I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2466

To encourage democratic reform in Iran and to strengthen United States 

policy toward the current Government of Iran. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 12, 2003

Mr. SHERMAN (for himself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. 

SOUDER, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. 

WEINER, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. NADLER, Mr. DEUTSCH, and 

Mr. ENGEL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on 

Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL

To encourage democratic reform in Iran and to strengthen 

United States policy toward the current Government of Iran.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Iran Freedom and De5 mocracy Support Act’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 (1) The Government of Iran is currently seek3 ing to develop nuclear weapons and other weapons 

4 of mass destruction and has an active and successful 

5 ballistic missile program. 

6 (2) Recent revelations have shown that Iran is 

7 further along than previously believed in enriching 

8 uranium and developing nuclear weapons, and may 

9 only be months away from developing the capability 

10 to manufacture nuclear weapons. 

11 (3) There is currently not a democratic govern12 ment in Iran. Iran is an ideological dictatorship pre13 sided over by an unelected ‘‘Supreme Leader’’ with 

14 limitless veto power, an unelected Expediency Coun15 cil, a Council of Guardians capable of eviscerating 

16 any reforms, and a President elected only after the 

17 Council disqualified 234 other candidates for being 

18 too liberal, reformist, or secular. 

19 (4) The April 2003 Department of State report 

20 on terrorism indicates that Iran remained the most 

21 active state sponsor of terrorism in 2002. 

22 (5) That report also states that Iran continues 

23 to provide funding, safehaven, training, and weapons 

24 to known terrorist groups, notably Hizballah, 

25 HAMAS, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, and the Pop26 ular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. 
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1 (6) Human rights have failed to improve in 

2 Iran under the pseudo-reformers. Torture, execu3 tions after unfair trials, and censorship of all media 

4 remain rampant throughout the country. Stoning 

5 and beheading are used as methods of punishment. 

6 (7) While the Government of Iran remains 

7 overtly hostile to the United States, the people of 

8 Iran have demonstrated that they wish for improved 

9 relations with the United States. 

10 (8) The people of Iran have demonstrated their 

11 desire for a democratically-elected, more secular gov12 ernment, committed to protecting the human rights 

13 of all of its citizens. The people of Iran have also 

14 demonstrated their desire to see such changes come 

15 about through an internationally-monitored ref16 erendum. 

17 SEC. 3. POLICY. 

18 It is the policy of the United States to—

19 (1) support transparent, full democracy in Iran; 

20 (2) support an internationally-monitored ref21 erendum in Iran by which the Iranian people can 

22 peacefully change the system of government in Iran; 

23 (3) support the aspirations of the Iranian peo24 ple to live in freedom; and 
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1 (4) help the Iranian people achieve a free press 

2 and build an open, democratic, and free society. 

3 SEC. 4. RADIO FARDA REFORM. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Broadcasting Board of Gov5 ernors shall—

6 (1) require the head of Radio Farda to develop 

7 programming for Radio Farda, after consulting 

8 with—

9 (A) Iranian-Americans and other Iranian 

10 exiles who—

11 (i) support a referendum described in 

12 section 3(2); and 

13 (ii) oppose the current Government of 

14 Iran; and 

15 (B) the Middle East Partnership Initiative 

16 (MEPI) at the Department of State and the 

17 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 

18 (ECA) at the Department of State; and 

19 (2) ensure that a significant percentage of the 

20 programming on Radio Farda is devoted to dis21 cussing democratic change in Iran including an 

22 internationally-monitored democratic referendum in 

23 Iran as described in section 3(2). 

24 (b) TRANSLATIONS OF WRITTEN AND VIDEO MATE25 RIALS FOR THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.—
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1 (1) REQUIREMENT.—The MEPI and ECA shall 

2 provide grants to appropriate entities to create and 

3 maintain websites, translate and distribute books, 

4 videos, documents, and other materials on democ5 racy, rule of law free market economics, and related 

6 topics. 

7 (2) CONSULTATION.—The MEPI and ECA 

8 shall consult with nongovernmental entities and with 

9 Iranian-American opposition groups that support the 

10 holding of an internationally-monitored referendum 

11 in Iran as described in section 3(2) to select mate12 rials to be translated into Persian. 

13 (c) IRAN DEMOCRACY SUPPORT INITIATIVE.—

14 (1) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding any other 

15 provision of law, the MEPI and ECA are authorized 

16 to award grants to an eligible entity for the purpose 

17 of funding programs and activities to promote a 

18 democratic referendum in Iran. 

19 (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The following persons 

20 are eligible for grants under paragraph (1): 

21 (A) A person who provides radio or tele22 vision broadcasting into Iran that includes pro23 gramming intended to promote an internation24 ally-monitored democratic referendum in Iran. 
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1 (B) A person who is working to promote 

2 the holding of an internationally-monitored ref3 erendum in Iran, as described in section 3(2). 

4 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Not5 withstanding any other provision of law, not less than 5 

6 percent of the funds appropriated to the International 

7 Broadcasting Operations account for fiscal year 2004 

8 shall be made available to carry out the provisions of this 

9 Act. 

10 SEC. 5. IMMEDIATELY ENDING THE UNITED STATES IMPOR11 TATION OF IRANIAN GOODS. 

12 Notwithstanding any other provision of law and ex13 cept as provided in section 6, no textile or food article that 

14 is produced, grown, or manufactured in Iran shall enter 

15 or be imported into the United States. 

16 SEC. 6. CONDITIONS FOR THE RESUMPTION OF UNITED 

17 STATES IMPORTATION OF IRANIAN GOODS. 

18 The President may waive the prohibition on the im19 portation of Iranian goods to the United States beginning 

20 on or after the date on which the President transmits to 

21 Congress a certification stating that—

22 (1) Iran has shown substantial progress in re23 specting generally recognized human rights stand24 ards including due process under law; 
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1 (2) Iran has ceased its support for international 

2 terrorism; and 

3 (3) Iran has terminated its program to develop 

4 nuclear weapons. 

5 SEC. 7. TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO USAID. 

6 (a) TRANSFER.—If, beginning on or after the date 

7 of the enactment of this Act, an international financial 

8 institution to which the United States is a member pro9 vides a loan, guarantee, grant, or other form of assistance 

10 to Iran, then, notwithstanding any other provision of law, 

11 an amount equal to the amount of such assistance may, 

12 from amounts available for United States contributions to 

13 the international financial institution involved, be made 

14 available to the United States Agency for International 

15 Development for programs to promote child survival and 

16 to combat HIV/AIDS. 

17 (b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—For purposes of sub18 section (a), the various international financial institutions 

19 of the World Bank Group shall be considered to comprise 

20 a single international financial institution. 

21 (c) TERMINATION.—The authority of this section 

22 shall terminate on the date on which the President trans23 mits to Congress a certification under section 6. 
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1 SEC. 8. REPORTS ON AL QAEDA PRESENCE IN IRAN. 

2 Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact3 ment of this Act, and not later than 1 year thereafter, 

4 the President shall transmit to Congress report on the 

5 presence of elements of the al Qaeda terrorist organization 

6 on the territory of Iran and the posture of the Government 

7 of Iran toward these elements.

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