To promote a free press and open media through the National Endowment for Democracy and for other purposes.

February 23, 2004

Mr. LUGAR introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

To promote a free press and open media through the National Endowment for Democracy and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `International Free Press and Open Media Act of 2004'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) It is in the national interest of the United States to promote the development of free press and open media around the world, as such development increases the national security of the United States.

(2) A free press and open media, including traditional forms of communications such as print media, television, and radio programming, and films and entertainment media, as well as emerging forms of communication such as media transmitted on the Internet and by wireless transmissions, are among the foundations of democratic institutions in an open society that respects human rights.

(3) A free press and open media can best be achieved if the press and media--

(A) are located in a country that--

(i) has legal protections to ensure that the press and media are independent of government control or subversion and are able to deliver information without impediment; and

(ii) has journalists, editors, publishers, producers, and business executives who are practiced in the basic concepts of fairness and equal access in a civil society; and

(B) are able to be financially self-sufficient through subscription fees, advertising revenues, donations, or other funding mechanisms.

(4) Private sector groups in the United States, including businesses and nongovernmental organizations, have carried out a variety of activities to promote free press and open media in foreign countries.

(5) There is a need to establish an entity--

(A) to address issues related to the development of a free press and open media; and

(B) to bring together individuals and institutions to organize and focus greater attention on the establishment of new, and the enhancement of existing, free media programs throughout the world.

(6) The National Endowment for Democracy (in this section referred to as the `NED') is a nonprofit, federally funded, grantmaking, nongovernmental organization recognized by Congress in the National Endowment for Democracy Act (22 U.S.C. 4411 et seq.).

(7) The NED has historically provided support and coordination of the activities of private sector groups and nongovernmental organizations that promote democratic institutions.

(8) The NED has received strong bipartisan support from Presidents and Congress since it was established in 1983.

(9) The NED is the appropriate entity--

(A) to address issues related to the development of a free press and open media; and

(B) to bring together individuals and institutions to organize and focus greater attention on the establishment of new, and enhancement of existing, free media programs throughout the world.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY ACT.

(a) PURPOSES OF THE ENDOWMENT- Section 502(b) of the National Endowment for Democracy Act (22 U.S.C. 4411(b)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking `rights)' and inserting `rights and freedom of the press and other media)';

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking `and business;' and inserting `business, and media;';

(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting `media,' after `business,'; and

(4) in paragraph (5), by inserting `media,' after `business,'.

(b) FUNDS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS- Section 503 of the National Endowment for Democracy Act (22 U.S.C. 4412) is amended by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:

`(e) Not less than 10 percent of the amounts made available to the Endowment for fiscal year 2005 should be made available for programs to promote freedom of the press and other media.'.

END