89–010 

Calendar No. 439 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 111–214 

PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF RADIO FREE ASIA ACT 

OF 2010 

JUNE 22, 2010.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. KERRY, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 3104] 

The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under consideration the bill (S. 3104) to permanently authorize Radio Free Asia, 

and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and recommends that the bill 

as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Purpose ........................................................................................................... 1 

II. Committee Action .......................................................................................... 1 

III. Discussion ....................................................................................................... 1 

IV. Cost Estimate ................................................................................................. 2 

V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact .................................................................. 3 

VI. Changes in Existing Law .............................................................................. 3 

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 3104 is to amend Section 309 of the United 

States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6208) to 

permanently authorize funding for Radio Free Asia. 

II. COMMITTEE ACTION

S. 3104 was introduced by Senators Lugar, Franken, Inouye, 

Kaufman, Risch, and Webb on March 11, 2010. On May 25, 2010, 

the committee ordered the bill, with an amendment in the nature 

of a substitute, reported favorably by voice vote. 

III. DISCUSSION

Radio Free Asia provides daily broadcasting of news, commentary, analysis, and cultural programming to Asian countries in 

several languages, including: Mandarin, three Tibetan dialects, Korean, Burmese, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Khmer, Uyghur, 

and Wu. These programs, broadcast in shortwave frequencies and 

on the Internet, serve as substitutes for indigenous free media in 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
2 

regions lacking free media outlets and enable informed decisionmaking by the people within Asia. 

S. 3104 reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to support free press in Asia and to promote governmental accountability 

and the protection of human rights. It authorizes the permanent 

funding of Radio Free Asia and calls for more congressional funding for cyber security initiatives and Internet censorship circumvention. 

IV. COST ESTIMATE

In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this estimate of the 

costs of this legislation prepared by the Congressional Budget 

Office. 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, June 2, 2010. 

Hon. JOHN F. KERRY, JR., 

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, 

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 3104, a bill to permanently 

authorize Radio Free Asia, and for other purposes. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. 

The CBO staff contact is Sunita D’Monte. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF, Director. 

Enclosure. 

S. 3104—A bill to permanently authorize Radio Free Asia, and for 

other purposes 

AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN

RELATIONS ON MAY 25, 2010

S. 3104 would permanently extend the authorization for Radio 

Free Asia (RFA). RFA is a private, nonprofit corporation that 

broadcasts news, cultural programming, and other information in 

several languages to countries in Asia. Under current law, the 

authorization for RFA expires at the end of fiscal year 2010. Based 

on the 2010 appropriated level of $37 million, CBO estimates that 

RFA would require an appropriation of $38 million for 2011 (that 

amount is identical to the President’s request for 2011). After adjusting for inflation, CBO estimates that implementing the bill 

would cost $188 million over the 2011–2015 period, assuming 

appropriation of the necessary amounts. Enacting this legislation 

would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-yougo procedures would not apply. 

S. 3104 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The estimated budgetary impact of S. 3104 is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 150 (international affairs). 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
3 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011-2015 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Estimated Authorization Level .............................. 38 38 39 40 41 196 

Estimated Outlays ................................................ 32 38 39 39 40 188 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D’Monte. The 

estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing Rules 

of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation. 

VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, as 

reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman). 

United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 309. RADIO FREE ASIA. 

(a) AUTHORITY.— 

* * * * * * * 

(c) GRANT AGREEMENT.—Any grant agreement or grants under 

this section shall be subject to the following limitations and restrictions: 

(1) The Board may not make any grant to Radio Free Asia 

unless the headquarters of Radio Free Asia and its senior administrative and managerial staff are in a location which ensures economy, operational effectiveness, and accountability to 

the Board. 

(2) Any grant agreement under this section shall require 

that any contract entered into by Radio Free Asia shall specify 

that all obligations are assumed by Radio Free Asia and not 

by the United States Government ø, and shall further specify 

that funds to carry out the activities of Radio Free Asia may 

not be available after September 30, 2010¿. 

* * * * * * * 

ø(f) SUNSET PROVISION.—The Board may not make any grant for 

the purpose of operating Radio Free Asia after September 30, 

2009.¿ 

ø(g)¿ (f) NOTIFICATION AND CONSULTATION REGARDING DISPLACEMENT OF VOICE OF AMERICA BROADCASTING.—øTHE BOARD¿ (1) NOTIFICATION.— The Board shall notify the appropriate congressional 

committees øbefore entering¿ before— 

(A) entering into any agreements for the utilization of Voice 

of America transmitters, equipment, or other resources that 

will significantly reduce the broadcasting activities of the Voice 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS
4 

of America in Asia or any other region in order to accommodate the broadcasting activities of øRadio Free Asia.¿ Radio 

Free Asia; or 

(B) entering into any agreements in regard to the utilization 

of Radio Free Asia transmitters, equipment, or other resources 

that will significantly reduce the broadcasting activities of 

Radio Free Asia. 

(2) CONSULTATION.—The Chairman of the Board shall consult 

with such committees on the impact of any such reduction in Voice 

of America broadcasting activities or Radio Free Asia broadcasting 

activities. ø(h)¿ (g) NOT A FEDERAL AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY.—Nothing in this title may be construed to make Radio Free Asia a Federal agency or instrumentality. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REPORTS