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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2121 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

                  In the Senate of the United States,

                                                    September 20, 2002.
    Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 
2121) entitled ``An Act to make available funds under the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 to expand democracy, good governance, and anti-
corruption programs in the Russian Federation in order to promote and 
strengthen democratic government and civil society in that country and 
to support independent media.'', do pass with the following

                              AMENDMENTS:

            Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Russian Democracy Act of 2002''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the 
        leadership of the Russian Federation has publicly committed 
        itself to building--
                    (A) a society with democratic political 
                institutions and practices, the observance of 
                universally recognized standards of human rights, and 
                religious and press freedom; and
                    (B) a market economy based on internationally 
                accepted principles of transparency, accountability, 
                and the rule of law.
            (2) In order to facilitate this transition, the 
        international community has provided multilateral and bilateral 
        technical assistance, and the United States' contribution to 
        these efforts has played an important role in developing new 
        institutions built on democratic and liberal economic 
        foundations and the rule of law.
            (3)(A) Since 1992, United States Government democratic 
        reform programs and public diplomacy programs, including 
        training, and small grants have provided access to and training 
        in the use of the Internet, brought nearly 40,000 Russian 
        citizens to the United States, and have led to the 
        establishment of more than 65,000 nongovernmental 
        organizations, thousands of independent local media outlets, 
        despite governmental opposition, and numerous political 
        parties.
            (B) These efforts contributed to the substantially free and 
        fair Russian parliamentary elections in 1995 and 1999.
            (4) The United States has assisted Russian efforts to 
        replace its centrally planned, state-controlled economy with a 
        market economy and helped create institutions and 
        infrastructure for a market economy. Approximately two-thirds 
        of the Russian Federation's gross domestic product is now 
        generated by the private sector, and the United States 
        recognized Russia as a market economy on June 7, 2002.
            (5)(A) The United States has fostered grassroots 
        entrepreneurship in the Russian Federation by focusing United 
        States economic assistance on small- and medium-sized 
        businesses and by providing training, consulting services, and 
        small loans to more than 250,000 Russian entrepreneurs.
            (B) There are now more than 900,000 small businesses in the 
        Russian Federation, producing 12 to 15 percent, depending on 
        the estimate, of the gross domestic product of the Russian 
        Federation.
            (C) United States-funded programs have contributed to 
        fighting corruption and financial crime, such as money 
        laundering, by helping to--
                    (i) establish a commercial legal infrastructure;
                    (ii) develop an independent judiciary;
                    (iii) support the drafting of a new criminal code, 
                civil code, and bankruptcy law;
                    (iv) develop a legal and regulatory framework for 
                the Russian Federation's equivalent of the United 
                States Securities and Exchange Commission;
                    (v) support Russian law schools;
                    (vi) create legal aid clinics; and
                    (vii) bolster law-related activities of 
                nongovernmental organizations.
            (6) Because the capability of Russian democratic forces and 
        the civil society to organize and defend democratic gains 
        without international support is uncertain, and because the 
        gradual integration of the Russian Federation into the global 
        order of free-market, democratic nations would enhance Russian 
        cooperation with the United States on a wide range of 
        political, economic, and security issues, the success of 
        democracy in Russia is in the national security interest of the 
        United States, and the United States Government should develop 
        a far-reaching and flexible strategy aimed at strengthening 
        Russian society's support for democracy and a market economy, 
        particularly by enhancing Russian democratic institutions and 
        education, promoting the rule of law, and supporting Russia's 
        independent media.
            (7) Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the 
        Russian Federation has stood with the United States and the 
        rest of the civilized world in the struggle against terrorism 
        and has cooperated in the war in Afghanistan by sharing 
        intelligence and through other means.
            (8) United States-Russia relations have improved, leading 
        to a successful summit between President Bush and President 
        Putin in May 2002, resulting in a ``Foundation for 
        Cooperation''.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to strengthen and advance institutions of democratic 
        government and of free and independent media, and to sustain 
        the development of an independent civil society in the Russian 
        Federation based on religious and ethnic tolerance, 
        internationally recognized human rights, and an internationally 
        recognized rule of law; and
            (2) to focus United States foreign assistance programs on 
        using local expertise and to give local organizations a greater 
        role in designing and implementing such programs, while 
        maintaining appropriate oversight and monitoring.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States Government should--
            (1) recognize that a democratic and economically stable 
        Russian Federation is inherently less confrontational and 
        destabilizing in its foreign policy and therefore that the 
        promotion of democracy in Russia is in the national security 
        interests of the United States; and
            (2) continue and increase assistance to the democratic 
        forces in the Russian Federation, including the independent 
        media, regional administrations, democratic political parties, 
        and nongovernmental organizations.
    (b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United 
States--
            (1) to facilitate Russia's integration into the Western 
        community of nations, including supporting the establishment of 
        a stable democracy and a market economy within the framework of 
        the rule of law and respect for individual rights, including 
        Russia's membership in the appropriate international 
        institutions;
            (2) to engage the Government of the Russian Federation and 
        Russian society in order to strengthen democratic reform and 
        institutions, and to promote transparency and good governance 
        in all aspects of society, including fair and honest business 
        practices, accessible and open legal systems, freedom of 
        religion, and respect for human rights;
            (3) to advance a dialogue among United States Government 
        officials, private sector individuals, and representatives of 
        the Government of the Russian Federation regarding Russia's 
        integration into the Western community of nations;
            (4) to encourage United States Government officials and 
        private sector individuals to meet regularly with democratic 
        activists, human rights activists, representatives of the 
        independent media, representatives of nongovernmental 
        organizations, civic organizers, church officials, and reform-
        minded politicians from Moscow and all other regions of the 
        Russian Federation;
            (5) to incorporate democratic reforms, the promotion of 
        independent media, and economic reforms in a broader United 
        States dialogue with the Government of the Russian Federation;
            (6) to encourage the Government of the Russian Federation 
        to address, in a cooperative and transparent manner consistent 
        with internationally recognized and accepted principles, cross-
        border issues, including the nonproliferation of weapons of 
        mass destruction, environmental degradation, crime, 
        trafficking, and corruption;
            (7) to consult with the Government of the Russian 
        Federation and the Russian Parliament on the adoption of 
        economic and social reforms necessary to sustain Russian 
        economic growth and to ensure Russia's transition to a fully 
        functioning market economy and membership in the World Trade 
        Organization;
            (8) to persuade the Government of the Russian Federation to 
        honor its commitments made to the Organization for Security and 
        Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at the November 1999 Istanbul 
        Conference, and to conduct a genuine good neighbor policy 
        toward the other independent states of the former Soviet Union 
        in the spirit of internationally accepted principles of 
        regional cooperation; and
            (9) to encourage the G-8 partners and international 
        financial institutions, including the World Bank, the 
        International Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for 
        Reconstruction and Development, to develop financial safeguards 
        and transparency practices in lending to the Russian 
        Federation.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Democracy and rule of law.--Section 498(2) of the 
        Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295(2)) is amended--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                ``Democracy'' and inserting ``Democracy and rule of 
                law'';
                    (B) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (G);
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as 
                subparagraph (I);
                    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                following:
                    ``(E) development and support of grass-roots and 
                nongovernmental organizations promoting democracy, the 
                rule of law, transparency, and accountability in the 
                political process, including grants in small amounts to 
                such organizations;
                    ``(F) international exchanges and other forms of 
                public diplomacy to promote greater understanding on 
                how democracy, the public policy process, market 
                institutions, and an independent judiciary function in 
                Western societies;
                    ``(G) political parties and coalitions committed to 
                promoting democracy, human rights, and economic 
                reforms;
                    ``(H) support for civic organizations committed to 
                promoting human rights;''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(J) strengthened administration of justice 
                through programs and activities carried out in 
                accordance with section 498B(e), including--
                            ``(i) support for nongovernmental 
                        organizations, civic organizations, and 
                        political parties that favor a strong and 
                        independent judiciary;
                            ``(ii) support for local organizations that 
                        work with judges and law enforcement officials 
                        in efforts to achieve a reduction in the number 
                        of pretrial detainees; and
                            ``(iii) support for the creation of legal 
                        associations or groups that provide training in 
                        human rights and advocacy, public education 
                        with respect to human rights-related laws and 
                        proposed legislation, and legal assistance to 
                        persons subject to improper government 
                        interference.''.
            (2) Independent media.--Section 498 of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (13) as 
                paragraphs (4) through (14), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Independent media.--Developing free and independent 
        media, including--
                    ``(A) supporting all forms of independent media 
                reporting, including print, radio, and television;
                    ``(B) providing special support for, and 
                unrestricted public access to, nongovernmental 
                Internet-based sources of information, dissemination 
                and reporting, including providing technical and other 
                support for web radio services, providing computers and 
                other necessary resources for Internet connectivity and 
                training new Internet users in nongovernmental civic 
                organizations on methods and uses of Internet-based 
                media; and
                    ``(C) training in journalism, including 
                investigative journalism techniques that educate the 
                public on the costs of corruption and act as a 
                deterrent against corrupt officials.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 498B(e) of such Act is amended 
by striking ``paragraph (2)(G)'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)(J)''.

SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

    (a) Assistance Programs.--In providing assistance to the Russian 
Federation under chapter 11 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.), the President is authorized to--
            (1) work with the Government of the Russian Federation, the 
        Duma, and representatives of the Russian Federation judiciary 
        to help implement a revised and improved code of criminal 
        procedure and other laws;
            (2) establish civic education programs relating to 
        democracy, public policy, the rule of law, and the importance 
        of independent media, including the establishment of ``American 
        Centers'' and public policy schools at Russian universities and 
        encourage cooperative programs with universities in the United 
        States to offer courses through Internet-based off-site 
        learning centers at Russian universities; and
            (3) support the Regional Initiatives (RI) program, which 
        provides targeted assistance in those regions of the Russian 
        Federation that have demonstrated a commitment to reform, 
        democracy, and the rule of law, and which promotes the concept 
        of such programs as a model for all regions of the Russian 
        Federation.
    (b) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America.--RFE/RL, 
Incorporated, and the Voice of America should use new and innovative 
techniques, in cooperation with local independent media sources and 
using local languages as appropriate and as possible, to disseminate 
throughout the Russian Federation information relating to democracy, 
free-market economics, the rule of law, and human rights.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR DEMOCRACY, INDEPENDENT MEDIA, 
              AND THE RULE OF LAW.

    Of the amounts made available to carry out the provision of chapter 
11 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et 
seq.) and the FREEDOM Support Act for fiscal year 2003, $50,000,000 is 
authorized to be available for the activities authorized by paragraphs 
(2) and (3) of section 498 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as 
amended by section 4(a) of this Act.

SEC. 7. PRESERVING THE ARCHIVES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND NOBEL 
              PEACE PRIZE WINNER ANDREI SAKHAROV.

    (a) Authorization.--The President is authorized, on such terms and 
conditions as the President determines to be appropriate, to make a 
grant to Brandeis University for an endowment for the Andrei Sakharov 
Archives and Human Rights Center for the purpose of collecting and 
preserving documents related to the life of Andrei Sakharov and the 
administration of such Center.
    (b) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
President to carry out subsection (a) not more than $1,500,000.

SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF LAW.

    The provisions of section 108(c) of H.R. 3427, as enacted by 
section 1000(a)(7) of Public Law 106-113, shall apply to United States 
contributions for fiscal year 2003 to the organization described in 
section 108(c) of H.R. 3427.

            Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to make available 
        funds under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to expand 
        democracy, good governance, and anti-corruption programs in the 
        Russian Federation in order to promote and strengthen 
        democratic government and civil society and independent media 
        in that country.''.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
107th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 2121

_______________________________________________________________________

                               AMENDMENTS
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