
          (9) The Inspector General of the Department of State also 
        found that the BBG's structure of nine part-time members 
        ``cannot effectively supervise all United States Government-
        supported, civilian international broadcasting'', and its 
        involvement in day-to-day operations has impeded normal 
        management functions.
          (10) The Government Accountability Office report determined 
        that there was significant overlap among the BBG's languages 
        services, and that the BBG did not systematically consider the 
        financial cost of overlap.
          (11) According to the Office of the Inspector General, the 
        BBG's Office of Contracts is not in compliance with the Federal 
        Acquisition Regulation, lacks appropriate contract oversight, 
        and violates the Anti-Deficiency Act. The Office of the 
        Inspector General also determined that the Broadcasting Board 
        of Governors has not adequately performed full and open 
        competitions or price determinations, has entered into hundreds 
        of personal service contracts without statutory authority, and 
        contractors regularly work without valid contracts in place.
          (12) The size and make-up of the BBG workforce should be 
        closely examined, given the agency's broader broadcasting and 
        technical mission, as well as changing media technologies.
          (13) The BBG should be structured to ensure that more 
        taxpayer dollars are dedicated to the substantive, 
        broadcasting, and information-related elements of the agency's 
        mission.
          (14) The lack of a coherent and well defined mission of the 
        Voice of America has led to programming that duplicates the 
        efforts of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, 
        RFE/RL, Incorporated, and the Middle East Broadcasting 
        Networks, Incorporated that results in inefficient use of tax-
        payer funding.
          (15) The annual survey conducted by the ``Partnership for 
        Public Service'' consistently ranks the Broadcasting Board of 
        Governors at or near the bottom of all Federal agencies in 
        terms of ``overall best places to work'' and ``the extent to 
        which employees feel their skills and talents are used 
        effectively''. The consistency of these low scores point to 
        structural, cultural, and functional problems at the 
        Broadcasting Board of Governors.
          (16) The Federal and non-Federal organizations that comprise 
        the United States international broadcasting framework have 
        different, yet complementary, missions that necessitate 
        coordination at all levels of management.
          (17) The Broadcasting Board of Governors has an overabundance 
        of senior civil service positions, defined here as full-time 
        employees encumbering GS-14 and GS-15 positions on the General 
        Schedule pay scale.
          (18) United States international broadcasting should seek to 
        leverage public-private partnerships, including the licensing 
        of content and the use of technology owned or operated by non-
        governmental sources, where possible to expand outreach 
        capacity.
          (19) Shortwave broadcasting has been an important method of 
        communication that should be utilized in regions as a component 
        of United States international broadcasting where a critical 
        need for the platform exists.
          (20) Congressional action is necessary at this time to 
        improve international broadcasting operations, strengthen the 
        United States' public diplomacy efforts, enhance the grantee 
        surrogate broadcasting effort, restore focus to news, 
        programming, and content, and maximize the value of Federal and 
        non-Federal resources that are dedicated to public diplomacy 
        and international broadcasting.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

  The purposes of this Act are as follows:
          (1) To provide objective, accurate, credible, and 
        comprehensive news and information to societies that lack 
        freedom of expression and information.
          (2) To improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and flexibility 
        of United States international broadcasting to allow it to 
        adapt to constantly changing political and media environments 
        through clarification of missions, improved coordination, and 
        organizational restructuring.
          (3) To coordinate the complementary efforts of the Department 
        of State and United States international broadcasting.
          (4) To create a United States international broadcasting 
        framework that more effectively leverages the broadcasting 
        tools available and creates specialization of expertise in 
        mission oriented programming, while minimizing waste and 
        inefficiency.
          (5) To improve United States international broadcasting 
        workforce effectiveness, security, and satisfaction.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
        Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee 
        on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
          (2) Grantee.--The term ``grantee'' means the non-Federal 
        organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) 
        of such Code as of day before the date of the enactment of this 
        Act that receives Federal funding from the Broadcasting Board 
        of Governors, and includes Radio Free Asia, RFE/RL, 
        Incorporated, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, 
        Incorporated.
          (3) Freedom news network.--The term ``Freedom News Network'' 
        refers to the non-Federal organization described in section 
        501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
        tax under section 501(a) of such Code that would receive 
        Federal funding and be responsible for promoting democratic 
        freedoms and free media operations for foreign audiences in 
        societies that lack freedom of expression and information, and 
        consisting of the consolidation of the grantee in accordance 
        with section 211.
          (4) Public diplomacy.--The term ``public diplomacy'' means 
        the effort to achieve broad United States foreign policy goals 
        and objectives, advance national interests, and enhance 
        national security by informing and influencing foreign publics 
        and by expanding and strengthening the relationship between the 
        people and Government of the United States and citizens of 
        other countries.

SEC. 5. BROADCASTING STANDARDS.

  United States international broadcasting shall incorporate the 
following standards into all of its broadcasting efforts:
          (1) Be consistent with the broad foreign policy objectives of 
        the United States.
          (2) Be consistent with the international telecommunications 
        policies and treaty obligations of the United States.
          (3) Not duplicate the activities of private United States 
        broadcasters.
          (4) Be conducted in accordance with the highest professional 
        standards of broadcast journalism while remaining consistent 
        with and supportive of the broad foreign policy objectives of 
        the United States.
          (5) Be based on reliable, research-based information, both 
        quantitative and qualitative, about its potential audience.
          (6) Be designed so as to effectively reach a significant 
        audience.
          (7) Promote freedom of expression, religion, and respect for 
        human rights and human equality.

SEC. 6. ELIGIBLE BROADCAST AREAS.

  (a) In General.--The Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency and the Board of the Freedom News Network, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall ensure that United 
States international broadcasting is conducted only to countries and 
regions that--
          (1) lack democratic rule, or the indicia of democratic rule, 
        such as demonstrable proof of free and fair elections;
          (2) lack the legal and political environment that allows 
        media organizations and journalists to operate free from 
        government-led or permitted harassment, intimidation, 
        retribution, and from economic impediments to the development, 
        production, and dissemination of news and related programming 
        and content;
          (3) lack established, domestic, and widely accessible media 
        that provide accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and 
        related programming and content; and
          (4) by virtue of the criteria described in this subsection, 
        would benefit the national security and related interests of 
        the United States, and the safety and security of United States 
        citizens at home and abroad.
  (b) Exception.--The United States International Communications Agency 
and the Freedom News Network may broadcast to countries that fall 
outside of the criteria described in subsection (a) if the Chief 
Executive Officer of the Agency and the Freedom News Network, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, determine it is in the 
national security interest of the United States, or in the interests of 
preserving the safety and security of United States citizens at home 
and abroad, to do so.

  TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE UNITED 
               STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY

     Subtitle A--Establishment of the United States International 
                         Communications Agency

SEC. 101. EXISTENCE WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

  There is hereby established a single Federal organization consisting 
of the Voice of America and the offices that constitute the 
International Broadcasting Bureau and referred to hereafter as the 
``United States International Communications Agency'', which shall 
exist within the executive branch of Government as an independent 
establishment described in section 104 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 102. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOARD OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL 
                    COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY.

  (a) Composition of the Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency.--
          (1) In general.--The Board (in this section referred to as 
        the ``Board'') of the United States International 
        Communications Agency shall consist of nine members, as 
        follows:
                  (A) Eight voting members who shall be appointed by 
                the President, by and with the advice and consent of 
                the Senate.
                  (B) The Secretary of State, who shall also be a 
                voting member.
          (2) Chair.--The President shall appoint one member (other 
        than the Secretary of State) as Chair of the Board, by and with 
        the advice and consent of the Senate.
          (3) Political affiliation.--Exclusive of the Secretary of 
        State, not more than four members of the Board shall be of the 
        same political party.
          (4) Retention of existing bbg members.--The presidentially-
        appointed and Senate-confirmed members of the Broadcasting 
        Board of Governors serving as of the date of the enactment of 
        this Act shall constitute the Board of the United States 
        International Communications Agency and hold office the 
        remainder of their original terms of office without 
        reappointment to the Board.
  (b) Term of Office.--The term of office of each member of the Board 
shall be three years, except that the Secretary of State shall remain a 
member of the Board during the Secretary's term of service. Of the 
other eight voting members, the initial terms of office of two members 
shall be one year, and the initial terms of office of three other 
members shall be two years, as determined by the President. The 
President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, Board members to fill vacancies occurring prior to the 
expiration of a term, in which case the members so appointed shall 
serve for the remainder of such term. Members may not serve beyond 
their terms. When there is no Secretary of State, the Acting Secretary 
of State shall serve as a member of the Board until a Secretary is 
appointed.
  (c) Selection of Board.--Members of the Board shall be citizens of 
the United States who are not regular full-time employees of the United 
States Government. Such members shall be selected by the President from 
among citizens distinguished in the fields of public diplomacy, mass 
communications, print, broadcast media, or foreign affairs.
  (d) Compensation.--Members of the Board, while attending meetings of 
the Board or while engaged in duties relating to such meetings or in 
other activities of the Board pursuant to this section (including 
travel time) shall be entitled to receive compensation equal to the 
daily equivalent of the compensation prescribed for level IV of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 
While away from their homes or regular places of business, members of 
the Board may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with section 5703 of such title for persons 
in the Government service employed intermittently. The Secretary of 
State shall not be entitled to any compensation under this chapter.
  (e) Decisions.--Decisions of the Board shall be made by majority 
vote, a quorum being present. A quorum shall consist of a majority of 
members then serving at the time a decision of the Board is made.
  (f) Transparency.--The Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency shall adhere to the provisions specified in the 
Government in the Sunshine Act (Public Law 94-409).

SEC. 103. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF THE UNITED STATES 
                    INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY.

  The Board of the United States International Communications Agency 
shall have the following authorities:
          (1) To review and evaluate the mission and operation of, and 
        to assess the quality, effectiveness, and professional 
        integrity of, all programming produced by the United States 
        International Communications Agency to ensure alignment with 
        the broad foreign policy objectives of the United States.
          (2) To ensure that broadcasting of the United States 
        International Communications Agency is conducted in accordance 
        with the standards specified in section 5.
          (3) To review, evaluate, and recommend to the Chief Executive 
        of the United States International Communications Agency, at 
        least annually, in consultation with the Secretary of State, 
        the necessity of adding or deleting of language services of the 
        Agency.
          (4) To submit to the President and Congress an annual report 
        which summarizes and evaluates activities of the United States 
        International Communications Agency described in this title.

SEC. 104. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE UNITED 
                    STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY.

  (a) In General.--There shall be a Chief Executive Officer of the 
United States International Communications Agency, appointed by the 
Board of the Agency for a five-year term, renewable at the Board's 
discretion, and subject to the provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointments, classification, and compensation.
  (b) Qualifications.--The Chief Executive Officer shall be selected 
from among United States citizens with two or more of the following 
qualifications:
          (1) A distinguished career in managing a large organization 
        or Federal agency.
          (2) Experience in the field of mass communications, print, or 
        broadcast media.
          (3) Experience in foreign affairs or international relations.
          (4) Experience in directing United States public diplomacy 
        programs.
  (c) Termination and Transfer.--Immediately upon appointment of the 
Chief Executive Officer under subsection (a), the Director of the 
International Broadcasting Bureau shall be terminated, and all of the 
responsibilities and authorities of the Director shall be transferred 
to and assumed by the Chief Executive Officer.
  (d) Removal of Chief Executive Officer.--The Chief Executive Officer 
under subsection (a) may be removed upon a two-thirds majority vote of 
the members of the Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency then serving.
  (e) Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.--Any Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Communications Agency hired 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be eligible to 
receive compensation up to an annual rate of pay equivalent to level I 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code.

SEC. 105. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE 
                    UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY.

  (a) Duties.--The Chief Executive Officer under section 104 shall 
direct operations of the United States International Communications 
Agency and shall have the following non-delegable authorities, subject 
to the supervision of the Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency:
          (1) To supervise all Federal broadcasting activities 
        conducted pursuant to title V of the United States Information 
        and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.) 
        and the Voice of America as described in subtitle B of title I 
        of this Act.
          (2) To make and ensure compliance with the terms and 
        conditions of the grant agreement in accordance with section 
        110.
          (3) To review engineering activities to ensure that all 
        broadcasting elements receive the highest quality and cost-
        effective delivery services.
          (4) To undertake such studies as may be necessary to identify 
        areas in which broadcasting activities under the authority of 
        the United States International Communications Agency could be 
        made more efficient and economical.
          (5) To the extent considered necessary to carry out the 
        functions of the Board, procure supplies, services, and other 
        personal property, as well as procurement pursuant to section 
        1535 of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as 
        the ``Economy Act''), of such goods and services from other 
        Federal agencies for the Board as the Board determines are 
        appropriate.
          (6) To appoint such staff personnel for the Board as the 
        Board may determine to be necessary, subject to the provisions 
        of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
        competitive service, and to fix their compensation in 
        accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III 
        of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and 
        General Schedule pay rates.
          (7) To obligate and expend, for official reception and 
        representation expenses, such amounts as may be made available 
        through appropriations Acts.
          (8) To make available in the annual reports required under 
        section 103 information on funds expended on administrative and 
        managerial services by the Board of the United States 
        Communications Agency, and the steps the Board has taken to 
        reduce unnecessary overhead costs for each of the broadcasting 
        services.
          (9) To provide for the use of United States Government 
        broadcasting capacity to the Freedom News Network.
          (10)(A) To procure temporary and intermittent personal 
        services to the same extent as is authorized by section 3109 of 
        title 5, United States Code, at rates not to exceed the daily 
        equivalent of the rate provided for positions classified above 
        grade GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5108 of such 
        title.
          (B) To allow those individuals providing such services, while 
        away from their homes or their regular places of business, 
        travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) as 
        authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for 
        persons in the Government service employed intermittently, 
        while so employed.
          (11) To utilize the provisions of titles III, IV, V, VII, 
        VIII, IX, and X of the United States Information and 
        Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), and 
        section 6 of Reorganization Plan Number 2 of 1977, as in effect 
        on the day before the effective date of title XIII of the 
        Foreign Affairs Agencies Consolidation Act of 1998, to the 
        extent the Board considers necessary to carry out the 
        provisions and purposes of this Act.
          (12) To utilize the authorities of any other statute, 
        reorganization plan, executive order, regulation, agreement, 
        determination, or other official document or proceeding that 
        had been available to the Director of the United States 
        Information Agency, the International Broadcasting Bureau, or 
        the Board of the Broadcasting Board of Governors before the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
          (13)(A) To provide for the payment of primary and secondary 
        school expenses for dependents of personnel stationed in the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) at a cost 
        not to exceed expenses authorized by the Department of Defense 
        for such schooling for dependents of members of the Armed 
        Forces stationed in the Commonwealth, if the Board determines 
        that schools available in the Commonwealth are unable to 
        provide adequately for the education of the dependents of such 
        personnel.
          (B) To provide transportation for dependents of such 
        personnel between their places of residence and those schools 
        for which expenses are provided under subparagraph (A), if the 
        Board determines that such schools are not accessible by public 
        means of transportation.
  (b) Consultations.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
International Communications Agency shall regularly consult with the 
Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom News Network and the Secretary 
of State as described in sections 108 and 109.

SEC. 106. ROLE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

  To assist the Board of the United States International Communications 
Agency in carrying out its functions, the Secretary of State shall 
provide to the Board information in accordance with section 109(b), as 
well as guidance on United States foreign policy and public diplomacy 
priorities, as the Secretary determines appropriate.

SEC. 107. ROLE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

  (a) In General.--The Inspector General of the Department of State 
shall exercise the same authorities with respect to the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network as the 
Inspector General exercises with respect to the Department.
  (b) Journalist Integrity.--The Inspector General of the Department of 
State shall respect the journalistic integrity of all the broadcasters 
covered by this Act and may not evaluate the philosophical or political 
perspectives reflected in the content of the broadcasts of such 
broadcasters.

SEC. 108. ENHANCED COORDINATION BETWEEN UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL 
                    COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY AND THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK; 
                    PROGRAM CONTENT SHARING; GRANTEE INDEPENDENCE.

  (a) Meetings.--The chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of 
the United States International Communications Agency shall meet at 
least on a quarterly basis with the chair and Chief Executive Officer, 
as identified in section 221, of the Freedom News Network to discuss 
mutual issues of concern, including the following:
          (1) The strategic direction of their respective 
        organizations, including target audiences.
          (2) Languages of information transmission.
          (3) Prioritization of funding allocations.
          (4) Areas for greater collaboration.
          (5) Elimination of programming overlap.
          (6) Efficiencies that can be realized through best practices 
        and lessons learned.
          (7) Sharing of program content.
  (b) Information Sharing.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Broadcasting Agency and the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Freedom News Network shall share all strategic planning 
documents, including the following:
          (1) Results monitoring and evaluation.
          (2) Annual planning documents.
          (3) Audience surveys conducted.
          (4) Budget formulation documents.
  (c) Program Content Sharing.--The United States International 
Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network shall make all 
original content available to each other through a shared platform in 
accordance with section 112(a)(3).
  (d) Independence of Freedom News Network.--The United States 
International Communications Agency, while conducting management of the 
grant described in section 110, shall avoid even the appearance of 
involvement in daily operations, decisions, and management of the 
Freedom News Network, and ensure that the distinctions between the 
United States International Communications Agency and Freedom News 
Network remain in accordance with this Act.

SEC. 109. ENHANCED COORDINATION AMONG THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL 
                    COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY, THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK, 
                    AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE; FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK 
                    INDEPENDENCE.

  (a) Coordination Meetings.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Communications Agency and the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Freedom News Network shall meet, at least on a quarterly 
basis, with the Secretary of State to--
          (1) review and evaluate broadcast activities;
          (2) eliminate overlap of programming; and
          (3) determine long-term strategies for international 
        broadcasting to ensure such strategies are in accordance with 
        the broad foreign policy interests of the United States.
  (b) Strategic Planning Documents.--The Chief Executive Officer of the 
United States International Communications Agency, the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Freedom News Network, and the Secretary of State shall 
share all relevant unclassified strategic planning documents produced 
by the Agency, the Freedom News Network, and the Department of State.
  (c) Freedom News Network Independence.--The Department of State, 
while coordinating with the Freedom News Network in accordance with 
subsection (a), shall avoid even the appearance of involvement in the 
daily operations, decisions, and management of the Freedom News 
Network.

SEC. 110. GRANTS TO THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK.

  (a) In General.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
International Communications Agency shall make grants to RFE/RL, 
Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, or the Middle East Broadcasting 
Networks, Incorporated only after the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Agency and the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom News Network certify 
to the appropriate congressional committees that the headquarters of 
the Freedom News Network and its senior administrative and managerial 
staff are in a location which ensures economy, operational 
effectiveness, and accountability, and the following conditions have 
been satisfied:
          (1) RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle 
        East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated have submitted to the 
        Chief Executive Officer of the United States International 
        Communications Agency a plan for consolidation and 
        reconstitution as described in section 211 under the new 
        corporate name ``Freedom News Network'' with a single 
        organizational structure and management framework, as described 
        in section 221.
          (2) The necessary steps towards the consolidation described 
        in paragraph (1) have been completed, including the selection 
        of a Board, Chair, and Chief Executive Officer for the Freedom 
        News Network, the establishment of bylaws to govern the Freedom 
        News Network, and the filing of articles of incorporation.
          (3) A plan for content sharing has been developed in 
        accordance with section 112(a)(3).
          (4) A strategic plan for programming implementation has been 
        developed in accordance with section 222(c).
  (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency shall submit to Congress a report on the status 
of any grants made to the Freedom News Network.
  (c) Limitation on Grant Amounts.--The total amount of grants made for 
the operating costs of the Freedom News Network may not exceed 
$270,000,000 in fiscal year 2015.
  (d) Alternative Grantee.--If the Chief Executive Officer of the 
United States International Communications Agency, after consultation 
with the Board of the Agency and the appropriate congressional 
committees, determines at any time that the Freedom News Network is not 
carrying out the mission described in section 212 and adhering to the 
standards and principles described in section 213 in an effective and 
economical manner for which a grant has been awarded, the Chief 
Executive Officer of the Agency, upon approval of the Board, may award 
to another entity the grant at issue to carry out such functions after 
soliciting and considering applications from eligible entities in such 
manner and accompanied by such information as the Board may require.
  (e) Not a Federal Entity.--Nothing in this Act may be construed to 
make the Freedom News Network a Federal agency or instrumentality.
  (f) Authority.--Grants authorized under this section for the United 
States International Communications Agency shall be available to make 
annual grants to the Freedom News Network for the purpose of carrying 
out the mission described in section 212 and adhering to the standards 
and principles described in section 213.
  (g) Grant Agreement.--Grants authorized under this section to the 
Freedom News Network by the Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Communications Agency shall only be made in 
accordance with a grant agreement. Such grant agreement shall include 
the following provisions:
          (1) A grant shall be used only for activities in accordance 
        with carrying out the mission described in section 212 and 
        adhering to the standards and principles described in section 
        213.
          (2) The Freedom News Network shall comply with the 
        requirements of this section.
          (3) Failure to comply with the requirements of this section 
        may result in suspension or termination of a grant without 
        further obligation by the United States International 
        Communications Agency or the United States.
          (4) Use of broadcasting technology owned and operated by the 
        United States International Communications Agency shall be made 
        available through an International Cooperative Administrative 
        Support Service (ICASS) agreement or memorandum of 
        understanding.
          (5) The Freedom News Network shall, upon request, provide to 
        the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International 
        Communications Agency documentation which details the 
        expenditure of any grant funds.
          (6) A grant may not be used to require the Freedom News 
        Network to comply with any requirements other than the 
        requirements specified in this Act.
          (7) A grant may not be used to allocate resources within the 
        Freedom News Network in a manner that is inconsistent with the 
        Freedom News Network strategic plan described in section 
        222(c).
  (h) Prohibitions on the Use of Grants.--Grants authorized under this 
section may not be used for the following purposes:
          (1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C), to pay 
        any salary or other compensation, or enter into any contract 
        providing for the payment of salary or compensation, in excess 
        of the rates established for comparable positions under title 
        5, United States Code, or the foreign relations laws of the 
        United States, except that no employee may be paid a salary or 
        other compensation in excess of the rate of pay payable for 
        level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of such 
        title.
          (B) Salary and other compensation limitations under 
        subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to any employee 
        covered by a union agreement requiring a salary or other 
        compensation in excess of such limitations before the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.
          (C) Notwithstanding the limitations specified in subparagraph 
        (A), grants authorized under this section may be used by the 
        Freedom News Network to pay up to six employees employed in the 
        Washington, D.C. area, salary or other compensation not to 
        exceed the rate of pay payable for level I of the Executive 
        Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, 
        except that such shall not apply to the Chief Executive Officer 
        of the Freedom News Network in accordance with section 221(d).
          (2) For any activity intended to influence the passage or 
        defeat of legislation being considered by Congress.
          (3) To enter into a contract or obligation to pay severance 
        payments for voluntary separation for employees hired after 
        December 1, 1990, except as may be required by United States 
        law or the laws of the country where such an employee is 
        stationed.
          (4) For first class travel for any employee of the Freedom 
        News Network, or the relative of any such employee.

SEC. 111. OTHER PERSONNEL AND COMPENSATION LIMITATIONS.

  (a) In General.--Subject to the organizational and personnel 
restrictions described in subsection (c), the Chief Executive Officer 
of the United States International Communications Agency shall have the 
discretion to determine the distribution of all personnel within the 
Agency, subject to the approval of the Board of the Agency.
  (b) Limitation on Compensation.--
          (1) In general.--No employee of the United States 
        International Communications Agency, other than the Chief 
        Executive Officer or Director of the Voice of America, shall be 
        eligible to receive compensation at a rate in excess of step 10 
        of GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, 
        United States Code.
          (2) Exception.--The limitation described in paragraph (1) 
        does not apply in the case of members of the Board in 
        accordance with section 102(d) or affect the rights of 
        employees covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
  (c) Prohibition on Certain New Employment.--
          (1) In general.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of 
        this Act and ending on the date that is five years after such 
        date, the United States International Communications Agency may 
        not fill any currently unfilled full-time or part-time position 
        compensated at an annual rate of basic pay for grade GS-14 or 
        GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, 
        United States Code, including any currently filled position in 
        which the incumbent resigns, retires, or otherwise leaves such 
        position during the such five year period.
          (2) Waiver.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
        International Communications Agency may waive the prohibition 
        specified in paragraph (1) if the position is determined 
        essential to the functioning of the Agency and documented as 
        such in the report required under section 112(a), or necessary 
        for the acquisition of skills or knowledge not sufficiently 
        represented in the current workforce of the Agency. The Chief 
        Executive Officer of the Agency shall consult with the 
        appropriate congressional committees before issuing a waiver 
        under this paragraph.
  (d) Continuation of Federal Status.--Nothing in this Act may be 
interpreted to change the Federal status or rights of employees of the 
Voice of America or the International Broadcasting Bureau by the 
consolidation and establishment of the United States International 
Communications Agency.

SEC. 112. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL 
                    COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY.

  (a) Reorganization Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Communications Agency shall submit to the 
appropriate Congressional committees a report that includes the 
following:
          (1) A plan to assess and provide recommendations on the 
        appropriate size and necessity of all current offices and 
        positions (also referred to as a ``staffing pattern'') within 
        the Agency, including full-time employee positions rated at the 
        Senior Executive Service (SES) level or at GS-14 or GS-15 on 
        the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United 
        States Code. Such plan shall include a detailed organizational 
        structure that delineates lines of authority and reporting 
        between junior staff, management, and leadership.
          (2) A plan to consolidate the Voice of America and the 
        International Broadcasting Bureau into a single Federal entity 
        identified as the ``United States International Communications 
        Agency'', and how the structure and alignment of resources 
        support the fulfillment of the Agency's mission and standards 
        and principles as described in sections 5 and 122.
          (3) A plan for developing a platform to share all programming 
        content between the United States International Communications 
        Agency and the Freedom News Network, including making available 
        for distribution all programming content licensed or produced 
        by the Agency and the Freedom News Network, and expanding the 
        functionality of the platforms already in existence, such as 
        the web content management system ``Pangea''.
          (4) A joint plan written with the Chief Executive Officer of 
        the Freedom News Network to coordinate the transition of 
        language services between the United States International 
        Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network in 
        accordance with sections 6, 123, 124, 212, and 213.
  (b) Contracting Report.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Communications Agency shall annually submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the Agency's 
compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (the ``FAR'') and 
the Anti-Deficiency Act, including a review of contracts awarded on a 
non-competitive basis, compliance with the FAR requirement for 
publicizing contract actions, the use of any personal service contracts 
without explicit statutory authority, and processes for contract 
oversight in compliance with the FAR.
  (c) Listenership Report.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Communications Agency shall annually submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that details the 
transmission capacities, market penetration, and audience listenership 
of all mediums of international communication deployed by the United 
States International Communications Agency, including a plan for how 
target audiences can be reached if the first medium of delivery is 
unavailable.
  (d) GAO Report.--Every five years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report that reviews the 
effectiveness of content sharing between the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network and 
makes recommendations on how content sharing can be improved.
  (e) Language Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Chief Executive Officer of 
the Freedom News Network shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a joint report detailing--
          (1) information outlining the criteria and analysis used to 
        determine broadcast recipient countries and regions; and
          (2) an initial list of broadcast countries and regions.

                    Subtitle B--The Voice of America

SEC. 121. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

  It is the sense of Congress that--
          (1) the Voice of America has been an indispensable element of 
        United States foreign policy and public diplomacy efforts since 
        1942, and should remain the flagship brand of the United States 
        International Communications Agency;
          (2) the Voice of America has been a reliable source of 
        accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and related 
        programming and content for the millions of people around the 
        world who cannot obtain such news and related programming and 
        content from indigenous media outlets;
          (3) the Voice of America's success over more than seven 
        decades has created valuable brand identity and international 
        recognition that justifies the maintenance of the Voice of 
        America;
          (4) the Voice of America's public diplomacy mission remains 
        essential to broader United States Government efforts to 
        communicate with foreign populations; and
          (5) despite its tremendous historical success, the Voice of 
        America would benefit substantially from a recalibration of 
        Federal international broadcasting agencies and resources, 
        which would provide the Voice of America with greater mission 
        focus and flexibility in the deployment of news, programming, 
        and content.

SEC. 122. PRINCIPLES OF THE VOICE OF AMERICA.

  The Voice of America shall adhere to the following principles in the 
course of fulfilling its duties and responsibilities:
          (1) Serving as a consistently reliable and authoritative 
        source of news on the United States, its policies, its people, 
        and the international developments that affect the United 
        States.
          (2) Providing accurate, objective, and comprehensive 
        information, with the understanding that these three values 
        provide credibility among global news audiences.
          (3) Presenting the official policies of the United States, 
        and related discussions and opinions about those policies, 
        clearly and effectively.
          (4) Representing the whole of the United States, and shall 
        accordingly work to produce programming and content that 
        presents a balanced and comprehensive projection of the 
        diversity of thought and institutions of the United States.

SEC. 123. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOICE OF AMERICA.

  The Voice of America shall have the following duties and 
responsibilities:
          (1) Producing accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and 
        related programming that is consistent with and promotes the 
        broad foreign policies of the United States.
          (2) Producing news and related programming and content that 
        accurately represents the diversity of thoughts and 
        institutions of the United States as a whole.
          (3) Presenting the law and policies of the United States 
        clearly and effectively.
          (4) Promoting the civil and responsible exchange of 
        information and differences of opinion regarding policies, 
        issues, and current events.
          (5) Making all of its produced news and related programming 
        and content available to the Freedom News Network for use and 
        distribution.
          (6) Producing or otherwise allowing editorials, commentary, 
        and programming, in consultation with the Department of State, 
        that present the official views of the United States Government 
        and its officials.
          (7) Maximizing foreign national information access through 
        both the use of existing broadcasting tools and resources and 
        the development and dissemination of circumvention technology.
          (8) Providing training and technical support for independent 
        indigenous media and journalist enterprises in order to 
        facilitate or enhance independent media environments and 
        outlets abroad.
          (9) Reaching identified foreign audiences in local languages 
        and dialects when possible, particularly when such audiences 
        form a distinct ethnic, cultural, or religious group within a 
        country critical to United States national security interests.
          (10) Being capable of providing a broadcasting surge capacity 
        under circumstances where overseas disasters, crises, or other 
        events require increased or heightened international public 
        diplomacy engagement.

SEC. 124. LIMITATION ON VOICE OF AMERICA NEWS, PROGRAMMING, AND 
                    CONTENT; EXCEPTION FOR BROADCASTING TO CUBA.

  (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the Voice of 
America shall be limited to providing reporting in accordance with the 
principles specified in section 122. Nothing in this section may 
preclude the Voice of America from broadcasting programming content 
produced by the Freedom News Network.
  (b) Exception for Broadcasting to Cuba.--Radio Marti and Television 
Marti, which constitute the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, shall continue 
programming and content production consistent with the mission and 
activities as described in the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act (Public 
Law 98-111) and the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (Public Law 
101-246), and continue existing within the Voice of America of the 
United States International Communications Agency, established in 
section 101.

SEC. 125. DIRECTOR OF VOICE OF AMERICA.

  (a) Establishment.--There shall be a Director of the Voice of 
America, who shall be responsible for executing the duties and 
responsibilities of the Voice of America described in subsection (b).
  (b) Duties and Responsibilities.--The Director of the Voice of 
America shall, subject to the final approval of the Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Communications Agency carry 
out the following duties and responsibilities:
          (1) Determine the organizational structure of, and personnel 
        allocation or relocation within, the Voice of America, subject 
        to section 105.
          (2) Make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer of 
        the United States International Communications Agency regarding 
        the production, development, and termination of Voice of 
        America news programming and content.
          (3) Make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer of 
        the United States International Communications Agency about the 
        establishment, termination, prioritization, and adjustments of 
        language services utilized by the Voice of America to reach its 
        international audience.
          (4) Allocate funding and material resources under the 
        jurisdiction of the Voice of America for the furtherance of the 
        other duties and responsibilities established under this 
        subsection.
          (5) Oversee the daily operations of the Voice of America, 
        including programming content.
  (c) Appointment and Qualifications of Director.--
          (1) In general.--The position of Director of the Voice of 
        America shall be filled by a person who shall serve at the 
        pleasure of the Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
        International Communications Agency.
          (2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to be appointed Director of 
        the Voice of America, a person shall have at least two of the 
        following qualifications:
                  (A) Prior, extensive experience managing or operating 
                a private-sector media or journalist enterprise.
                  (B) Prior, extensive experience managing or operating 
                a large organization.
                  (C) Prior, extensive experience engaged in mass media 
                or journalist program development, including the 
                development of circumvention technologies.
                  (D) Prior, extensive experience engaged in 
                international journalism or other related activities, 
                including the training of international journalists and 
                the promotion of democratic institutional reforms 
                abroad.
          (3) Compensation.--Any Director who is hired after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act shall be entitled to receive 
        compensation at a rate equal to the annual rate of basic pay 
        for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 
        title 5, United States Code.

                     Subtitle C--General Provisions

SEC. 131. FEDERAL AGENCY COORDINATION IN SUPPORT OF UNITED STATES 
                    PUBLIC DIPLOMACY.

  (a) In General.--The Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network shall conduct 
periodic, unclassified consultations with the Department of State, the 
United States Agency for International Development, the Department of 
Defense, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, for 
the purpose of assessing the following:
          (1) Progress toward democratization, the development of free 
        and independent media outlets, and the free flow of information 
        in countries that receive programming and content from the 
        United States International Communications Agency and the 
        Freedom News Network.
          (2) Foreign languages that have increased or decreased in 
        strategic importance, and the factors supporting such 
        assessments.
          (3) Any other international developments, including 
        developments with regional or country-specific significance, 
        that might be of value in assisting the United States 
        International Communications Agency and the Freedom News 
        Network in the development of their programming and content.
  (b) Guidance.--The Board of the United States International 
Communications Agency shall use the unclassified consultations required 
under subsection (a) as guidance for its distribution and calibration 
of Federal resources in support of United States public diplomacy.

SEC. 132. FEDERAL AGENCY ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION WITH THE UNITED 
                    STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY AND THE 
                    FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK DURING INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST 
                    SURGES.

  (a) In General.--Subject to a formal request from the Chair of the 
Board of the United States International Communications Agency, Federal 
agency heads shall assist and coordinate with the Agency to facilitate 
a temporary broadcasting surge or enhance transmission capacity for 
such a temporary broadcasting surge for the Agency, the Freedom News 
Network, or both.
  (b) Actions.--In accordance with subsection (a), Federal agency heads 
shall assist or coordinate with the United States International 
Communications Agency by--
          (1) supplying or facilitating access to, or use of--
                  (A) United States Government-owned transmission 
                capacity, including the use of transmission facilities, 
                equipment, resources, and personnel; and
                  (B) other non-transmission-related United States 
                Government-owned facilities, equipment, resources, and 
                personnel;
          (2) communicating and coordinating with foreign host 
        governments on behalf of, or in conjunction with, the Agency or 
        the Freedom News Network;
          (3) providing, or assisting in the obtaining of, in-country 
        security services for the safety and protection of Agency or 
        Freedom News Network personnel; and
          (4) providing or facilitating access to any other United 
        States Government-owned resources.
  (c) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, neither 
Federal agency heads nor their agencies shall receive any reimbursement 
or compensatory appropriations for complying with implementing this 
section.

SEC. 133. FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL IN INSTANCES OF 
                    FEDERAL DISPOSAL OF RADIO OR TELEVISION BROADCAST 
                    TRANSMISSION FACILITIES OR EQUIPMENT.

  (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall 
be the policy of the United States International Communications Agency 
to, in the event it intends to dispose of any radio or television 
broadcast transmission facilities or equipment, provide the Freedom 
News Network with the right of first refusal with respect to the 
acquisition of such facilities and equipment.
  (b) Transfer and Disposal.--Pursuant to subsection (a)--
          (1) in the event the Freedom News Network is willing to 
        accept the facilities and equipment referred to in such 
        subsection, the United States International Communications 
        Agency shall transfer to the Freedom News Network such 
        facilities and equipment at no cost to the Freedom News 
        Network; or
          (2) in the event the Freedom News Network opts to not accept 
        such facilities and equipment, the United States International 
        Communications Agency may sell such facilities and equipment at 
        market price, and retain any revenue from such sales.
  (c) Rules Regarding Certain Funds.--Pursuant to subsections (b) and 
(c), any revenues that the United States International Communications 
Agency shall derive from such sales--
          (1) shall not negatively impact subsequent appropriations to 
        the Agency, and
          (2) shall be used entirely for the purposes or research, 
        development, and deployment of innovative broadcasting or 
        circumvention technology.

SEC. 134. REPEAL OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING ACT OF 
                    1994.

  The United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 
6201 et seq.; title III of Public Law 103-236) is repealed (and the 
items relating to title III in the table of contents of such Public Law 
are struck).

SEC. 135. EFFECTIVE DATE.

  This title shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

                   TITLE II--THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK

SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

  It is the sense of Congress that RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free 
Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated share a 
common mission with distinct geographic foci, and should therefore be 
merged into a single organization, with distinct marketing brands to 
provide the news and related programming and content in countries where 
free media are not established.

      Subtitle A--Consolidation of Existing Grantee Organizations

SEC. 211. FORMATION OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK FROM EXISTING GRANTEES.

  (a) In General.--When the conditions specified in section 110 are 
satisfied, the Freedom News Network, comprised of the consolidation of 
RFE/RL Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting 
Networks, Incorporated, shall exist to carry out all international 
broadcasting activities supported by the United States Government, in 
accordance with sections 212 and 213.
  (b) Maintenance of the Existing Individual Grantee Brands.--RFE/RL, 
Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting 
Networks, Incorporated shall remain brand names under which news and 
related programming and content may be disseminated by the Freedom News 
Network. Additional brands may be created as necessary.

SEC. 212. MISSION OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK.

  The Freedom News Network established under section 211 shall--
          (1) provide uncensored local and regional news and analysis 
        to people in societies where a robust, indigenous, independent, 
        and free media does not exist;
          (2) strengthen civil societies by promoting democratic values 
        and promoting equality and the rights of the individual, 
        including for marginalized groups, such as women and 
        minorities;
          (3) help countries improve their indigenous capacity to 
        enhance media professionalism and independence, and develop 
        partnerships with local media outlets, as appropriate; and
          (4) promote access to uncensored sources of information, 
        especially via the internet, and use all effective and 
        efficient mediums of communication to reach target audiences.

SEC. 213. STANDARDS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK.

  The broadcasting of the Freedom News Network shall--
          (1) be consistent with the broad foreign policy objectives of 
        the United States;
          (2) be consistent with the international telecommunications 
        policies and treaty obligations of the United States;
          (3) be conducted in accordance with the highest professional 
        standards of broadcast journalism;
          (4) be based on reliable information about its potential 
        audience;
          (5) be designed so as to effectively reach a significant 
        audience; and
          (6) prioritize programming to populations in countries 
        without independent indigenous media outlets.

          Subtitle B--Organization of the Freedom News Network

SEC. 221. GOVERNANCE OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK.

  (a) Board of the Freedom News Network.--A board shall oversee the 
Freedom News Network and consist of nine individuals with a 
demonstrated background in media or the promotion of democracy and 
experience in measuring media impact.
  (b) Composition of First Board of the Freedom News Network.--Not 
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Chairs and Ranking Members of the appropriate congressional committees 
shall identify candidates for the first board of the Freedom News 
Network, direct the appointment of board members, and select the first 
chair of the board of the Freedom News Network as follows:
          (1) Two individuals shall be appointed by the Chair of the 
        Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
          (2) Two individuals shall be appointed by the Ranking Member 
        of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives.
          (3) Two individuals shall be appointed by the Chair of the 
        Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
          (4) Two individuals shall be appointed by the Ranking Member 
        of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
          (5) One individual shall be appointed by consensus of the 
        Chairs and Ranking Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
        Relations of the Senate.
  (c) Operations of the First Board of the Freedom News Network.--
          (1) In general.--The board members of the first board of the 
        Freedom News Network shall determine the bylaws, select the 
        Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom News Network, and file 
        articles of incorporation under the corporate name ``Freedom 
        News Network''. The first board of the Freedom News Network may 
        change the organization's name in accordance with such bylaws.
          (2) Term limits.--The board members of the first board of the 
        Freedom News Network may not serve more than a three-year term, 
        and shall be replaced in accordance with the bylaws referred to 
        in paragraph (1) and the succession process described in 
        paragraph (3).
          (3) Succession of board members.--The board members of the 
        first board of the Freedom News Network and all subsequent 
        boards shall fill vacancies on the board due to death, 
        resignation, removal, or term expiration through an election 
        process described in the bylaws referred to in paragraph (1) 
        and in accordance with the principle of a ``self-replenishing'' 
        body.
  (d) Compensation of Board and Officers of the Freedom News Network.--
Members of the board of the Freedom News Network may not receive any 
fee, salary, or remuneration of any kind for their service as members, 
except that such members may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, 
such as board-related travel, incurred with approval of the board upon 
presentation of vouchers. No officers of the Freedom News Network, 
other than the Chief Executive Officer, shall be eligible to receive 
compensation at a rate in excess of the annual rate of basic pay for 
level II on the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code.
  (e) Abolishment of Existing Boards.--The boards of directors of RFE/
RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting 
Networks, Incorporated in existence on the day before the date of the 
enactment of this Act shall be abolished on the date of the first 
official meeting of the first board of the Freedom News Network.
  (f) Chief Executive Officer.--The Chief Executive Officer of the 
Freedom News Network shall serve at the pleasure of the board of the 
Freedom News Network, and be responsible for the day-to-day management 
and operations of the Freedom News Network, including the selection of 
individuals for management positions. The board of the Freedom News 
Network may add to the duties and responsibilities of the Chief 
Executive Officer as the board determines appropriate, and such 
additional duties and responsibilities shall be codified in the bylaws 
of the Freedom News Network.
  (g) Plan for Consolidation of Existing Individual Grantees.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the first official meeting of the first board of the Freedom 
        News Network, the chair of the board of the Freedom News 
        Network shall submit a report to, and consult with, the 
        appropriate congressional committees on the plan to consolidate 
        RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East 
        Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated into a single non-Federal 
        grantee organization.
          (2) Components.--The consolidation plan referred to in 
        paragraph (1) shall include the following components:
                  (A) The location and distribution of employees, 
                including administrative, managerial, and technical 
                staff, of the Freedom News Network that will be located 
                within and outside the metropolitan area of Washington, 
                D.C.
                  (B) An organizational chart identifying the 
                managerial and supervisory lines of authority among all 
                employees of the Freedom News Network.
          (3) Time for implementation.--Not later than three years 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the chair of the 
        board of the Freedom News Network shall fully implement the 
        consolidation plan referred to in paragraph (1) after 
        consultation with the appropriate congressional committees.
          (4) Report.--Not later than five years after the date on 
        which initial funding is provided for the purpose of operating 
        the Freedom News Network, the chair of the board of the Freedom 
        News Network shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report that details the following:
                  (A) Whether the Freedom News Network is technically 
                sound and cost-effective.
                  (B) Whether the Freedom News Network consistently 
                meets the standards for quality and impact established 
                by this title.
                  (C) Whether the Freedom News Network is receiving a 
                sufficient audience to warrant its continued operation.
                  (D) The extent to which the Freedom News Network's 
                programming and content is already being received by 
                the target audience from other credible indigenous or 
                external sources.
                  (E) The extent to which the foreign policy and 
                national security interests of the United States are 
                being served by maintaining operations of the Freedom 
                News Network.

SEC. 222. BUDGET OF THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK.

  (a) In General.--The annual budget of the Freedom News Network shall 
consist of the following:
          (1) A grant described in section 110, consisting of the total 
        grants to RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle 
        East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated before the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
          (2) Any grants or transfers from other Federal agencies.
          (3) Other funds described in subsection (b).
  (b) Other Sources of Funding.--The Freedom News Network may, to the 
extent authorized by its board and in accordance with applicable laws 
and the mission of the Freedom News Network under section 212 and 
eligible broadcast areas under section 6, collect and utilize non-
Federal funds, except that the Freedom News Network may not accept 
funds from the following:
          (1) Any foreign governments or foreign government officials.
          (2) Any agents, representatives, or surrogates of any foreign 
        government or foreign government official.
          (3) Any foreign-owned corporations or any subsidiaries of any 
        foreign-owned corporation, regardless of whether such 
        subsidiary is foreign-owned.
          (4) Any foreign national or individual who is not either a 
        citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States.
  (c) Annual Strategic Plan of the Freedom News Network.--The Freedom 
News Network shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
and the United States International Communications Agency an annual 
strategic plan to satisfy the requirements specified in section 110. 
Each such strategic plan shall outline the following:
          (1) The strategic goals and objectives of the Freedom News 
        Network for the upcoming fiscal year.
          (2) The alignment of the Freedom News Network's resources 
        with the strategic goals and objectives referred to in 
        paragraph (1).
          (3) Clear benchmarks that establish the progress made towards 
        achieving the strategic goals and objectives referred to in 
        paragraph (1).
          (4) A plan to monitor and evaluate the success of the Freedom 
        News Network's broadcasting efforts.
          (5) A reflective analysis on the activities on the past 
        fiscal year.
          (6) Any changes to facility leases, contracts, or ownership 
        that would result in the relocation of staff or personnel.
  (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
administrative and managerial costs for operation of the Freedom News 
Network should be kept to a minimum and, to the maximum extent 
feasible, should not exceed the costs that would have been incurred if 
RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting 
Networks, Incorporated had been operated as independent grantees or as 
a Federal entity within the Voice of America.

SEC. 223. ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

  (a) Surplus Properties.--In order to assist the Freedom News Network 
in carrying out the provisions of this title, any agency or 
instrumentality of the United States may sell, loan, lease, or grant 
property (including interests therein) to the Freedom News Network as 
necessary.
  (b) Facilities and Broadcasting Infrastructure.--The United States 
International Communications Agency and the Freedom News Network shall 
negotiate an International Cooperative Administrative Support Service 
(ICASS) agreement or memorandum of understanding permitting the 
continued use of technological infrastructure for broadcasting and 
information dissemination, except that the Freedom News Network may 
choose to procure such services through negotiated contracts with 
private-sector providers.

SEC. 224. REPORTS BY THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE 
                    DEPARTMENT OF STATE; AUDITS BY GAO.

  (a) IG Reports.--The Inspector General of the Department of State 
shall, as appropriate, submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees reports on management practices of the Freedom News Network, 
including financial reports on unobligated balances.
  (b) GAO Audits.--
          (1) In general.--Financial transactions of the Freedom News 
        Network, as such relate to functions carried out under this 
        Act, may be audited by the Government Accountability Office in 
        accordance with such principles and procedures and under such 
        rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Comptroller 
        General of the United States. Any such audit shall be conducted 
        at the place or places where accounts of the Freedom News 
        Network are normally kept.
          (2) Access.--Representatives of the Government Accountability 
        Office shall have access to all books, accounts, records, 
        reports, files, papers, and property belonging to or in use by 
        the Freedom News Network pertaining to the financial 
        transactions referred to in paragraph (1) and necessary to 
        facilitate an audit in accordance with such paragraph. All such 
        books, accounts, records, reports, files, papers, and property 
        of the Freedom News Network shall remain in the possession and 
        custody of the Freedom News Network.
  (c) Transfer of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
one percent of the funds made available by the United States 
International Communications Agency shall be transferred to the 
Inspector General of the Department of State to cover the expenses of 
carrying out the activities of the Inspector General under this 
section.

SEC. 225. AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL 
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1948.

  The United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 is 
amended--
          (1) in title V (22 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.), by striking 
        ``Broadcasting Board of Governors'' and inserting ``United 
        States International Communications Agency'' each place it 
        appears;
          (2) by amending paragraph (1) of section 501(b) (22 U.S.C. 
        1461(b)) to read as follows:
  ``(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary and the 
United States International Communications Agency may, upon request and 
reimbursement of the reasonable costs incurred in fulfilling such a 
request, make available, in the United States, motion pictures, films, 
video, audio, and other materials disseminated abroad pursuant to this 
Act. Any reimbursement pursuant to this paragraph shall be credited to 
the applicable appropriation account of the Department of State or the 
United States International Communications Agency, as appropriate. The 
Secretary and the United States International Communications Agency 
shall issue necessary regulations.'';
          (3) by repealing sections 504 and 505 (22 U.S.C. 1464 and 
        1464a);
          (4) by redesignating section 506 (22 U.S.C. 1464b) as section 
        504;
          (5) in section 504, as so redesignated, in subsection (c), in 
        the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``Board'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``Agency'';
          (6) in clause (iii) of section 604(d)(1)(A) (22 U.S.C. 
        1469(d)(1)(A)), by striking ``Broadcasting Board of Governors'' 
        and inserting ``United States International Communications 
        Agency'';
          (7) in paragraph (3) of section 801 (22 U.S.C. 1471), by 
        striking ``Director of the United States Information Agency'' 
        and inserting ``Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
        International Communications Agency'';
          (8) in subsection (b) of section 802 (22 U.S.C. 1472)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``Director of 
                the United States Information Agency'' and inserting 
                ``Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
                International Communications Agency''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``Broadcasting 
                Board of Governors'' and inserting ``United States 
                International Communications Agency''; and
          (9) in paragraph (1) of section 804 (22 U.S.C. 1474), by 
        striking ``Director of the United States Information Agency'' 
        and inserting ``Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
        International Communications Agency'';
          (10) in section 810(b) (22 U.S.C. 1475e(b))--
                  (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``United States Information Agency'' and 
                inserting ``United States International Communications 
                Agency''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``International 
                Broadcasting Bureau'' and inserting ``United States 
                International Communications Agency''; and
          (11) in subsection (a) of section 1011 (22 U.S.C. 1442), by 
        striking ``Director of the United States Information Agency'' 
        and inserting ``Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
        International Communications Agency''.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. PRESERVATION OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY OBJECTIVES.

  The Chief Executive Officer of the United States International 
Communications Agency and the Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom 
News Network shall each establish procedures to vet and monitor 
employees of each such agency for affiliations to terrorist 
organizations, foreign governments, or agents of foreign governments to 
protect against espionage, sabotage, foreign propaganda messaging, and 
other subversive activities that undermine United States national 
security objectives.

                          Summary and Purpose

    H.R. 4490, the United States International Communications 
Reform Act of 2014, reforms the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
(``BBG''). This legislation clarifies the missions of the 
various broadcasting entities, consolidates the broadcast 
entities based on organizational mission, and aligns resources 
accordingly. The United States must have the ability to 
communicate effectively with foreign audiences, support 
indigenous reform efforts, and facilitate the free flow of 
information. Currently, the BBG cannot effectively fulfill 
their missions because of its dysfunctional organizational 
structure.
    This legislation makes clear that the Voice of America 
(``VOA'') is an indispensible element of United States public 
diplomacy efforts by serving as a consistently reliable and 
authoritative source of news on the United States, its 
policies, people, and the international developments that 
affect the United States. The VOA will consolidate with the 
International Broadcasting Bureau into a renamed Federal 
agency--the United States International Communications Agency 
(``USICA''). This legislation draws a clear distinction between 
the mission of the VOA to provide news and information on the 
United States, its policies its people, and the international 
developments that affect the United States and the mission of 
the so-called ``surrogate'' broadcasters (Radio Free Europe/
Radio Liberty (``RFE/RL''), Radio Free Asia (``RFA''), and the 
Middle East Broadcasting Networks (``MBN'')) to provide 
uncensored local and regional news and information to people in 
societies without an indigenous free media. This legislation 
consolidates the surrogate broadcasters into a single, private, 
nonprofit organization with its own board separate from the 
board of the United States International Communications 
Agency--referred to in this bill as the Freedom News Network 
(``FNN'').
    Among other things, this bill includes several mandates: 
the development of a platform to facilitate content sharing 
between the USICA and the FNN; the sharing of strategic 
planning documents produced by the USICA and FNN as well as 
coordination on at least a quarterly basis with the Department 
of State; the development of a transition plan for the 
realignment of USICA and FNN language services and plans for 
organizational restructuring of USICA and FNN; an end to 
contracting practices that violate the Federal Acquisition 
Regulation; and limits on senior level pay and a temporary 
hiring freeze for senior level positions within the USICA.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    In 1999, the United States Information Agency (``USIA'') 
was dissolved by the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring 
Act. USIA's broadcasting functions were absorbed into the BBG 
which was established to supervise the activities of the VOA, 
RFE/RL, and RFA. The BBG has been criticized by the State 
Department Office of the Inspector General (``OIG'') and 
Government Accountability Office (``GAO'') for structural, 
functional, and employee morale problems. In January 2013, the 
OIG described a highly dysfunctional board structure. The GAO 
also found there was significant overlap among the BBG's 
languages services and that the cost of overlap was not 
systematically considered. Secretary Hillary Clinton echoed the 
OIG and GAO findings in her testimony before the House 
Committee on Foreign Affairs on January 23, 2013 when she 
stated, ``Our Broadcasting Board of Governors is practically 
defunct in terms of its capacity to be able to tell a message 
around the world. So we're abdicating the ideological arena, 
and we need to get back into it.''
    This legislation reforms the BBG by addressing the core 
issues that have plagued the organization, rejecting a ``quick-
fix'' approach that addresses only superficial problems.
Congressional Directives
    The committee recognizes that the problems of the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors (``BBG'') cannot solely be 
attributed to the many years of organizational mismanagement. 
The lack of institutional flexibility resulting from rigid and 
often conflicting Congressional directives also has diminished 
the BBG's capacity. Historically, Congressional mandates that 
link mediums of communication to certain funding levels have 
prevented the BBG from shifting resources as mediums become 
more or less effective and efficient. Such mandates also put 
constraints on workforce flexibility, thereby preventing the 
BBG from rapidly aligning personnel skill sets with the needs 
of the organization.
    The United States Information Agency (``USIA'') previously 
kept a prioritized list of target audiences and language 
services based on national security interests. This list was 
developed jointly with the Department of State with input from 
the National Security Council. With the dissolution of the USIA 
and subsequent creation of the BBG, this list was abandoned. As 
a result, Congress has taken the lead in determining the 
priority of language service programming.
    This Committee believes that the USICA and FNN must develop 
clear strategies that articulate their goals and objectives, 
including qualitative and quantitative metrics for evaluating 
success. The failure to provide a clear strategy in the past 
has necessitated Congressional directives, such as specific 
funding levels for language services or initiatives, which 
ultimately limits the organization's flexibility and 
responsiveness. If both agencies achieve their stated goals and 
objectives, Congressional concerns could be alleviated and 
diminish the need for directives.
Mission of the Voice of America
    The Voice of America is entirely funded by U.S. taxpayers 
to communicate with international audiences. It was established 
in 1942 as part of the Office of War Information and later 
moved into the USIA where it remained for forty-six years. When 
the USIA was abolished, the VOA was subsumed by the newly 
created BBG where it has remained. Throughout these various 
iterations, there have been differing interpretations of the 
VOA mission or ``charter.'' That charter, promulgated in 1976 
reads:

        (1) VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and 
        authoritative source of news. VOA news will be 
        accurate, objective, and comprehensive.
        (2) VOA will represent America, not any single segment 
        of American society, and will therefore present a 
        balanced and comprehensive projection of significant 
        American thought and institutions.
        (3) VOA will present the policies of the United States 
        clearly and effectively, and will also present 
        responsible discussions and opinion on these policies.

    VOA's emphases on the second and third elements of the 
charter have varied over time. In recent years, its programming 
has reflected an interpretation of the charter that favors 
greater autonomy from the U.S. foreign policy apparatus as 
demonstrated by a reduction in the number of ``editorials'' 
that present the policies of the United States clearly and 
effectively (as mandated in section 303(b) of P.L. 103-236) and 
the diminution of programming that covers ``the official 
activities of government, Federal or State, including 
congressional proceedings and news briefings of any agency of 
the Executive branch'' (as authorized in section 505(c)(3) of 
P.L. 80-402)
    The VOA charter also has been interpreted to provide a 
wider geographic scope that has led the VOA to fill surrogate 
roles in Africa, Latin America, and other areas while RFE/RL, 
RFA, and the MBN have been geographically limited. It is the 
committee's position that the Voice of America will no longer 
conduct ``surrogate'' broadcasting or broadcasting that 
provides uncensored local and regional news to people in 
societies without a free media; that is the role of the Freedom 
News Network.
    In order to address the BBG's dysfunction and reduce 
overlap with surrogate broadcasters, the mission of the VOA 
must be clarified. This legislation takes the position that 
credible and accurate news funded by the United States 
government is not an oxymoron and restates the standards 
contained in the United States International Broadcasting Act 
of 1994 (P.L. 103-236). The committee believes that the values 
and interests of the United States are advanced by providing 
access to accurate news and information; supporting freedom of 
opinion and expression and respect for human rights. The VOA is 
not news like any other; its success is not defined by listener 
market share, ratings, or profit and its audience is 
international and highly diverse.
    Also, the VOA is funded by the United States Government to 
present the policies of United States effectively, including 
editorials, pursuant to the VOA charter and the United States 
International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-236). In 
supporting the broad foreign policies of the United States, the 
VOA is to serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative 
source for news and information on the United States, its 
policies, its people, and major international developments to 
the people of the world.
    The presentation of U.S. foreign policy, as intended in 
current law and clarified in this legislation, necessitates 
close coordination with the Department of State, especially the 
office of the Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Public 
Diplomacy. This legislation reiterates the mandate, carried in 
current law, that the Voice of America (as part of the USICA) 
meet with the State Department to ensure consistency with the 
broad foreign policy objectives of the United States while 
maintaining a clear distinction between the two agencies. 
Coordination between the VOA and the State Department is 
mandated to occur quarterly but should be done on a continual 
basis.
Journalistic Integrity
    The credibility of VOA and FNN news broadcasts is 
paramount. Therefore, the committee believes strongly that, 
above all, the journalistic integrity of the broadcasting 
employees of the USICA and the FNN must be respected, supported 
and maintained. Journalists should not be pressured to present 
news or information that is factually inaccurate or 
deliberately deceptive. The highest journalistic standards 
shall be respected at all times and both the VOA and FNN shall 
produce news and information that is consistently objective, 
accurate, credible, and comprehensive. VOA and FNN audiences 
must be confident in the truthfulness and accuracy of the news 
broadcasts before they will accept as legitimate information 
presented in other facets of the programming. The boards of 
USICA and FNN should protect the credibility of the content 
produced and uphold high standards of journalism, ensuring 
journalistic integrity is preserved.
Management of the United States International Communications Agency
    The problems of the current BBG management structure have 
been detailed in numerous places, including by the Office of 
the Inspector General in January 2013. As a Federal agency, the 
BBG is somewhat unique in its management structure. It is 
governed by a Board consisting of nine, part-time, 
presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed individuals who 
are charged with the day-to-day agency management.
    However, it has been very clear that a part-time Board of 
this nature cannot effectively manage a Federal agency. To 
address this problem, this legislation reduces the role of the 
Board by delegating many of the duties currently assigned to 
the Board to a new Chief Executive Officer (``CEO''). The 
reassignment of duties from the Board to the CEO is a 
reiteration of the legislation contained in S.1372 (113th 
Congress). The Chief Executive Officer will be chosen by and 
serve at the pleasure of the Board and is empowered to act as 
Agency head, supervising the day-to-day operations of the 
USICA. This legislation will allow the agency to continue to 
function even when the Board does not have a quorum--a 
debilitating problem that the BBG encountered during the summer 
of 2013.
    The CEO is also empowered to select the Director of the 
Voice of America. The clarified mission of the Voice of America 
(``VOA'') necessitates that the VOA Director have relevant 
experience, such as managing a large organization or working in 
the field of journalism.
    The legislation also prohibits Board members from remaining 
in their positions beyond the expiration of their term. 
Currently, members may remain on the board despite their term 
having expired, which reduces the impetus for the President to 
nominate new members or re-nominate members for a new term.
Realignment of Personnel within the U.S. International Communications 
        Agency
    The clarified mission of the VOA and the consolidation of 
the VOA and the International Broadcasting Bureau will 
necessitate a realignment of the workforce. Section 111 of the 
legislation takes two steps to reduce the top-heavy nature of 
the USICA. First, it includes a cap on pay that prohibits the 
creation of new Senior Executive Service (``SES'') positions. 
Current SES employees will not be affected by this provision.
    Second, there is a five-year hiring freeze on positions at 
the GS-14 and GS-15 levels. This freeze would impact positions 
that become available due to retirement, resignation, or other 
causes. There is a waiver included to ensure that critical 
positions of the organization remain filled and to allow the 
USICA to hire individuals with skills that they need but 
currently do not have. As positions at the high end of the 
General Schedule pay scale become available, the Office of 
Personnel Management and the USICA will have the opportunity to 
reclassify these positions to better address the new needs and 
mission of the organization.
Voice of America Language Services
    The VOA currently conducts broadcasting of a ``surrogate'' 
nature to parts of the world not covered by RFE/RL, RFA, and 
the MBN. Given the clarified mission of the VOA, it will be 
incumbent upon the new FNN to initiate services to parts of 
Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and elsewhere as the VOA 
transitions to programming that conforms to its mission as 
clarified in the bill.
    This legislation requires that the FNN and the USICA 
develop a plan for the smooth transition from VOA surrogate 
broadcasting to the FNN where applicable. We anticipate that 
this transition will necessitate that the FNN hire additional 
staff and journalists, many of whom may be currently employed 
by the VOA. To the extent feasible, the FNN should look to hire 
employees from VOA services before exploring other options.
    The legislation includes an exception for VOA programming 
to Cuba, which is intended to ensure that the Radio and 
Television Marti services continue programming and content 
production consistent with the mission and activities described 
in the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act (P.L. 98-111) and the 
Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (P.L. 101-246). The 
clarification of the Voice of America mission should have no 
impact on the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
    The committee believes that VOA programming in English is 
critical and should be balanced with programming designed to 
reach significant populations in countries in their local 
language or dialects wherever possible, including where there 
are native, primary languages in addition to a secondary or 
national language understood by an ethnic, cultural, or 
religious minority.
    With respect to broadcasting to Pakistan, the committee 
encourages VOA to assess the feasibility and cost of initiating 
broadcasting in the Sindhi language in Pakistan and include its 
assessment as part of the report required in section 112. VOA 
broadcasting in Sindhi has bipartisan support in the House 
Foreign Affairs Committee. In 2011, the committee unanimously 
approved legislation to require that $1.5 million of VOA's 
funds be used only for Sindhi language programming. In 2013, 
the House Appropriations Committee approved report language 
encouraging VOA to examine the feasibility and cost of 
initiating broadcasting in the Sindhi language in Pakistan and 
be prepared to report on its findings during the committee's 
hearings on the fiscal year 2015 budget request.
Federal Employment
    To the extent that the organizational restructuring of the 
United States International Communications Agency leads to a 
reduction in the Federal civil service personnel level below 
the current combined Federal civil service personnel level of 
the Voice of America and the International Broadcasting Bureau, 
all Federal civil service employees who opt to remain in 
Federal service should retain their Federal employment and be 
transferred to other Federal agencies as needed, when possible.
    Current Federal employees of the Voice of America or the 
International Broadcasting Bureau (``IBB'') whose positions are 
eliminated during consolidation should be given every 
opportunity to be reassigned within the USICA and to the 
maximum extent possible be reassigned to similar positions 
within the VOA. In any transfer of function plan connected with 
the reorganization, the positions of any contract employees or 
personal services contractors presently employed in the 
language services of the Agency, including English, shall be 
eliminated prior to the elimination of positions filled by 
staff with Federal status.
Grants to the Freedom News Network
    The USICA will continue to make an annual grant to the 
grantee organizations (now the FNN). This legislation mandates 
that base budgeting for the FNN come via a grant from the USICA 
to ensure that the two agencies meet, at least annually, to 
discuss strategic planning and programming. Substantive 
meetings are more likely to occur if resources are part of the 
discussion.
    The committee believes that FNN's compliance with the grant 
agreement will require significant oversight at the time of its 
inception, and that a direct appropriation from Congress to the 
FNN--rather than a grant from the USICA--would reduce such 
oversight. In future years, there may be cause to change the 
funding mechanism for the Freedom News Network either by 
changing the grantor or through a direct Congressional 
appropriation.
    The continuation of funding to the FNN via a grant from the 
USICA is not a pretext for the USICA to micromanage the 
activities of the FNN. The FNN shall develop its own budget and 
strategic plan which includes methods of monitoring and 
evaluation as well as target audiences (or language services). 
This legislation requires that the FNN coordinate its strategic 
plan and budget with the Department of State and the USICA, but 
coordination should not be interpreted to mean that the FNN 
requires approval; the FNN is an entirely independent private 
corporation that will determine its activities and programming 
as it sees fit. If those activities and programming are not 
consistent with the broad foreign policy goals of the U.S. or 
deviate from the FNN mission, Congress via the USICA is 
empowered to provide funds to an alternative organization.
Mission of the Freedom News Network
    The FNN shall continue the surrogate mission of RFE/RL, 
RFA, and the MBN--to provide uncensored local news and 
information to people in countries where a free media does not 
exist. This mission is viewed by the committee as complementary 
to but distinct from the mission of the VOA.
    In fulfilling its mission, the FNN should augment projects 
and programs conducted by other Federal grantees, such as the 
National Endowment for Democracy, the International Republican 
Institute, and the National Democratic Institute. There is an 
obvious synergy between the goals and objectives of all these 
grantees and therefore collaboration, such as training local 
journalists, should be encouraged and strengthened. 
Collaboration should also increase between the FNN and the 
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the Department 
of State and the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and 
Humanitarian Assistance at USAID.
    To facilitate that collaboration, the FNN is strongly 
encouraged to apply for grants or transfers from other Federal 
sources where activities align with its mission. For example, 
the committee anticipates that Federal funding could be granted 
to FNN for journalistic training. In writing the organization's 
bylaws, the board of the FNN shall determine the appropriate 
processes for seeking outside funding.
Management of the Freedom News Network
    The FNN shall be led by a Chief Executive Officer and a 
board, modeled after the management structure of the National 
Endowment for Democracy (``NED''). To avoid problems associated 
with the BBG, the committee feels strongly that the FNN should 
have a board that is completely private--with no individuals 
that work for the Federal Government.
    The Chief Executive Officer shall be chosen by a board 
consisting of nine members including a Chair. The members of 
the board shall be selected by the Presidents of RFE/RL, 
Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting 
Networks in close consultation with the Chairs and Ranking 
Members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. It is the expectation of 
this Committee that the Presidents of RFE/RL, Incorporated, 
Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks will 
not propose candidates for the board that are objectionable to 
the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 
Board members must be ``well qualified'' where that term is 
understood to mean a demonstrated and well-respected career in 
the promotion of democracy and an understanding of 
international broadcasting. Board members should not represent 
the narrow parochial interests of RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio 
Free Asia, or the Middle East Broadcasting Networks--they 
should be independent and objective in their official capacity.
    The Congress retains the right to disapprove the selections 
of first board through enactment of a joint resolution of 
disapproval. All subsequent board members should be filled in a 
``self-replenishing'' manner as is the practice at the NED.
    This legislation does not include provisions on how the FNN 
will function, its structure, or its bylaws because it is the 
committee's belief that a private organization should make 
those decisions for itself. Congressional directives in these 
areas would ultimately be counterproductive and invite a level 
of micromanagement that would undermine the integrity of the 
organization. While the committee did not require a particular 
structure for the organization, the intent in consolidating the 
three grantee organizations (RFE/RL, RFA, and the MBN) was to 
create a single organization in all senses of the term--merging 
staff, management, human resources, administrative functions, 
and collocation--in short, every function and operation of the 
three grantees should be consolidated into a single 
organization. While retaining individual brand names is 
essential, the committee believes that a completely 
consolidated organization will be more effective and efficient 
than three distinct organizations.
    The committee recognizes that a complete consolidation will 
take time and this legislation provides up to three years from 
the date of enactment. It may not be efficient or effective to 
have all staff co-locate, and the Chief Executive Officer of 
the FNN should determine where maintaining separate offices is 
appropriate.
Operations of the Freedom News Network
    The FNN has a global mandate and should prioritize 
programming to countries where media freedom is most inhibited; 
programming should not be limited to the regions currently 
serviced by RFE/RL, RFA, or the MBN. This legislation includes 
provisions outlining how the FNN should coordinate with the 
Department of State and the USICA to identify target 
populations and prioritize language services. Ultimately, the 
determination of how to allocate the resources of the FNN will 
be determined by its Chief Executive Officer.
Public-Private Partnerships
    Both the USICA and the FNN should leverage public-private 
partnerships to the maximum amount appropriate. The technical 
capacity to operate a global news operation is expensive and 
partnerships that lower costs should be utilized. Public-
private partnerships should also be used to obtain content for 
programming. The USICA and the FNN should make every effort to 
acquire content that supports their respective missions through 
creative and innovative programming in order to reach target 
audiences.
    Consistent with declaration (18) in Section 2 of this bill, 
the committee encourages the USICA to work with the private 
sector, including artists to highlight art that promotes peace, 
especially in countries facing high levels of terrorism. This 
could be accomplished by working with the music industry to 
recognize musicians whose music seeks to counter violence and 
extremism.
    In fulfilling the mandate set forth in section 2420 of P.L. 
105-277, the USICA shall look to partner with private sector 
content producers to provide programming ``on the individual 
States of the United States . . . including (1) information on 
the products, tourism, and cultural, and educational facilities 
of each States; (2) information on the potential for trade with 
each State; and discussion with State officials with respect to 
the matters described in paragraphs (1) and (2).''
Counterintelligence Mandate
    Title III of this legislation was included to ensure that 
all components of U.S. international broadcasting are protected 
from the efforts of foreign powers to penetrate the broadcast 
services in order to disrupt their mission or otherwise 
undermine their effectiveness.
    Infiltration of foreign agents could pose a threat to 
``stringers'' that work in dangerous or repressive countries, 
supplying information about the plans and activities of the 
agency, details about fellow employees and their relatives, or 
other sensitive information. Foreign agents may also manipulate 
broadcast content and undermine U.S. broadcasting efforts by 
covering irrelevant topics, or by not refuting regime 
disinformation. Foreign agents also pose a threat to workforce 
harmony and may seek to influence the hiring of additional 
foreign agents or encourage the illegitimate dismissal of 
employees.
    The committee believes strongly that protecting the 
integrity of the USICA and the FNN from foreign agent 
penetration is the responsibility of those organizations and 
that they should institute rigorous policies and procedures, 
such as regular security training, to ensure the safety of its 
employees as well as maintain the credibility of its 
programming.

                                Hearings

    During the 114th Congress, the committee held the following 
hearings related to the content of H.R. 4490:

          March 13, 2014 full committee hearing on ``Advancing 
        U.S. Interests Abroad: The FY 2015 Foreign Affairs 
        Budget'' (Hon. John F. Kerry, Secretary of State, U.S. 
        Department of State).

          June 26, 2013 full committee hearing on 
        ``Broadcasting Board of Governors: An Agency 
        'Defunct''' (Hon. James K. Glassman (Founding Executive 
        Director, George W. Bush Institute; former Chairman of 
        the Broadcasting Board of Governors and Under Secretary 
        of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs); Hon. 
        S. Enders Wimbush (Executive Director for Strategy & 
        Development, National Bureau of Asian Research; former 
        Governor of the Broadcasting Board of Governors); and 
        Hon. D. Jeff Hirschberg (Chairman, The Northeast 
        Maglev, LLC; former Governor of the Broadcasting Board 
        of Governors)).

                        Committee Consideration

    On April 30, 2014, the Foreign Affairs Committee marked up 
H.R. 4490, pursuant to notice, in open session. By unanimous 
consent, the Chairman called up a bipartisan package of 5 
amendments that were considered en bloc, and agreed to by voice 
vote. H.R. 4490, as amended, was agreed to by voice vote, and 
ordered favorably reported to the House by unanimous consent.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of House Rule XIII, the 
committee reports that the findings and recommendations of the 
committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) 
of House Rule X, are incorporated in the descriptive portions 
of this report, particularly the ``Summary and Purpose,'' 
``Background and Need for Legislation,'' and ``Section-by-
Section Analysis'' sections.

      New Budget Authority, Tax Expenditures, and Federal Mandates

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of House Rule XIII and 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (P.L. 104-4), the committee 
adopts as its own the estimate of new budget authority, 
entitlement authority, tax expenditure or revenues, and Federal 
mandates contained in the cost estimate prepared by the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, June 23, 2014.

Hon. Edward R. Royce, Chairman,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4490, the United 
States International Communications Reform Act of 2014.If you 
wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to 
provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita D'Monte, who can 
be reached at 226-2840.
            Sincerely,
                                      Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure

cc:
        Honorable Eliot L. Engel
        Ranking Member
H.R. 4490--United States International Communications Reform Act of 
        2014.
    As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign 
Affairs on April 30, 2014.

                                SUMMARY

    H.R. 4490 would make several changes to U.S. non-military 
international broadcasting and would permanently authorize 
appropriations for that purpose. It would consolidate into two 
separate entities the federal and nonfederal entities currently 
providing such broadcasting, amend the principles and mission 
underlying international broadcasting, and place restrictions 
on hiring personnel at the consolidated federal entity.
    CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4490 would cost $3.7 
billion over the 2015-2019 period, assuming appropriation of 
the necessary amounts. Pay-as-you-go procedures apply to this 
legislation because it would affect direct spending; however, 
CBO estimates that those effects would not be significant. 
Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
    H.R. 4490 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.

                ESTIMATED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

    The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 4490 is shown in the 
following table. The costs of this legislation fall within 
budget function 150 (international affairs).

                                     By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            2015     2016     2017     2018     2019   2015-2019
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Estimated Authorization Level                                 742      760      778      798      822     3,900
Estimated Outlays                                             623      750      771      791      814     3,749
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           BASIS OF ESTIMATE

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 4490 will be 
enacted late in fiscal year 2014, that the necessary amounts 
will be appropriated each year, and that outlays will follow 
historical spending patterns for the affected programs.
Spending Subject to Appropriation
    CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4490 would require 
appropriations for U.S. non-military international broadcasting 
averaging $780 million annually over the 2015-2019 period. In 
comparison to the 2014 appropriated level of $725 million, 
those amounts include adjustments for expected inflation and 
savings generated primarily from the consolidation of private 
broadcasters. The bill also would remove the current 
requirement that all funds provided for such broadcasting must 
be authorized each fiscal year. The bill thus provides a 
permanent authorization to spend funds for those purposes. 
Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates 
that implementing the bill would cost $3.7 billion over the 
next five years.
    H.R. 4490 would make several changes to the mission and 
structure of international broadcasting. Under current law, the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) oversees federal and 
private entities (known as the ``grantees'') that provide or 
support such broadcasting. The bill would abolish the BBG and 
consolidate the federal and private entities into two entities 
with separate management and boards. It also would amend the 
principles and mission underlying international broadcasting 
and restrict broadcasting to undemocratic countries and regions 
that lack free and widely accessible media. Finally, the bill 
would provide waiver authority in situations that are in the 
national security interest.
    Federal Entities. The federal entities--the Voice of 
America (VOA), which includes the Office of Cuba Broadcasting 
(OCB), and the International Broadcasting Bureau--would be 
consolidated into the United States International 
Communications Agency (USICA). VOA's public diplomacy mission 
would be restated to include supporting U.S. foreign policy 
objectives and providing news on the United States, its 
policies, and its people. The bill would not alter OCB's 
mission or operations. Under the bill, USICA would make annual 
grants to the private entities in amounts similar to recent 
grants from existing entities. Finally, the bill would place 
restrictions on salaries and hiring personnel at USICA, but the 
agency could waive the restrictions on hiring after consulting 
with the Congress.
    Based on information from the Administration, CBO expects 
that the new federal entity would consolidate operations in 
2015 and have insignificant costs and savings related to that 
consolidation. The bill does not make specific changes to VOA's 
programming, and CBO cannot determine how the changes to VOA's 
mission under the bill would affect its programming costs. On 
one hand, VOA could cut certain services and programs that 
overlap with broadcasting provided by other entities. On the 
other hand, VOA could revive its Arabic service to more 
comprehensively fulfill its mission under the bill 
(broadcasting in Arabic is currently provided by the Middle 
East Broadcasting Networks, which is a private entity). 
Finally, CBO estimates that the restrictions on salaries and 
hiring personnel would have insignificant savings each year.
    Grantees. The grantees--Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 
Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks--would 
consolidate into the Freedom News Network (FNN). They would 
share a headquarters and management structure but retain their 
distinct programming and geographical presence. The FNN would 
continue the grantees' current mission of providing uncensored 
local news and information to countries and regions that do not 
have an indigenous free media.
    The grantees considered consolidating in 2012 and prepared 
an internal plan detailing the necessary steps as well as 
related costs and savings. That proposal contemplated 
consolidation within a year; however, H.R. 4490 would allow the 
grantees three years to fully consolidate. Based on information 
from the grantees, CBO expects that they would consolidate over 
the 2015-2017 period and that related costs and savings would 
be small and offsetting in 2015 and 2016. Starting in 2017, CBO 
estimates that consolidation would lead to savings of about $5 
million each year as leases on unnecessary office space are not 
renewed and unneeded positions in management and technical 
support that fall open due to attrition remain unfilled.
Direct Spending
    Section 133 would authorize USICA to retain the proceeds 
from sales of its facilities and equipment. Section 222 would 
allow FNN to accept funding from certain nonfederal sources to 
supplement annual grants from USICA. Based on information from 
the BBG and grantees, CBO estimates that any such amounts 
raised would be spent in the year they were collected and, 
thus, that enacting this provision would have insignificant 
effects on direct spending.

              INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE-SECTOR IMPACT

    H.R. 4490 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in UMRA and would not affect the budgets of 
state, local, or tribal governments.

                         ESTIMATE PREPARED BY:

Federal Costs: Sunita D'Monte
Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: J'nell L. 
        Blanco
Impact on the Private Sector: Marin Burnett

                         ESTIMATE APPROVED BY:

Theresa Gullo
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    H.R. 4490 is intended to reform the structure of U.S. 
international broadcasting operations, to improve the 
effectiveness and clarify the missions of the organizations 
that comprise the Broadcasting Board of Governors (``BBG''). To 
achieve this goal, the Act consolidates the Voice of America 
and the Federal institutions of the BBG and rebrands the 
consolidated entity as the United States International 
Communications Agency (``USICA''). USICA will be directed by a 
Chief Executive Officer, overseen by an advisory board of 
presidentially appointed-Senate confirmed individuals. The 
three private broadcasting corporations (Radio Free Europe-
Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East 
Broadcasting Networks) will consolidate into a single private 
corporation called the Freedom News Network, which will be 
governed by a Chief Executive Officer and a private board--
modeled after the National Endowment for Democracy. Each 
organization will have a distinct but complementary mission. 
The USICA will provide news and information on the United 
States, its policies, people, and culture as well as 
international news to the peoples of the world. The FNN will 
provide uncensored local and regional news to people in 
societies where an indigenous free media does not exist.

                    Congressional Accountability Act

    H.R. 4490 does not apply to terms and conditions of 
employment or to access to public services or accommodations 
within the Legislative Branch.

                        New Advisory Committees

    H.R. 4490 does not establish or authorize any new advisory 
committees.

                         Earmark Identification

    H.R. 4490 contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax 
benefits, or limited tariff benefits as described in clauses 
9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of House Rule XXI.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the committee finds the authority for 
this legislation in article I, section 8 of the Constitution.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

    Section 1. Short title. This section provides that the 
short title of this Act is the `United States International 
Communications Reform Act of 2014.'
    Section 2. Findings and Declarations. This section outlines 
the broad purposes and mission of United States international 
broadcasting as well as the key findings of the relevant recent 
reports produced by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
    Section 3. Purposes. This section articulates the 
justification for this reform Act.
    Section 4. Definitions. This section defines some of the 
key terminology used throughout the Act.
    Section 5. Broadcasting Standards. This section restates 
the broadcasting standards contained in the United States 
International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-236).
    Section 6. Eligible Broadcast Areas. This section limits 
the target broadcast areas to states that are deemed 
``undemocratic'' or where a free press is limited. A waiver may 
allow programming to democratic states if it is in the national 
security interest of the United States. A report detailing 
implementation of this restriction is required 180 days after 
enactment.

   TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE UNITED 
           STATES FEDERAL INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY

Subtitle A--Establishment of the United States International 
        Communications Agency
    Section 101. Existence within the Executive Branch. This 
section makes clear that the new United States International 
Communications Agency will be a federal agency within the 
Executive branch of government and consist of the consolidation 
of the Voice of America and the International Broadcasting 
Bureau.
    Section 102. Establishment of the Board of the United 
States International Communications Agency. This section states 
the structure, composition, and compensation of the Board of 
the United States International Communications Agency. This 
section is largely a restatement of the structure, composition, 
and compensation of the current Board of the Broadcasting Board 
of Governors as outlined in section 304 of the United States 
International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-236).
    Section 103. Authorities and duties of the Board of the 
United States International Communications Agency. This section 
outlines the authorities of the Board of the U.S. International 
Communications Agency. The authorities of the Board are a 
reduction from the authorities of the Board of the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors and consistent with the reforms contained in 
previous legislative proposals.
    Section 104. Establishment of the Chief Executive Officers 
of the United States International Communications Agency. This 
section creates the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 
within the United States International Communications Agency. 
It includes a description of the qualifications of the CEO, 
annual salary, and the mechanism for removal.
    Section 105. Authorities and duties of the Chief Executive 
Officers of the United States International Communications 
Agency. This section outlines the authorities of the CEO, 
consistent with the language contained in previous legislative 
proposals.
    Section 106. Role of the Secretary of State. This section 
restates section 306 of the United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-236) while deleting 
reference to ``Worldnet Programming'' which no longer exists.
    Section 107. Role of the Inspector General. This section 
restates section 304(a)(3) of the United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-236) while deleting 
reference to the ``Broadcasting Board of Governors'' and 
replacing with the United States International Communications 
Agency.
    Section 108. Enhanced Coordination Between the United 
States International Communications Agency and the Freedom News 
Network; Program Content Sharing; Grantee Independence. This 
section mandates senior level meetings between the U.S. 
International Communications Agency and the consolidated 
grantee organization (``Freedom News Network'') to discuss 
strategic direction, language services, funding, areas for 
potential collaboration, and reduction of program overlap. It 
mandates the sharing of all strategic planning documents, 
audience surveys, and any documents detailing the monitoring 
and evaluation of programming. It also makes clear that the 
United States International Communications Agency will have no 
involvement or the appearance of involvement in the daily 
operations, decisions, and management of the Freedom News 
Network.
    Section 109. Enhanced Coordination Among the United States 
International Communications Agency, the Freedom News Network, 
and the Department of State; Freedom News Network Independence. 
This section mandates senior level meetings between the U.S. 
International Communications Agency, Freedom News Network, and 
the Department of State including the Undersecretary for Public 
Affairs and Public Diplomacy to review and evaluate 
broadcasting activities and determine long-term strategies. The 
purpose of this coordination is to ensure that the United 
States International Communications Agency is supporting the 
public diplomacy mission of the United States as defined in 
this Act and articulated by the Undersecretary for Public 
Affairs and Public Diplomacy. It also makes clear that the 
Department of State will have no involvement or the appearance 
of involvement in the daily operations, decisions, and 
management of the Freedom News Network.
    Section 110. Grants to the Freedom News Network. This 
section restates section 308 of the United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-236) while removing 
reference to ``RFE/RL, Incorporated'' and replacing with the 
``Freedom News Network.'' This section mandates that the United 
States International Communications Agency may not make any 
grants to RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, or the Middle 
East Broadcasting Network until said grantees take identified 
steps towards consolidation; this section also outlines the 
terms of the grant agreement between the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Freedom News 
Network.
    Section 111. Other Personnel and Compensation Limitations. 
This section caps senior level pay at the United States 
International Communications Agency. This section includes a 
hiring freeze on all vacancies at the GS-14 and GS-15 level for 
five years (a waiver is included); intended to reduce the top-
heavy nature of the organization.
    Section 112. Reporting Requirements of the United States 
International Communications Agency. This section outlines the 
reports mandated by the Act including a report on the 
reorganization of the United States International 
Communications Agency to conform to terms of this Act; reports 
on the appropriate alignment of staff to organizational 
mission, justifying the continuation of positions including 
senior level staff; a report on the efficacy of programming to 
international audiences, detailing the distribution capacity, 
market penetration, and audience reach. This report should make 
recommendations regarding the most effective mediums of 
programming and legacy systems to be retired. Other reports are 
required as well for content sharing, and a comptroller report.
Subtitle B--The Voice of America
    Section 121. Sense of Congress. This section expresses 
continued Congressional support the Voice of America and the 
role it has historically played around the world as a reliable 
sources of accurate and comprehensive news and information.
    Section 122. Principles of the Voice of America. This 
section clarifies the principles of the Voice of America as 
outlined in section 303 of the United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-236), making explicit that 
the Voice of America shall present the policies of the United 
States (public diplomacy) and serve as an authoritative source 
of information and news on the United States, its policies, its 
people, and the impact on the lives of those in foreign 
countries.
    Section 123. Duties and Responsibilities of the Voice of 
America. This section further details the activities and tenor 
of the programming produced by the Voice of America; explaining 
how the policies and events in the United States impact the 
lives of those in foreign countries. This section again 
mandates that the Voice of America share content with the 
Freedom News Network and reiterates the importance of official 
editorials. This section revises the language currently 
contained in section 303(b) of the United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-236)
    Section 124. Limitation on Voice of America News, 
Programming, and Content; Exception for Broadcasting to Cuba. 
This section mandates that programming of the Voice of America 
conform to the public diplomacy mission of the United States 
International Communications Agency and may use content 
produced by the Freedom News Network, as appropriate. There is 
also an exception for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting which 
manages Radio Marti and Television Marti. Both Radio and 
Television Marti will continue to exist within the Voice of 
America with the mission and purpose described in the Radio 
Broadcasting to Cuba Act (P.L. 98-111) and the Television 
Broadcasting to Cuba Act (P.L. 101-246).
    Section 125. Director of the Voice of America. This section 
establishes the position of the Director of the Voice of 
America as a subordinate of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 
of the United States International Communications Agency. This 
section also outlines the qualifications and compensation of 
the Director of the Voice of America.
Subtitle C--General Provisions
    Section 131. Federal Agency Coordination in Support of 
United States Public Diplomacy. This section obligates the 
Unites States Federal International Broadcasting Agency to 
consult with federal national security and aid agencies, on an 
unclassified level, in order to ensure that the Agency's 
strategic and language service priorities align with current 
strategic needs and concerns. This section also requires that 
the Agency issue its findings in a publicly released report, 
although it gives the Agency the option to release these 
findings with its annual report to Congress.
    Section 132. Federal Agency Assistance and Coordination 
with the United States International Communications Agency and 
Freedom News Network During International Broadcast Surges. 
This section details all other federal agencies' obligations to 
assist the Agency and the broader public diplomacy effort at 
times when expanded, or ``surge,'' broadcast capacity is 
needed. It specifically details categories of assistance that 
closely mirror the permissible categories of interaction 
provided in section 132. This section also bars reimbursement 
of federal agencies for complying with the surge assistance 
mandate.
    Section 133. Freedom News Network Right of First Refusal in 
Instances of Federal Disposal of Radio or Television Broadcast 
Transmission Facilities or Equipment. This section addresses 
Agency broadcast facility transfers and sales, providing that 
the Agency must provide the Freedom News Network with a right 
of first refusal for all such facilities and related assets 
before attempting sale. This section would require such 
transfers be made free of charge to the Freedom News Network. 
This section also authorizes the Agency to sell or otherwise 
dispose of assets via free market sale in the event the Freedom 
News Network opts not to take on the transfer of these assets. 
This section also authorizes the Agency to sell current mobile 
(i.e., vehicular) broadcasting assets, such as vehicles and 
related equipment, that the Agency is currently prevented from 
selling.
    Section 134. Repeal of United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994. The United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994, Title III of P.L. 103-236 (U.S.C. 
6201) is repealed.
    Section 135. Effective Date. The changes described in Title 
II of this Act take effect within 90 days of enactment.

                   TITLE II--THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK

    Section 201. Sense of Congress. This section expresses the 
sense of Congress that Radio Free Europe-Radio Freedom, Radio 
Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Network share a 
common mission with distinct geographic foci and therefore 
should be consolidated into a single organization with a global 
mandate.
Subtitle A--Consolidation of Existing Grantee Organizations
    Section 211. Formation of the Freedom News Network from 
Existing Grantees. This section articulates Congressional 
intent to consolidate Radio Free Europe-Radio Freedom, Radio 
Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Network into a 
single, non-federal, non-profit organization based on their 
shared mission and objectives. The brand names of the existing 
grantee organizations should continue to be used by the Freedom 
News Network to the extent deemed appropriate or necessary.
    Section 212. Mission of the Freedom News Network. This 
section defines the mission of the Freedom News Network; noting 
the difference in mission from the United States International 
Communications Agency as described in Title I of this Act.
    Section 213. Standards and Principles of the Freedom News 
Network. This section restates the principles in section 303 of 
the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (P.L. 
103-236).
Subtitle B--Organization of the Freedom News Network
    Section 221. Governance of the Freedom News Network. This 
section establishes a Board for the Freedom News Network with 
criteria for Board membership and compensation. The Board of 
the Freedom News Network is charged with selecting the Board's 
chairperson, the organization's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), 
and filing the articles of incorporation. It abolishes the 
existing boards for each of the federal grantee organizations 
(RFE/RL, RFA, and MBN) and mandates the creation of a 
consolidation plan to be presented to the appropriate 
congressional committees. The Board of the Freedom News Network 
is intended to be a private board (not Presidentially appointed 
and Senate confirmed) and be ``self-replenishing'' in the 
filling of Board vacancies; the Board, management structure, 
and function of the National Endowment for Democracy is the 
model intended for the Freedom News Network. The first Board of 
the Freedom News Network should also consider changing the 
organization's name.
    Section 222. Budget of the Freedom News Network. This 
section allows the Freedom News Network to privately fundraise 
or get grants and transfers from other U.S. federal agencies 
but excludes the acceptance of funds from foreign governments, 
agents of foreign governments, or for commercial purposes. It 
also outlines the process by which federal funds will be passed 
to the Freedom News Network from the United States 
International Communications Agency, requiring the creation of 
an approved strategic plan before funds are transferred.
    Section 223. Assistance from other government agencies. 
This section permits the United States International 
Communications Agency to sell, loan, lease, or grant property 
or infrastructure to the Freedom News Network. It also provides 
for the use of International Cooperative Administrative Support 
Service (ICASS) agreements between the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Freedom News 
Network.
    Section 224. Reports by the Office of the Inspector General 
of the Department of State; Audits by GAO. This section 
mandates one annual audits of the Freedom News Network to be 
conducted by the Office of the Inspector General and submit 
these audits to the appropriate congressional committees. OIG 
audits will include but are not limited to financial 
expenditures and unobligated balances.
    Section 225. Amendments to the United States Information 
and Educational Exchange Act of 1948. This section amends 
language related to the operations of Radio Free Europe-Radio 
Freedom and Radio Free Asia that is outdated.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, existing law in which no change 
is proposed is shown in roman):

          UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING ACT OF 1994



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
     * * * * * * *

        [TITLE III--UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING ACT

[Sec. 301. Short title.
[Sec. 302. Congressional findings and declaration of purposes.
[Sec. 303. Standards and principles.
[Sec. 304. Establishment of broadcasting Board of Governors.
[Sec. 305. Authorities of the Board.
[Sec. 306. Foreign policy guidance.
[Sec. 307. International Broadcasting Bureau.
[Sec. 308. Limits on grants for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.
[Sec. 309. Radio Free Asia.
[Sec. 310. Transition.
[Sec. 311. Preservation of American jobs.
[Sec. 312. Privatization of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.
[Sec. 313. Requirement for authorization of appropriations.
[Sec. 314. Definitions.
[Sec. 315. Technical and conforming amendments.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


        [TITLE III--UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING ACT

[SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

    [This title may be cited as the ``United States 
International Broadcasting Act of 1994''.

[SEC. 302. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSES.

     [The Congress makes the following findings and 
declarations:
            [(1) It is the policy of the United States to 
        promote the right of freedom of opinion and expression, 
        including the freedom ``to seek, receive, and impart 
        information and ideas through any media and regardless 
        of frontiers,'' in accordance with Article 19 of the 
        Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
            [(2) Open communication of information and ideas 
        among the peoples of the world contributes to 
        international peace and stability and the promotion of 
        such communication is in the interests of the United 
        States.
            [(3) It is in the interest of the United States to 
        support broadcasting to other nations consistent with 
        the requirements of this title.
            [(4) The continuation of existing United States 
        international broadcasting, and the creation of a new 
        broadcasting service to the people of the People's 
        Republic of China and other countries of Asia which 
        lack adequate sources of free information, would 
        enhance the promotion of information and ideas, while 
        advancing the goals of United States foreign policy.
            [(5) The reorganization and consolidation of United 
        States international broadcasting will achieve 
        important economies and strengthen the capability of 
        the United States to use broadcasting to support 
        freedom and democracy in a rapidly changing 
        international environment.

[SEC. 303. STANDARDS AND PRINCIPLES.

    [(a) Broadcasting Standards.--United States international 
broadcasting shall--
            [(1) be consistent with the broad foreign policy 
        objectives of the United States;
            [(2) be consistent with the international 
        telecommunications policies and treaty obligations of 
        the United States;
            [(3) not duplicate the activities of private United 
        States broadcasters;
            [(4) not duplicate the activities of government 
        supported broadcasting entities of other democratic 
        nations;
            [(5) be conducted in accordance with the highest 
        professional standards of broadcast journalism;
            [(6) be based on reliable information about its 
        potential audience; and
            [(7) be designed so as to effectively reach a 
        significant audience.
    [(b) Broadcasting Principles.--United States international 
broadcasting shall include--
            [(1) news which is consistently reliable and 
        authoritative, accurate, objective, and comprehensive;
            [(2) a balanced and comprehensive projection of 
        United States thought and institutions, reflecting the 
        diversity of United States culture and society;
            [(3) clear and effective presentation of the 
        policies of the United States Government and 
        responsible discussion and opinion on those policies;
            [(4) programming to meet needs which remain 
        unserved by the totality of media voices available to 
        the people of certain nations;
            [(5) information about developments in each 
        significant region of the world;
            [(6) a variety of opinions and voices from within 
        particular nations and regions prevented by censorship 
        or repression from speaking to their fellow countrymen;
            [(7) reliable research capacity to meet the 
        criteria under this section;
            [(8) adequate transmitter and relay capacity to 
        support the activities described in this section; and
            [(9) training and technical support for independent 
        indigenous media through government agencies or private 
        United States entities.
    [(c) Voice of America Broadcasts.--The long-range interests 
of the United States are served by communicating directly with 
the peoples of the world by radio. To be effective, the Voice 
of America must win the attention and respect of listeners. 
These principles will therefore govern Voice of America (VOA) 
broadcasts:
            [(1) VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and 
        authoritative source of news. VOA news will be 
        accurate, objective, and comprehensive.
            [(2) VOA will represent America, not any single 
        segment of American society, and will therefore present 
        a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant 
        American thought and institutions.
            [(3) VOA will present the policies of the United 
        States clearly and effectively, and will also present 
        responsible discussions and opinion on these policies.

[SEC. 304. ESTABLISHMENT OF BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

    [(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the 
United States Information Agency a Broadcasting Board of 
Governors (hereafter in this title referred to as the 
``Board'').
    [(b) Composition of the Board.--
            [(1) The Board shall consist of 9 members, as 
        follows:
                    [(A) 8 voting members who shall be 
                appointed by the President, by and with the 
                advice and consent of the Senate.
                    [(B) The Director of the United States 
                Information Agency who shall also be a voting 
                member.
            [(2) The President shall appoint one member (other 
        than the Director of the United States Information 
        Agency) as Chairman of the Board, subject to the advice 
        and consent of the Senate.
            [(3) Exclusive of the Director of the United States 
        Information Agency, not more than 4 of the members of 
        the Board appointed by the President shall be of the 
        same political party.
    [(c) Term of Office.--The term of office of each member of 
the Board shall be three years, except that the Director of the 
United States Information Agency shall remain a member of the 
Board during the Director's term of service. Of the other 8 
voting members, the initial terms of office of two members 
shall be one year, and the initial terms of office of 3 other 
members shall be two years, as determined by the President. The 
President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate, Board members to fill vacancies occurring prior to 
the expiration of a term, in which case the members so 
appointed shall serve for the remainder of such term. Any 
member whose term has expired may serve until a successor has 
been appointed and qualified. When there is no Director of the 
United States Information Agency, the acting Director of the 
agency shall serve as a member of the Board until a Director is 
appointed.
    [(d) Selection of Board.--Members of the Board appointed by 
the President shall be citizens of the United States who are 
not regular full-time employees of the United States 
Government. Such members shall be selected by the President 
from among Americans distinguished in the fields of mass 
communications, print, broadcast media, or foreign affairs.
    [(e) Compensation.--Members of the Board, while attending 
meetings of the Board or while engaged in duties relating to 
such meetings or in other activities of the Board pursuant to 
this section (including travel time) shall be entitled to 
receive compensation equal to the daily equivalent of the 
compensation prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. While away 
from their homes or regular places of business, members of the 
Board may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5703) for 
persons in the Government service employed intermittently. The 
Director of the United States Information Agency shall not be 
entitled to any compensation under this title, but may be 
allowed travel expenses as provided under this subsection.
    [(f) Decisions.--Decisions of the Board shall be made by 
majority vote, a quorum being present. A quorum shall consist 
of 5 members.

[SEC. 305. AUTHORITIES OF THE BOARD.

    [(a) Authorities.--The Board shall have the following 
authorities:
            [(1) To direct and supervise all broadcasting 
        activities conducted pursuant to this title, the Radio 
        Broadcasting to Cuba Act, and the Television 
        Broadcasting to Cuba Act.
            [(2) To review and evaluate the mission and 
        operation of, and to assess the quality, effectiveness, 
        and professional integrity of, all such activities 
        within the context of the broad foreign policy 
        objectives of the United States.
            [(3) To ensure that United States international 
        broadcasting is conducted in accordance with the 
        standards and principles contained in section 303.
            [(4) To review, evaluate, and determine, at least 
        annually, the addition or deletion of language 
        services.
            [(5) To make and supervise grants for broadcasting 
        and related activities in accordance with sections 308 
        and 309.
            [(6) To allocate funds appropriated for 
        international broadcasting activities among the various 
        elements of the International Broadcasting Bureau and 
        grantees, subject to the limitations in sections 308 
        and 309 and subject to reprogramming notification 
        requirements in law for the reallocation of funds.
            [(7) To review engineering activities to ensure 
        that all broadcasting elements receive the highest 
        quality and cost-effective delivery services.
            [(8) To undertake such studies as may be necessary 
        to identify areas in which broadcasting activities 
        under its authority could be made more efficient and 
        economical.
            [(9) To submit to the President and the Congress, 
        through the Director of the United States Information 
        Agency, an annual report which summarizes and evaluates 
        activities under this title, the Radio Broadcasting to 
        Cuba Act, and the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act.
            [(10) To the extent considered necessary to carry 
        out the functions of the Board, procure supplies, 
        services, and other personal property.
            [(11) To appoint such staff personnel for the Board 
        as the Board may determine to be necessary, subject to 
        the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
        governing appointments in the competitive service, and 
        to fix their compensation in accordance with the 
        provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 
        53 of such title relating to classification and General 
        Schedule pay rates.
            [(12) To obligate and expend, for official 
        reception and representation expenses, such amount as 
        may be made available through appropriations (which for 
        each of the fiscal years 1994 and 1995 may not exceed 
        the amount made available to the Board for 
        International Broadcasting for such purposes for fiscal 
        year 1993).
            [(13) To make available in the annual report 
        required by paragraph (9) information on funds expended 
        on administrative and managerial services by the Bureau 
        and by grantees and the steps the Board has taken to 
        reduce unnecessary overhead costs for each of the 
        broadcasting services.
            [(14) The Board may provide for the use of United 
        States Government transmitter capacity for relay of 
        Radio Free Asia.
    [(b) Broadcasting Budgets.--
            [(1) The Director of the Bureau and the grantees 
        identified in sections 308 and 309 shall submit 
        proposed budgets to the Board. The Board shall forward 
        its recommendations concerning the proposed budget for 
        the Board and broadcasting activities under this title, 
        the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act, and the Television 
        Broadcasting to Cuba Act to the Director of the United 
        States Information Agency for the consideration of the 
        Director as a part of the Agency's budget submission to 
        the Office of Management and Budget.
            [(2) The Director of the United States Information 
        Agency shall include in the Agency's submission to the 
        Office of Management and Budget the comments and 
        recommendations of the Board concerning the proposed 
        broadcasting budget.
    [(c) Implementation.--The Director of the United States 
Information Agency and the Board, in carrying out their 
functions, shall respect the professional independence and 
integrity of the International Broadcasting Bureau, its 
broadcasting services, and grantees.
    [(d) Technical Amendment.--
            [(1) Section 4 of the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba 
        Act (22 U.S.C. 1465b) is amended by striking ``and the 
        Associate Director for Broadcasting of the United 
        States Information Agency'' and inserting ``of the 
        Voice of America''.
            [(2) Section 5(b) of the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba 
        Act (22 U.S.C.1465c(b)) is amended by striking 
        ``Director and Associate Director for Broadcasting of 
        the United States Information Agency'' and inserting 
        ``Broadcasting Board of Governors''.

[SEC. 306. FOREIGN POLICY GUIDANCE.

    [To assist the Board in carrying out its functions, the 
Secretary of State, acting through the Director of the United 
States Information Agency, shall provide information and 
guidance on foreign policy issues to the Board.

[SEC. 307. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING BUREAU.

    [(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established an 
International Broadcasting Bureau within the United States 
Information Agency (hereafter in this title referred to as the 
``Bureau''), to carry out all nonmilitary international 
broadcasting activities supported by the United States 
Government other than those described in sections 308 and 309.
    [(b) Selection of the Director of the Bureau.--
            [(1) The Director of the Bureau shall be appointed 
        by the Chairman of the Board, in consultation with the 
        Director of the United States Information Agency and 
        with the concurrence of a majority of the Board. The 
        Director of the Bureau shall be entitled to receive 
        compensation at the rate prescribed by law for level IV 
        of the Executive Schedule.
            [(2) Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, 
        is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``Director of the International Broadcasting 
        Bureau, the United States Information Agency.''.

[SEC. 308. LIMITS ON GRANTS FOR RADIO FREE EUROPE AND RADIO LIBERTY.

    [(a) Board of RFE/RL, Incorporated.--The Board may not make 
any grant to RFE/RL, Incorporated, unless the certificate of 
incorporation of RFE/RL, Incorporated, has been amended to 
provide that--
            [(1) the Board of Directors of RFE/RL, 
        Incorporated, shall consist of the members of the 
        Broadcasting Board of Governors established under 
        section 304 and of no other members; and
            [(2) such Board of Directors shall make all major 
        policy determinations governing the operation of RFE/
        RL, Incorporated, and shall appoint and fix the 
        compensation of such managerial officers and employees 
        of RFE/RL, Incorporated, as it considers necessary to 
        carry out the purposes of the grant provided under this 
        title.
    [(b) Location of Principal Place of Business.--
            [(1) The Board may not make any grant to RFE/RL, 
        Incorporated unless the headquarters of RFE/RL, 
        Incorporated and its senior administrative and 
        managerial staff are in a location which ensures 
        economy, operational effectiveness, and accountability 
        to the Board.
            [(2) Not later than 90 days after confirmation of 
        all members of the Board, the Board shall provide a 
        report to Congress on the number of administrative, 
        managerial, and technical staff of RFE/RL, Incorporated 
        who will be located within the metropolitan area of 
        Washington, D.C., and the number of employees whose 
        principal place of business will be located outside the 
        metropolitan area of Washington, D.C.
    [(c) Limitation on Grant Amounts.--The total amount of 
grants made by the Board for the operating costs of Radio Free 
Europe and Radio Liberty may not exceed $75,000,000 for any 
fiscal year after fiscal year 1995.
    [(d) Alternative Grantee.--If the Board determines at any 
time that RFE/RL, Incorporated, is not carrying out the 
functions described in section 309 in an effective and 
economical manner, the Board may award the grant to carry out 
such functions to another entity after soliciting and 
considering applications from eligible entities in such manner 
and accompanied by such information as the Board may reasonably 
require.
    [(e) Not a Federal Agency or Instrumentality.--Nothing in 
this title may be construed to make RFE/RL, Incorporated a 
Federal agency or instrumentality.
    [(f) Authority.--Grants authorized under section 305 for 
RFE/RL, Incorporated, shall be available to make annual grants 
for the purpose of carrying out similar functions as were 
carried out by RFE/RL, Incorporated, on the day before the date 
of enactment of this Act with respect to Radio Free Europe and 
Radio Liberty, consistent with section 2 of the Board for 
International Broadcasting Act of 1973, as in effect on such 
date.
    [(g) Grant Agreement.--Grants to RFE/RL, Incorporated, by 
the Board shall only be made in compliance with a grant 
agreement. The grant agreement shall establish guidelines for 
such grants. The grant agreement shall include the following 
provisions--
            [(1) that a grant be used only for activities which 
        the Board determines are consistent with the purposes 
        of subsection (f);
            [(2) that RFE/RL, Incorporated, shall otherwise 
        comply with the requirements of this section;
            [(3) that failure to comply with the requirements 
        of this section may result in suspension or termination 
        of a grant without further obligation by the Board or 
        the United States;
            [(4) that duplication of language services and 
        technical operations between RFE/RL, Incorporated and 
        the International Broadcasting Bureau be reduced to the 
        extent appropriate, as determined by the Board; and
            [(5) that RFE/RL, Incorporated, justify in detail 
        each proposed expenditure of grant funds, and that such 
        funds may not be used for any other purpose unless the 
        Board gives its prior written approval.
    [(h) Prohibited Uses of Grant Funds.--No grant funds 
provided under this section may be used for the following 
purposes:
            [(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), to 
        pay any salary or other compensation, or enter into any 
        contract providing for the payment of salary or 
        compensation in excess of the rates established for 
        comparable positions under title 5 of the United States 
        Code or the foreign relations laws of the United 
        States, except that no employee may be paid a salary or 
        other compensation in excess of the rate of pay payable 
        for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 
        5315 of title 5, United States Code.
            [(B) Salary and other compensation limitations 
        under subparagraph (A) shall not apply prior to October 
        1, 1995, with respect to any employee covered by a 
        union agreement requiring a salary or other 
        compensation in excess of such limitations.
            [(2) For any activity for the purpose of 
        influencing the passage or defeat of legislation being 
        considered by Congress.
            [(3) To enter into a contract or obligation to pay 
        severance payments for voluntary separation for 
        employees hired after December 1, 1990, except as may 
        be required by United States law or the laws of the 
        country where the employee is stationed.
            [(4) For first class travel for any employee of 
        RFE/RL, Incorporated, or the relative of any employee.
            [(5) To compensate freelance contractors without 
        the approval of the Board.
    [(i) Report on Management Practices.--(1) Effective not 
later than March 31 and September 30 of each calendar year, the 
Inspector General of the United States Information Agency shall 
submit to the Board, the Director of the United States 
Information Agency, and the Congress a report on management 
practices of RFE/RL, Incorporated, under this section. The 
Inspector General of the United States Information Agency shall 
establish a special unit within the Inspector General's office 
to monitor and audit the activities of RFE/RL, Incorporated, 
and shall provide for on-site monitoring of such activities.
    [(j) Audit Authority.--
            [(1) Such financial transactions of RFE/RL, 
        Incorporated, as relate to functions carried out under 
        this section may be audited by the General Accounting 
        Office in accordance with such principles and 
        procedures and under such rules and regulations as may 
        be prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United 
        States. Any such audit shall be conducted at the place 
        or places where accounts of RFE/RL, Incorporated, are 
        normally kept.
            [(2) Representatives of the General Accounting 
        Office shall have access to all books, accounts, 
        records, reports, files, papers, and property belonging 
        to or in use by RFE/RL, Incorporated pertaining to such 
        financial transactions and necessary to facilitate an 
        audit. Such representatives shall be afforded full 
        facilities for verifying transactions with any assets 
        held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians. 
        All such books, accounts, records, reports, files, 
        papers, and property of RFE/RL, Incorporated, shall 
        remain in the possession and custody of RFE/RL, 
        Incorporated.
            [(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and 
        upon repeal of the Board for International Broadcasting 
        Act, the Inspector General of the United States 
        Information Agency is authorized to exercise the 
        authorities of the Inspector General Act of 1978 with 
        respect to RFE/RL, Incorporated.
    [(k) Plan for Relocation.--None of the funds authorized to 
be appropriated for the fiscal years 1994 or 1995 may be used 
to relocate the offices or operations of RFE/RL, Incorporated 
from Munich, Germany, unless--
            [(1) such relocation is specifically provided for 
        in an appropriation Act or pursuant to a reprogramming 
        notification; and
            [(2)(A) such relocation is authorized by the Board 
        and the Board submits to the Comptroller General of the 
        United States and the appropriate Congressional 
        committees a detailed plan for such relocation, 
        including cost estimates and any and all fiscal data, 
        audits, business plans, and other documents which 
        justify such relocation; or
            [(B) prior to the confirmation of all members of 
        the Board, such relocation is authorized by the 
        President, the President certifies that a significant 
        national interest requires that such relocation 
        determination be made before the confirmation of all 
        members of the Board, and the President submits to the 
        Comptroller General of the United States and the 
        appropriate congressional committees a detailed plan 
        for such relocation, including cost estimates and any 
        and all fiscal data, audits, business plans, and other 
        documents which justify such relocation.
    [(l) Reports on Personnel Classification.--Not later than 
90 days after the date of confirmation of all members of the 
Board, the Board shall submit a report to the Congress 
containing a justification, in terms of the types of duties 
performed at specific rates of salary and other compensation, 
of the classification of personnel employed by RFE/RL, 
Incorporated. The report shall include a comparison of the 
rates of salary or other compensation and classifications 
provided to employees of RFE/RL, Incorporated, with the rates 
of salary or other compensation and classifications of 
employees of the Voice of America stationed overseas in 
comparable positions and shall identify any disparities and 
steps which should be taken to eliminate such disparities.

[SEC. 309. RADIO FREE ASIA.

    [(a) Authority.--
            [(1) Grants authorized under section 305 shall be 
        available to make annual grants for the purpose of 
        carrying out radio broadcasting to the following 
        countries: The People's Republic of China, Burma, 
        Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam.
            [(2) Such broadcasting service shall be referred to 
        as ``Radio Free Asia''.
    [(b) Functions.--Radio Free Asia shall--
            [(1) provide accurate and timely information, news, 
        and commentary about events in the respective countries 
        of Asia and elsewhere; and
            [(2) be a forum for a variety of opinions and 
        voices from within Asian nations whose people do not 
        fully enjoy freedom of expression.
    [(c) Submission of Detailed Plan for Radio Free Asia.--
            [(1) No grant may be awarded to carry out this 
        section unless the Board, through the Director of the 
        United States Information Agency, has submitted to 
        Congress a detailed plan for the establishment and 
        operation of Radio Free Asia, including--
                    [(A) a description of the manner in which 
                Radio Free Asia would meet the funding 
                limitations provided in subsection (d)(4);
                    [(B) a description of the numbers and 
                qualifications of employees it proposes to 
                hire; and
                    [(C) how it proposes to meet the technical 
                requirements for carrying out its 
                responsibilities under this section.
            [(2) The plan required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted not later than 90 days after the date on 
        which all members of the Board are confirmed.
            [(3) No grant may be awarded to carry out the 
        provisions of this section unless the plan submitted by 
        the Board includes a certification by the Board that 
        Radio Free Asia can be established and operated within 
        the funding limitations provided for in subsection 
        (d)(4) and subsection (d)(5).
            [(4) If the Board determines that a Radio Free Asia 
        cannot be established or operated effectively within 
        the funding limitations provided for in this section, 
        the Board may submit, through the Director of the 
        United States Information Agency, an alternative plan 
        and such proposed changes in legislation as may be 
        necessary to the appropriate congressional committees.
    [(d) Grant Agreement.--Any grant agreement or grants under 
this section shall be subject to the following limitations and 
restrictions:
            [(1)(A) The Board may not make any grant to Radio 
        Free Asia unless the headquarters of Radio Free Asia 
        and its senior administrative and managerial staff are 
        in a location which ensures economy, operational 
        effectiveness, and accountability to the Board.
            [(B) Not later than 90 days after confirmation of 
        all members of the Board, the Board shall provide a 
        report to Congress on the number of administrative, 
        managerial, and technical staff of Radio Free Asia who 
        will be located within the metropolitan area of 
        Washington, D.C., and the number of employees whose 
        principal place of business will be located outside the 
        metropolitan area of Washington, D.C.
            [(2) Any grant agreement under this section shall 
        require that any contract entered into by Radio Free 
        Asia shall specify that all obligations are assumed by 
        Radio Free Asia and not by the United States 
        Government, and shall further specify that funds to 
        carry out the activities of Radio Free Asia may not be 
        available after September 30, 1999.
            [(3) Any grant agreement shall require that any 
        lease agreements entered into by Radio Free Asia shall 
        be, to the maximum extent possible, assignable to the 
        United States Government.
            [(4) Grants made for the operating costs of Radio 
        Free Asia may not exceed $22,000,000 in any fiscal 
        year.
            [(5) The total amount of grant funds made available 
        for one-time capital costs of Radio Free Asia may not 
        exceed $8,000,000.
            [(6) Grants awarded under this section shall be 
        made pursuant to a grant agreement which requires that 
        grant funds be used only for activities consistent with 
        this section, and that failure to comply with such 
        requirements shall permit the grant to be terminated 
        without fiscal obligation to the United States.
    [(e) Limitations on Administrative and Managerial Costs.--
It is the sense of the Congress that administrative and 
managerial costs for operation of Radio Free Asia should be 
kept to a minimum and, to the maximum extent feasible, should 
not exceed the costs that would have been incurred if Radio 
Free Asia had been operated as a Federal entity rather than as 
a grantee.
    [(f) Assessment of the Effectiveness of Radio Free Asia.--
Not later than 3 years after the date on which initial funding 
is provided for the purpose of operating Radio Free Asia, the 
Board shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report on--
            [(1) whether Radio Free Asia is technically sound 
        and cost-effective,
            [(2) whether Radio Free Asia consistently meets the 
        standards for quality and objectivity established by 
        this title,
            [(3) whether Radio Free Asia is received by a 
        sufficient audience to warrant its continuation,
            [(4) the extent to which such broadcasting is 
        already being received by the target audience from 
        other credible sources; and
            [(5) the extent to which the interests of the 
        United States are being served by maintaining 
        broadcasting of Radio Free Asia.
    [(g) Sunset Provision.--The Board may not make any grant 
for the purpose of operating Radio Free Asia after September 
30, 1998, unless the President of the United States determines 
in the President's fiscal year 1999 budget submission that 
continuation of funding for Radio Free Asia for 1 additional 
year is in the interest of the United States.
    [(h) Notification and Consultation Regarding Displacement 
of Voice of America Broadcasting.--The Board shall notify the 
appropriate congressional committees before entering into any 
agreements for the utilization of Voice of America 
transmitters, equipment, or other resources that will 
significantly reduce the broadcasting activities of the Voice 
of America in Asia or any other region in order to accommodate 
the broadcasting activities of Radio Free Asia. The Chairman of 
the Board shall consult with such committees on the impact of 
any such reduction in Voice of America broadcasting activities.
    [(i) Not a Federal Agency or Instrumentality.--Nothing in 
this title may be construed to make Radio Free Asia a Federal 
agency or instrumentality.

[SEC. 310. TRANSITION.

    [(a) Authorization.--
            [(1) The President is authorized consistent with 
        the purposes of this Act to direct the transfer of all 
        functions and authorities from the Board for 
        International Broadcasting to the United States 
        Information Agency, the Board, or the Bureau as may be 
        necessary to implement this title.
            [(2)(A) Not later than 120 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director of the United 
        States Information Agency and the Chairman of the Board 
        for International Broadcasting shall jointly prepare 
        and submit to the President for approval and 
        implementation a plan to implement the provisions of 
        this title. Such plan shall include at a minimum a 
        detailed cost analysis to implement fully the 
        recommendations of such plan. The plan shall identify 
        all costs in excess of those authorized for such 
        purposes and shall provide that any excess cost to 
        implement the plan shall be derived only from funds 
        authorized in section 201 of this Act.
            [(B) The President shall transmit copies of the 
        approved plan, together with any recommendations for 
        legislative changes that may be necessary, to the 
        appropriate congressional committees.
    [(b) New Appointees.--The Director of the United States 
Information Agency may assign employees of the Agency for 
service with RFE/RL, Incorporated, with the concurrence of the 
president of RFE/RL, Incorporated. Such assignment shall not 
affect the rights and benefits of such personnel as employees 
of the United States Information Agency.
    [(c) Board for International Broadcasting Personnel.--All 
Board for International Broadcasting full-time United States 
Government personnel (except special Government employees) and 
part-time United States Government personnel holding permanent 
positions shall be transferred to the United States Information 
Agency, the Board, or the Bureau. Such transfer shall not cause 
any such employee to be separated or reduced in grade or 
compensation.
    [(d) Other Authorities.--The Director of the United States 
Information Agency is authorized to utilize the provisions of 
titles VIII and IX of the United States Information and 
Educational Exchange Act of 1948, and any other authority 
available to the Director on the date of enactment of this Act, 
to the extent that the Director considers necessary in carrying 
out the provisions and purposes of this title.
    [(e) Repeal.--The Board for International Broadcasting Act 
of 1973 (22 U.S.C. 2871, et seq.) is repealed effective 
September 30, 1995, or the date on which all members of the 
Board are confirmed, whichever is earlier.
    [(f) Savings Provisions.--
            [(1) Continuing effect of legal documents.--All 
        orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, 
        agreements, grants, contracts, certificates, licenses, 
        registrations, privileges, and other administrative 
        actions--
                    [(A) which have been issued, made, granted, 
                or allowed to become effective by the 
                President, any Federal agency or official 
                thereof, or by a court of competent 
                jurisdiction, in the performance of functions 
                which are transferred under this title; and
                    [(B) which are in effect at the time this 
                title takes effect, or were final before the 
                effective date of this title and are to become 
                effective on or after the effective date of 
                this title,
        shall continue in effect according to their terms until 
        modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked 
        in accordance with law by the President, the Director 
        of the United States Information Agency or other 
        authorized official, a court of competent jurisdiction, 
        or by operation of law.
            [(2) Proceedings not affected.--The provisions of 
        this title shall not affect any proceedings pending 
        before the Board for International Broadcasting at the 
        time this title takes effect, with respect to functions 
        transferred by this title, but such proceedings shall 
        be continued. Orders shall be issued in such 
        proceedings, appeals shall be taken therefrom, and 
        payments shall be made pursuant to such orders, as if 
        this title had not been enacted, and orders issued in 
        any such proceedings shall continue in effect until 
        modified, terminated, superseded, or revoked by a duly 
        authorized official, by a court of competent 
        jurisdiction, or by operation of law. Nothing in this 
        subsection shall be deemed to prohibit the termination 
        or modification of any such proceeding under the same 
        terms and conditions and to the same extent that such 
        proceeding could have been terminated or modified if 
        this title had not been enacted.
            [(3) Suits not affected.--The provisions of this 
        title shall not affect suits commenced before the 
        effective date of this title, and in all such suits, 
        proceedings shall be had, appeals taken, and judgments 
        rendered in the same manner and with the same effect as 
        if this title had not been enacted.
            [(4) Nonabatement of actions.--No suit, action, or 
        other proceeding commenced by or against the Board for 
        International Broadcasting or by or against any 
        individual in the official capacity of such individual 
        as an officer of the Board for International 
        Broadcasting shall abate by reason of the enactment of 
        this title.
            [(5) Administrative actions relating to 
        promulgation of regulations.--Any administrative action 
        relating to the preparation or promulgation of a 
        regulation by the Board for International Broadcasting 
        relating to a function transferred under this title may 
        be continued by the United States Information Agency 
        with the same effect as if this title had not been 
        enacted.
            [(6) References.--A reference in any provision of 
        law, reorganization plan, or other authority to the 
        Associate Director for Broadcasting of the United 
        States Information Agency shall be considered to be a 
        reference to the Director of the International 
        Broadcasting Bureau of the United States Information 
        Agency.
            [(7) Effect on other laws.--The provisions of, and 
        authorities contained in or transferred pursuant to, 
        this title are not intended to repeal, limit, or 
        otherwise derogate from the authorities or functions of 
        or available to the Director of the United States 
        Information Agency or the Secretary of State under law, 
        reorganization plan, or otherwise, unless such 
        provision hereof--
                    [(A) specifically refers to the provision 
                of law or authority existing on the effective 
                date of this title, so affected; or
                    [(B) is in direct conflict with such law or 
                authority existing on the effective date of 
                this title.

[SEC. 311. PRESERVATION OF AMERICAN JOBS.

    [It is the sense of the Congress that the Director of the 
United States Information Agency and the Chairman of the Board 
for International Broadcasting should, in developing the plan 
for consolidation and reorganization of overseas international 
broadcasting services, limit, to the maximum extent feasible, 
consistent with the purposes of the consolidation, elimination 
of any United States-based positions and should affirmatively 
seek to transfer as many positions as possible to the United 
States.

[SEC. 312. PRIVATIZATION OF RADIO FREE EUROPE AND RADIO LIBERTY.

    [(a) Declaration of Policy.--It is the sense of the 
Congress that, in furtherance of the objectives of section 302 
of this Act, the funding of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty 
should be assumed by the private sector not later than December 
31, 1999, and that the funding of Radio Free Europe and Radio 
Liberty Research Institute should be assumed by the private 
sector at the earliest possible time.
    [(b) Presidential Submission.--The President shall submit 
with his annual budget submission as provided for in section 
307 an analysis and recommendations for achieving the 
objectives of subsection (a).
    [(c) Reports on Transfer of RFE/RL Research Institute.--Not 
later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Board for International Broadcasting, or the Board, if 
established, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on the steps being taken to transfer RFE/RL 
Research Institute pursuant to subsection (a) and shall provide 
periodic progress reports on such efforts until such transfer 
has been achieved.

[SEC. 313. REQUIREMENT FOR AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    [(a) Limitation on Obligation and Expenditure of Funds.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the fiscal year 
1994 and for each subsequent fiscal year, any funds 
appropriated for the purposes of broadcasting subject to the 
direction and supervision of the Board shall not be available 
for obligation or expenditure--
            [(1) unless such funds are appropriated pursuant to 
        an authorization of appropriations; or
            [(2) in excess of the authorized level of 
        appropriations.
    [(b) Subsequent Authorization.--The limitation under 
subsection (a) shall not apply to the extent that an 
authorization of appropriations is enacted after such funds are 
appropriated.
    [(c) Application.--The provisions of this section--
            [(1) may not be superseded, except by a provision 
        of law which specifically repeals, modifies, or 
        supersedes the provisions of this section; and
            [(2) shall not apply to, or affect in any manner, 
        permanent appropriations, trust funds, and other 
        similar accounts which are authorized by law and 
        administered under or pursuant to this title.

[SEC. 314. DEFINITIONS.

     [For the purposes of this title--
            [(1) the term ``appropriate congressional 
        committees'' means the Committee on Foreign Relations 
        and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and 
        the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
            [(2) the term ``RFE/RL, Incorporated'' includes--
                    [(A) the corporation having the corporate 
                title described in section 307(b)(3); and
                    [(B) any alternative grantee described in 
                section 307(e); and
            [(3) the term ``salary or other compensation'' 
        includes any deferred compensation or pension payments, 
        any payments for expenses for which the recipient is 
        not obligated to itemize, and any payments for 
        personnel services provided to an employee of RFE/RL, 
        Incorporated.

[SEC. 315. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    [(a) Voice of America Broadcasts.--Section 503 of the 
United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 
(22 U.S.C. 1463) is repealed.
    [(b) Israel Relay Station.--Section 301(c) of the Foreign 
Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991, is 
repealed.
    [(c) Board for International Broadcasting Act.--Section 
4(a)(1) of the Board for International Broadcasting Act of 1973 
is amended to read as follows:
                    [``(1) to make grants to RFE/RL, 
                Incorporated and, until September 30, 1995, to 
                make grants to entities established in the 
                privatization of certain functions of RFE/RL, 
                Incorporated in order to carry out the purposes 
                set forth in section 2 of this Act;''.
    [(d) Relocation Costs.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, funds derived from the sale of real property assets of 
RFE/RL in Munich, Germany, may be retained, obligated, and 
expended to meet one-time costs associated with the 
consolidation of United States Government broadcasting 
activities in accordance with this title, including the costs 
of relocating RFE/RL offices and operations.]
                              ----------                              


     UNITED STATES INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE ACT OF 1948



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
   TITLE V--DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNITED STATES ABROAD

                         general authorization

    Sec. 501. (a) The Secretary and the [Broadcasting Board of 
Governors] United States International Communications Agency 
are authorized to use funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available for public diplomacy information programs to provide 
for the preparation, dissemination, and use of information 
intended for foreign audiences abroad about the United States, 
its people, and its policies, through press, publications, 
radio, motion pictures, the Internet, and other information 
media, including social media, and through information centers, 
instructors, and other direct or indirect means of 
communication.
    (b)[(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary 
and the Broadcasting Board of Governors may, upon request and 
reimbursement of the reasonable costs incurred in fulfilling 
such a request, make available, in the United States, motion 
pictures, films, video, audio, and other materials disseminated 
abroad pursuant to this Act, the United States International 
Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.), the Radio 
Broadcasting to Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465 et seq.), or the 
Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (22 U.S.C. 1465aa et seq.). 
Any reimbursement pursuant to this paragraph shall be credited 
to the applicable appropriation account of the Department of 
State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors, as appropriate. 
The Secretary and the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall 
issue necessary regulations--
            [(A) to establish procedures to maintain such 
        material;
            [(B) for reimbursement of the reasonable costs 
        incurred in fulfilling requests for such material; and
            [(C) to ensure that the persons seeking release of 
        such material have secured and paid for necessary 
        United States rights and licenses.]
    (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary and 
the United States International Communications Agency may, upon 
request and reimbursement of the reasonable costs incurred in 
fulfilling such a request, make available, in the United 
States, motion pictures, films, video, audio, and other 
materials disseminated abroad pursuant to this Act. Any 
reimbursement pursuant to this paragraph shall be credited to 
the applicable appropriation account of the Department of State 
or the United States International Communications Agency, as 
appropriate. The Secretary and the United States International 
Communications Agency shall issue necessary regulations.
    (2) With respect to material disseminated abroad before the 
effective date of section 1078 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013--
            (A) the Secretary and the [Broadcasting Board of 
        Governors] United States International Communications 
        Agency shall make available to the Archivist of the 
        United States, for domestic distribution, motion 
        pictures, films, videotapes, and other material 12 
        years after the initial dissemination of the material 
        abroad; and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (3) The Archivist may undertake the functions described in 
paragraph (1) on behalf of and at the request of the Secretary 
or the [Broadcasting Board of Governors] United States 
International Communications Agency.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (c) Nothing in this section may be construed to require the 
Secretary or the [Broadcasting Board of Governors] United 
States International Communications Agency to make material 
disseminated abroad available in any format other than in the 
format disseminated abroad.

               policies governing information activities

    Sec. 502. In authorizing international information 
activities under this Act, it is the sense of the Congress (1) 
that the Secretary and the [Broadcasting Board of Governors] 
United States International Communications Agency shall reduce 
such Government information activities whenever corresponding 
private information dissemination is found to be adequate; (2) 
that nothing in this Act shall be construed to give the 
Department or the [Broadcasting Board of Governors] United 
States International Communications Agency a monopoly in the 
production or sponsorship on the air of short-wave broadcasting 
programs, or a monopoly in any other medium of information.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                        [voice of america/europe

    [Sec. 504. As part of its duties and programs under title V 
of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act 
of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.), Voice of America/Europe 
shall--
            [(1) target news and features in accordance with 
        the findings and recommendations of the Young European 
        Survey;
            [(2) conduct periodic audience evaluations and 
        measurements; and
            [(3) promote and advertise Voice of America/Europe.

                     [usia satellite and television

    [Sec. 505. (a) In General.--The Broadcasting Board of 
Governors is authorized to lease or otherwise acquire time on 
commercial or United States Government satellites for the 
purpose of transmitting materials and programs to posts and 
other users abroad.
    [(b) Broadcast Principles.--The Congress finds that the 
long-term interests of the United States are served by 
communicating directly with the peoples of the world by 
television. To be effective, the Broadcasting Board of 
Governors must win the attention and respect of viewers. These 
principles will therefore govern the television broadcasts of 
the United States International Television Service:
            [(1) The United States International Television 
        Service will serve as a consistently reliable and 
        authoritative source of news. The United States 
        International Television Service news will be accurate 
        and objective.
            [(2) The United States International Television 
        Service will represent the United States, not any 
        single segment of American society and will, therefore, 
        present a balanced and comprehensive projection of 
        significant American thought and institutions.
            [(3) The United States International Television 
        Service will present the policies of the United States 
        clearly and effectively and will also present 
        responsible discussions and opinion on these policies.
    [(c) Programs.--The Broadcasting Board of Governors is 
authorized to produce, acquire, or broadcast television 
programs, via satellite, only if such programs--
            [(1) are interactive, consisting of interviews 
        among participants in different locales;
            [(2) cover news, public affairs, or other current 
        events;
            [(3) cover official activities of government, 
        Federal or State, including congressional proceedings 
        and news briefings of any agency of the Executive 
        branch; or
            [(4) are of an artistic or scientific character or 
        are otherwise representative of American culture.
    [(d) Costs.--When a comparable program produced by United 
States public or commercial broadcasters and producers is 
available at a cost which is equal to or less than the cost of 
production by the United States International Television 
Service, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall use such 
materials in preference to the United States International 
Television Service produced materials.
    [(e) Allocation of Funds.--(1) Of the funds authorized to 
be appropriated to the Broadcasting Board of Governors not more 
than $12,000,000 for the fiscal year 1990 and not more than 
$12,480,000 for the fiscal year 1991 may be obligated or 
expended for the United States International Television 
Service.
    [(2) The Broadcasting Board of Governors shall prepare and 
submit to the Congress quarterly reports which contain a 
detailed explanation of expenditures for USIA-TV during the 
fiscal years 1990 and 1991. Such reports shall contain specific 
justification and supporting information pertaining to all 
programs, particularly those described in subsection (c)(4), 
that were produced in-house by USIA-TV. Each such report shall 
include a statement by the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
that, according to the best information available to the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors, no comparable United States 
commercially-produced or public television program is available 
at a cost which is equal to or less than the cost of production 
by USIA-TV.
    [(3) Of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors, $1,500,000 for the fiscal year 
1990 and $1,500,000 for the fiscal year 1991 shall be available 
only for the purchase or use of programs produced with grants 
from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or produced by 
United States public broadcasters.]

                   voice of america hiring practices

    Sec. [506.]  504. (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (c) Report.--If the [Broadcasting Board of Governors] 
United States International Communications Agency determines 
that the prohibition under subsection (a) would require the 
termination of a specific Voice of America foreign language 
service, then, not less than 90 days before the [Board] Agency 
begins to recruit such candidates, the [Board] Agency shall 
submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report concerning--
            (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE VI--ADVISORY COMMISSIONS TO FORMULATE POLICIES

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 604. UNITED STATES ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY.

    (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Comprehensive annual report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not less frequently than 
                annually, the Commission shall submit a 
                comprehensive report on public diplomacy and 
                international broadcasting activities to 
                Congress, the President, and the Secretary of 
                State. This report shall include--
                            (i) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                            (iii) the international 
                        broadcasting activities under the 
                        direction of the [Broadcasting Board of 
                        Governors] United States International 
                        Communications Agency;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                 TITLE VIII--ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

                             the secretary

    Sec. 801. In carrying out the purposes of this Act, the 
Secretary is authorized, in addition to and not in limitation 
of the authority otherwise vested in him--
            (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

            (3) whenever necessary in carrying out title V of 
        this Act, to purchase, rent, construct, improve, 
        maintain, and operate facilities for radio and 
        television transmission and reception, including the 
        leasing of associated real property (either within or 
        outside the United States) for periods not to exceed 
        forty years, or for longer periods if provided for by 
        an appropriation Act, and the alteration, improvement, 
        and repair of such property, without regard to section 
        322 of the Act of June 30, 1932 (40 U.S.C. 278a), and 
        any such real property or interests therein which are 
        outside the United States may be acquired without 
        regard to section 355 of the Revised Statutes of the 
        United States (40 U.S.C. 255) if the sufficiency of the 
        title to such real property or interests therein is 
        approved by the [Director of the United States 
        Information Agency] Chief Executive Officer of the 
        United States International Communications Agency;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                          government agencies

    Sec. 802. (a) * * *
    (b)(1) Any contract authorized by subsection (a) and 
described in paragraph (3) of this subsection which is funded 
on the basis of annual appropriations may nevertheless be made 
for periods not in excess of 5 years when--
            (A) * * *
            (B) the [Director of the United States Information 
        Agency] Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
        International Communications Agency determines that--
                    (i) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (4)(A) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this 
subsection, the [Broadcasting Board of Governors] United States 
International Communications Agency is authorized to enter into 
contracts for periods not to exceed 7 years for circuit 
capacity to distribute radio and television programs and is 
authorized to enter into contracts for periods not to exceed 
ten years to acquire local broadcasting services outside the 
United States.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                            basic authority

    Sec. 804. In carrying out the provisions of this Act, the 
Secretary, or any Government agency authorized to administer 
such provisions, may--
            (1) employ, without regard to the civil service and 
        classification laws, aliens within the United States 
        and abroad for service in the United States relating to 
        the translation or narration of colloquial speech in 
        foreign languages or the preparation and production of 
        foreign language programs when suitably qualified 
        United States citizens are not available when job 
        vacancies occur, and aliens so employed abroad may be 
        admitted to the United States, if otherwise qualified, 
        as nonimmigrants under section 101(a)(15) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) 
        for such time and under such conditions and procedures 
        as may be established by the [Director of the United 
        States Information Agency] Chief Executive Officer of 
        the United States International Communications Agency 
        and the Attorney General;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                  use of english-teaching program fees

    Sec. 810. (a) * * *
    (b) Fees and Receipts Described.--The fees and receipts 
described in this subsection are fees and payments received by 
or for the use of the [United States Information Agency] United 
States International Communications Agency from or in 
connection with--
            (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

            (4) advertising and business ventures of the Voice 
        of America and the [International Broadcasting Bureau] 
        United States International Communications Agency,

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE X--MISCELLANEOUS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                     informational media guaranties

    Sec. 1011. (a) The [Director of the United States 
Information Agency] Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States Information Agency may make guaranties, in accordance 
with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 413 of the 
Mutual Security Act of 1954, of investments in enterprises 
producing or distributing informational media consistent with 
the national interests of the United States: Provided, That the 
purpose of making informational media guaranties shall be the 
achievement of the foreign policy objectives of the United 
States, including the objective mentioned in sections 
413(b)(4)(A) and 413(b)(4)(G) of the Mutual Security Act of 
1954, as amended.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                                  
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