Freedom of Information in Vietnam Act of 2003 (Introduced in House)

HR 1019 IH

108th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1019

To promote the freedom of information in Vietnam.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 27, 2003

Mr. ROYCE (for himself and Ms. LOFGREN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

A BILL

To promote the freedom of information in Vietnam.

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 `Freedom of Information in Vietnam Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Vietnam has failed to meet its obligations as a signatory to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which ensures that citizens of Vietnam are free `to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds'.

(2) The Government of Vietnam continues to restrict all forms of media.

(3) The Government of Vietnam systematically jams broadcasts by Radio Free Asia and blocks its Internet site.

(4) Radio Free Asia is an independent broadcast service funded by the United States in order to provide objective news and information to the people of countries in Asia whose governments deny the right to freedom of expression and of the press.

(5) Unrestricted access to news and information is a check on repressive rule by Vietnam's authoritarian regime.

(6) The Government of Vietnam is taking active measures to keep its citizens from freely accessing the Internet and obtaining international and domestic political, religious, and economic news and information.

SEC. 3. RADIO FREE ASIA TRANSMISSIONS TO VIETNAM.

(a) POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES- It is the policy of the United States to take such measures as are necessary to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the Government of Vietnam.

(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS-

(1) BROADCASTING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS- In addition to such sums as are otherwise authorized to be appropriated for `Broadcasting Capital Improvements', there are authorized to be appropriated for `Broadcasting Capital Improvements' $10,000,000 for the fiscal year 2004 to carry out the policy under subsection (a).

(2) INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING OPERATIONS- In addition to such sums as are otherwise authorized to be appropriated for `International Broadcasting Operations', there are authorized to be appropriated for `International Broadcasting Operations' $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for surrogate radio broadcasting to Vietnam by Radio Free Asia.

SEC. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF PILOT PROJECT TO DEFEAT INTERNET JAMMING AND CENSORSHIP BY THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROJECT- There is established in the International Broadcasting Bureau a pilot project to develop and implement a strategy to combat State-sponsored Internet jamming and persecution of persons who use the Internet by the Government of Vietnam.

(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITY- Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Broadcasting Board of Governors for the fiscal years 2004 and 2005, $1,700,000 for fiscal year 2004 and $1,600,000 for the fiscal year 2005 is authorized to be made available to counter the jamming of the Internet in Vietnam.