United States International Communications Reform Act of 2014
Latest action · Jul 29, 2014 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedApr 28, 2014
- Passed HouseJul 28, 2014
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
United States International Communications Reform Act of 2014 - Revises U.S. international broadcasting and communications structures, missions, and objectives.
(Sec. 5) Requires U.S. international broadcasting to incorporate specified standards.
(Sec. 6) Directs 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:
- lack democratic rule;
- lack the legal and political environment that allows media organizations and journalists to operate free from government-led or permitted harassment and from economic impediments to news and related programming and content;
- lack established, domestic, and widely accessible media that provide accurate, objective, and comprehensive news; and
- would benefit U.S. national security and related interests, and the safety and security of U.S. citizens at home and abroad.
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) Establishes the United States International Communications Agency (USICA), consisting of the Voice of America and the offices of the International Broadcasting Bureau. and
(Sec. 102) Establishes the USICA Board and the Chief Executive Officer and their authorities and duties.
(Sec. 108) Prescribes requirements for: (1) enhanced coordination among USICA, the Freedom News Network established under title II, and the Department of State; (2) USICA grants to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, or the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated; and (3) specified USICA personnel and compensation limitations.
Subtitle B: The Voice of America - (Sec. 121) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Voice of America (VOA): (1) has been an indispensable element of U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy efforts and should remain the flagship brand of the Agency, and (2) would benefit from a recalibration of federal international broadcasting agencies and resources which would provide it with greater mission focus and flexibility.
(Sec. 122) Requires VOA to adhere to specified principles and carry out specified duties and responsibilities.
(Sec. 124) Requires Radio Marti and Television Marti, which constitute the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, to: (1) continue programming and content production consistent with their mission and activities under the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act and the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act, and (2) continue to exist within VOA.
(Sec. 125) Establishes the office of the VOA Director and specifies the Director's duties and responsibilities.
Subtitle C: General Provisions - (Sec. 131) Requires the USICA Board and the Freedom News Network (FNN) to conduct periodic, unclassified consultations with the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in order to assess international developments, including :
- progress toward democratization, the development of free and independent media outlets, and the free flow of information in countries that receive USICA and FNN programming and content; and
- foreign languages that have increased or decreased in strategic importance.
(Sec. 132) Requires federal agency heads, upon a formal request from the Chair of the USICA Board, to assist and coordinate with USICA to facilitate a temporary broadcasting surge or enhance transmission capacity for such a surge for USICA, FNN, or both.
(Sec. 133) Makes it USICA policy to give FNN the right of first refusal for acquisition of any radio or television broadcast transmission facilities or equipment USICA disposes of.
(Sec. 134) Repeals the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994.
Title II: The Freedom News Network - (Sec. 201) Expresses 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 news and related programming and content in countries where free media are not established.
Subtitle A: Consolidation of Existing Grantee Organizations - (Sec. 211) Consolidates RFE/RL Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated into the (non-federal) Freedom News Network (FNN) to carry out all international broadcasting activities supported by the U.S. government. Retains the brand names of the individual grantees.
(Sec. 212) Requires FNN to:
- provide uncensored local and regional news and analysis to people in societies where a robust, indigenous, independent, and free media does not exist;
- strengthen civil societies by promoting democratic values and promoting equality and the rights;
- help countries improve their indigenous capacity to enhance media professionalism and independence, and develop partnerships with local media outlets; and
- 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) Specifies FNN standards and principles, including consistency with broad U.S. foreign policy objectives.
Subtitle B: Organization of the Freedom News Network - (Sec. 221) Prescribes requirements for an FNN Board and Chief Executive Officer, the annual budget, and assistance from federal agencies and instrumentalities.
(Sec. 225) Makes conforming amendments to the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948.
Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - (Sec. 301) Directs the USICA and FNN Chief Executive Officers each to establish procedures to vet and monitor employees 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 U.S. national security objectives.
(Sec. 302) Requires any funds appropriated for broadcasting subject to USICA supervision to be authorized first and not to exceed authorized levels.
Cosponsors 15
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Apr 28, 2014 to Jul 9, 2014; 8 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-CA | Brad Sherman | Original | Apr 28, 2014 |
| R-CA | Dana Rohrabacher | Original | Apr 28, 2014 |
| D-NY | Eliot L. Engel | Original | Apr 28, 2014 |
| D-VA | Gerald E. Connolly | Original | Apr 28, 2014 |
| R-FL | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | Original | Apr 28, 2014 |
| R-AZ | Matt Salmon | Original | Apr 28, 2014 |
| R-OH | Steve Chabot | Original | Apr 28, 2014 |
| D-MA | William R. Keating | Original | Apr 28, 2014 |
| D-NJ | Albio Sires | Apr 29, 2014 | |
| R-TX | Michael T. McCaul | Apr 29, 2014 | |
| R-TX | Ted Poe | Apr 29, 2014 | |
| D-FL | Theodore E. Deutch | Apr 29, 2014 | |
| D-CA | Alan S. Lowenthal | Apr 30, 2014 | |
| R-TX | Steve Stockman | Apr 30, 2014 | |
| R-NC | Walter B. Jones | Jul 9, 2014 |
Committees 2
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Foreign Affairs Committee | Referred Apr 28, 2014Markup Apr 30, 2014Reported Jul 18, 2014 |
| Senate | Foreign Relations Committee | Referred Jul 29, 2014 |
Actions 12
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Jul 29, 2014Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Jul 28, 2014Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jul 28, 2014Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6886-6895)
- Jul 28, 2014DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4490.
- Jul 28, 2014Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6886-6893)
- Jul 28, 2014Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Jul 18, 2014Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 113-541.
- Jul 18, 2014Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 407.
- Apr 30, 2014Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- Apr 30, 2014Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- Apr 28, 2014Introduced in House
- Apr 28, 2014Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In the Congressional Record 1
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | Debate and remarks H6886–H6895Text printed H6886–H6893 | Edward R. Royce R-CA, Gerald E. Connolly D-VA | Jul 28, 2014 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Committee report
Congressional Budget Office cost estimate
- Jun 24, 2014H.R. 4490, United States International Communications Reform Act of 2014As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 30, 2014
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the page H3241.
Printed hearings 1
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
CRS reports 3
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 3
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R46968 | U.S. Agency for Global Media: Background, Governance, and Issues for Congress | Report | Nov 17, 2021 |
| R43521 | U.S. International Broadcasting: Background and Issues for Reform Archived | Report | Dec 15, 2016 |
| R43024 | Cuba: U.S. Policy and Issues for the 113th Congress Archived | Report | Dec 29, 2014 |
Titles 4
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To enhance the missions, objectives, and effectiveness of United States international communications, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- United States International Communications Reform Act of 2014
- Short Titles as Reported to House
- United States International Communications Reform Act of 2014
- Short Titles as Passed House
- United States International Communications Reform Act of 2014
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: International Affairs.
- Africa
- Broadcasting Board of Governors
- Caribbean area
- Congressional oversight
- Cuba
- Espionage and treason
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Federal officials
- Government buildings, facilities, and property
- Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
- Government studies and investigations
- Human rights
- International Affairs
- International exchange and broadcasting
- Internet and video services
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Latin America
- News media and reporting
- Political movements and philosophies
- Religion
- Sound recording
- Tax-exempt organizations
- Television and film
Text 4
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jul 29, 2014Referred in Senate
- Jul 28, 2014Engrossed in House
- Jul 18, 2014Reported in House
- Apr 28, 2014Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
