Congressional Documents
59 006
105 th Congress
Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session
105 303
RADIO FREE ASIA ACT OF 1997
October 6, 1997.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
Mr. Gilman, from the Committee on International Relations, submitted
the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2232]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on International Relations, to whom was referred the
bill (H.R. 2232) to provide for increased international broadcasting
activities to China, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do
pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof
the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Radio Free Asia Act of 1997''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Government of the People's Republic of China systematically
controls the flow of information to the Chinese people.
(2) The Government of the People's Republic of China demonstrated
that maintaining its monopoly on political power is a higher priority
than economic development by announcing in January 1996 that its
official news agency Xinhua, will supervise wire services selling
economic information, including Dow Jones-Telerate, Bloomberg, and
Reuters Business, and in announcing in February of 1996 the ``Interim
Internet Management Rules'', which have the effect of censoring computer
networks.
(3) Under the May 30, 1997, order of Premier Li Peng, all
organizations that engage in business activities related to
international computer networking must now apply for a license,
increasing still further government control over access to the internet.
(4) Both Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America, as a surrogate
for a free press in the People's Republic of China, provide an
invaluable source of uncensored information to the Chinese people,
including objective and authoritative news of in-country and regional
events, as well as accurate news about the United States and its
policies.
(5) Radio Free Asia currently broadcasts only 5 hours a day in the
Mandarin dialect and 2 hours a day in Tibetan.
(6) Voice of America currently broadcasts only 10 hours a day in
Mandarin and 3\1/2\ hours a day in Tibetan.
(7) Radio Free Asia and Voice of America should develop
24-hour-a-day service in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Tibetan, as well as
further broadcasting capability in the dialects spoken in the People's
Republic of China.
(8) Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, in working toward
continuously broadcasting to the People's Republic of China in multiple
languages, have the capability to immediately establish 24-hour-a-day
Mandarin broadcasting to that nation by staggering the hours of Radio
Free Asia and Voice of America.
(9) Simultaneous broadcasting on Voice of America radio and Worldnet
television 7 days a week in Mandarin are also important and needed
capabilities.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR INCREASED FUNDING
FOR RADIO FREE ASIA AND VOICE OF AMERICA BROADCASTING TO CHINA.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations for Radio Free Asia.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for ``Radio Free Asia'' $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1998
and $22,000,000 for fiscal year 1999.
(2) Limitations.--
(A) Of the funds under paragraph (1) authorized to be appropriated
for fiscal year 1998, $8,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for
one-time capital costs.
(B) Of the funds under paragraph (1), $700,000 is authorized to be
appropriated for each such fiscal year for additional personnel to staff
Cantonese language broadcasting.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations for International Broadcasting to
China and North Korea.--In addition to such sums as are otherwise
authorized to be appropriated for ``International Broadcasting
Activities'' for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, there are authorized to be
appropriated for ``International Broadcasting Activities'' $10,000,000
for fiscal year 1998 and $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, which shall be
available only for enhanced Voice of America broadcasting to China and
North Korea.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations for Radio Construction.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to such sums as
are otherwise authorized to be appropriated for ``Radio Construction''
for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, there are authorized to be appropriated
for ``Radio Construction'' $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, which shall be available only for
construction in support of enhanced broadcasting to China.
(2) Limitation.--Of the funds under paragraph (1) authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal year 1998, $3,000,000 is authorized to be
appropriated to facilitate the timely augmentation of transmitters at
Tinian, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(d) Allocation.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for
``International Broadcasting Activities'', the Director of the United
States Information Agency and the Board of Broadcasting Governors shall
seek to ensure that the amounts made available for broadcasting to
nations whose people do not fully enjoy freedom of expression do not
decline in proportion to the amounts made available for broadcasting to
other nations.
(e) Allocation of Funds for North Korea.--Of the funds under
subsection (b), $2,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each
fiscal year for additional personnel and broadcasting targeted at North
Korea.
SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, in
consultation with the Board of Broadcasting Governors, the President
shall prepare and transmit to Congress a report on a plan to achieve
continuous broadcasting of Radio Free Asia and Voice of America to the
People's Republic of China in multiple major dialects and languages.
SEC. 5. UTILIZATION OF UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL
BROADCASTING SERVICES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING
FUGITIVES FROM UNITED STATES JUSTICE.
United States international broadcasting services, particularly the
Voice of America, shall produce and broadcast public service
announcements, by radio, television, and Internet, regarding fugitives
from the criminal justice system of the United States, including cases
of international child abduction.
Background and Purpose
H.R. 2232, the ``Radio Free Asia Act of 1997,'' is intended to
provide continuous, 24-hour-a-day broadcasting capability into China and
Tibet. The increased broadcast programs will be in Mandarin, Cantonese,
Tibetan, and other dialects spoken in the People's Republic of China.
Section 2 of the bill is a series of findings describing the media
and information environment in the People's Republic of China, and the
current limited broadcast hours of Radio Free Asia and the Voice of
America, which serve as the surrogate free press in the People's
Republic of China.
Section 3 provides for the authorization of appropriations for fiscal
years 1998 and 1999 to support the activities required to increase the
hours of broadcasting. Of the funds authorized to be appropriated for
International Broadcasting, $2 million is authorized to be appropriated
for broadcasting to North Korea.
Section 4 is a reporting requirement requiring the President to
prepare a plan to achieve the continuous broadcasting through Radio Free
Asia and the Voice of America to the People's Republic of China.
Committee Action
On March 13, 1997, the Subcommittee on International Operations and
Human Rights held a hearing on the U.S. Information Agency, which among
other duties, is responsible for U.S. international broadcasting.
Witnesses at this hearing included: The Honorable Joseph D. Duffey,
Director of the U.S. Information Agency, and David W. Burke, Chairman of
the International Broadcasting Board of Governors.
On July 9, 1996, the Subcommittee on International Operations and
Human Rights held a hearing on international broadcasting. Witnesses for
this hearing were: The Honorable Joseph D. Duffey, Director of the U.S.
Information Agency and David W. Burke, Chairman of the international
Broadcasting Board of Governors.
The Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights
reported to the full committee, H.R. 2232, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute, on September 25, 1997.
The Full Committee marked up the bill on September 29, 1997,
considering the subcommittee amendment in the nature of a substitute as
original text for the purposes of amendment and taking the following
preliminary actions, all by voice vote:
Adopting the Kim amendment, adding reference to North Korea to
section 3(b) of the bill.
Adoping the Smith amendment revising subsection (7) of section 1,
striking language relating to additional advanced editing equipment, and
reducing the amount for additional personnel to staff Cantonese language
broadcasting.
Adopting the Bereuter amendment making a technical change in a
reference.
Adopting the Royce amendment relating to utilization of U.S.
International Broadcasting Services for public service announcements
relative to fugitives from U.S. justice.
After concluding its consideration of the amendment in the nature of
a substitute, the Committee adopted the amendment and ordered the bill
reported to the House by voice vote, a quorum being present.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(A) of rule XI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee reports the findings and
recommendations of the Committee, based on oversight activities under
clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives,
are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report.
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight Findings
No findings or recommendations of the Committee on Government Reform
and Oversight were received as referred to in clause 2(l)(3)(D) of rule
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures
The Committee adopts the cost estimate of the Congressional Budget
Office, set out below, as its submission of any required information on
new budget authority, new spending authority, new credit authority, or
an increase or decrease in the national debt required by clause
2(l)(3)(B) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to
Section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation.
Applicablity to the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the terms
and conditions of employment or access to public services or
accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the
Congressional Accountability Act.
Constitutional Authority Statement
In compliance with clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee cites the following specific
powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution as authority for
enactment of H.R. 2232, as reported by the Committee: Article I, section
8, clause 3 (relating to the regulation of commerce with foreign nations
and among the several states); and Article I, section 8, clause 18
(relating to making all laws necessary and proper for carrying into
execution powers vested by the Constitution in the government of the
United States).
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(C) of rule XI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth with respect to H.R.
2232 as reported by the Committee the following estimate and comparison
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under
section 403 of the Budget Act of 1974:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, October 3, 1997.
Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman, Chairman, Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the
enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2232, the Radio Free Asia Act of 1997.
If your wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to
provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita D'Monte.
Sincerely,
June E. O'Neill, Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 2232--Radio Free Asia Act of 1997
H.R. 2232 would authorize appropriations of $50 million in 1998 and
$32 million in 1999 for broadcasting to China and North Korea and
construction of broadcasting facilities. Assuming that authorized
amounts would be appropriated by the start of each fiscal year and that
outlays would follow historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that
enacting the bill would raise spending by $32 million in 1998 and $81
million over the 1998 2002 period. The authorizations in this bill would
be in addition to amounts provided in other legislation. H.R. 1757, as
passed by the House of Representatives on June 11, 1997, would authorize
$415 million in 1998 and $405 million in 1999 for broadcasting and
construction of facilities. Together, H.R. 2232 and H.R. 1757 would
raise annual funding for comparable activities by $105 million in 1998
and $77 million in 1999 over the amount provided in 1997. Because H.R.
2232 would not affect direct spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go
procedures would not apply.
The bill contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) and would not affect the
budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. Section 5 of H.R. 2232,
however, would impose a new private-sector mandate on two privately
owned United States international broadcasting services, Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. The bill would require these
organizations to produce and broadcast, by radio, television, and
Internet, public service announcements regarding fugitives from the
criminal justice system of the United States. Based on information
provided by representatives of these organizations, CBO estimates that
the direct cost of the new private-sector mandate would be well below
the statutory threshold ($100 million in 1996, adjusted annually for
inflation) established in UMRA in any year.
The estimate of costs to the federal government was prepared by
Sunita D'Monte. Lesley Frymier prepared the estimate of the
private-sector mandate, and Pepper Santalucia assessed the impact on
state, local, and tribal governments. This estimate was approved by Paul
N. Van de Water, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Provides that the Act may be cited as the ``Radio Free Asia Act of
1997.''
Section 2. Findings
Sets forth relevant findings of Congress, including that the
government of the People's Republic of China systematically controls the
flow of information to the Chinese people; that Radio Free Asia and the
Voice of America provide an invaluable source of information to the
Chinese people, but have limited service to China; that Radio Free Asia
and the Voice of America should develop 24-hour-a-day service in
Mandarin, Cantonese, and Tibetan; and that together Radio Free Asia and
the Voice of America could immediately establish 24-hour-a-day
broadcasting to China in Mandarin.
Section 3. Authorization of appropriations for increased
funding for Radio Free Asia and Voice of America broadcasting to China
Authorizes the appropriation of $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and
$22,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 for Radio Free Asia. Of the amounts
authorized for fiscal year 1998 for Radio Free Asia, $8,000,000 is
authorized for one-time capital costs. Of the amounts authorized for
fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for Radio Free Asia, $700,000 is authorized
for each such fiscal year for additional personnel to staff Cantonese
language broadcasting.
In addition, authorizes the appropriation of $10,000,000 for fiscal
year 1998 and $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 for International
Broadcasting Activities, which shall be in addition to such sums as are
otherwise authorized and which shall be available only for enhanced
Voice of America broadcasting to China and North Korea. Of the amounts
authorized for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for International Broadcasting
Activities, $2,000,000 is authorized for each such fiscal year for
additional personnel and broadcasting targeted at North Korea.
In addition, authorizes $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 for Radio Construction, which shall be
in addition to such sums as are otherwise authorized and which shall be
available only for construction in support of enhanced broadcasting to
China. Of the amount authorized for Radio Construction for fiscal year
1998, $3,000,000 is authorized to facilitate the timely augmentation of
transmitters at Tinian.
The Director of the U.S. Information Agency and the Broadcasting
Board of Governors shall seek to ensure that of the funds made available
for International Broadcasting Activities, the proportion of funds made
available for broadcasting to nations whose people do not enjoy full
freedom of expression does not decline.
Section 4. Reporting requirements
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment, the President
shall transmit to Congress a plan to achieve continuous broadcasting on
Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America to China in multiple major
dialects and languages.
Section 5. Utilization of United States International
Broadcasting Services for public service announcements regarding
fugitives from United States justice
United States international broadcasting services shall produce and
broadcast public service announcements regarding fugitives form the U.S.
criminal justice system, including cases of international child
abduction.
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