I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1976 

To authorize grants for nongovernmental organizations that use independently 

produced documentary films to promote better understanding of the 

United States abroad and better understanding of global perspectives 

and other countries in the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 2, 2009 

Ms. WATSON (for herself, Ms. RICHARDSON, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. WOOLSEY, 

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. WOLF, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mrs. 

BONO MACK, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. COSTA, Mr. DANIEL E. 

LUNGREN of California, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. ROYCE, Ms. 

ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. SHERMAN, and Ms. ESHOO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To authorize grants for nongovernmental organizations that 

use independently produced documentary films to promote better understanding of the United States abroad 

and better understanding of global perspectives and other 

countries in the United States. 

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 ‘‘International Docu5 mentary Exchange Act of 2009’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) Since September 11, 2001, a distorted per4 ception of the United States has grown abroad, even 

5 as many Americans struggle to understand the in6 creasingly complex world beyond the borders of the 

7 United States. 

8 (2) This public diplomacy crisis poses an ongo9 ing threat to United States security, diplomatic rela10 tions, commerce, and citizen-to-citizen relationships 

11 between the United States and other countries. 

12 (3) Independently produced documentary films 

13 have proven to be an effective means of commu14 nicating United States ideas and values to popu15 lations of other countries. 

16 (4) It is in the interest of the United States to 

17 provide assistance to United States nongovernmental 

18 organizations that produce and distribute independ19 ently produced documentary films. 


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1 SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY EX2 CHANGE PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE BETTER 

3 UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNITED STATES 

4 ABROAD AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF 

5 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND OTHER COUN6 TRIES IN THE UNITED STATES. 

7 (a) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of State is author8 ized to make grants, on such terms and conditions as the 

9 Secretary may determine, to United States nongovern10 mental organizations that use independently produced 

11 documentary films to promote better understanding of the 

12 United States abroad and better understanding of global 

13 perspectives and other countries in the United States. 

14 (b) ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.—Grants provided under 

15 subsection (a) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 

16 be used to carry out the following activities: 

17 (1) Fund, distribute, and promote accessible, 

18 compelling, and credible documentary films that con19 vey a diversity of views about life in the United 

20 States to foreign audiences and bring insightful for21 eign perspectives to United States audiences. 

22 (2) Support documentaries described in para23 graph (1) that are made by independent foreign and 

24 domestic producers, selected through a peer review 

25 process. 


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1 (3) Develop a network of overseas partners to 

2 produce, distribute, and broadcast such documen3 taries. 

4 (c) SPECIAL FACTORS.—In making the grants de5 scribed in subsection (a), the Secretary shall give pref6 erence to nongovernmental organizations that— 

7 (1) provide at least 35 percent of the total 

8 project cost in matching funds from non-Federal 

9 sources; and 

10 (2) have prior experience supporting independ11 ently produced documentary films that have been 

12 broadcast on public television in the United States. 

13 (d) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 

14 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

15 to Congress a report that contains a detailed description 

16 of the implementation of this section for the prior year. 

17 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

19 appropriated to the Secretary of State such sums as 

20 may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 

21 through 2015 to carry out this section. 

22 (2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pur23 suant to the authorization of appropriations under 


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1 paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available 

2 until expended. 

Æ 


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