II 

Calendar No. 459

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2096

[Report No. 108–246] 

To promote a free press and open media through the National Endowment 

for Democracy and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 23, 2004

Mr. LUGAR (for himself, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. HAGEL, and Mr. FEINGOLD) 

introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Relations 

MARCH 18, 2004

Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of March 12, 2004, by 

Mr. LUGAR, without amendment 

A BILL

To promote a free press and open media through the 

National Endowment for Democracy and for other purposes.

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 Free 

5 Press and Open Media Act of 2004’’. 
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•S 2096 RS 

1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress makes the following findings: 

3 (1) It is in the national interest of the United 

4 States to promote the development of free press and 

5 open media around the world, as such development 

6 increases the national security of the United States. 

7 (2) A free press and open media, including tra8 ditional forms of communications such as print 

9 media, television, and radio programming, and films 

10 and entertainment media, as well as emerging forms 

11 of communication such as media transmitted on the 

12 Internet and by wireless transmissions, are among 

13 the foundations of democratic institutions in an open 

14 society that respects human rights. 

15 (3) A free press and open media can best be 

16 achieved if the press and media—

17 (A) are located in a country that—

18 (i) has legal protections to ensure that 

19 the press and media are independent of 

20 government control or subversion and are 

21 able to deliver information without impedi22 ment; and 

23 (ii) has journalists, editors, publishers, 

24 producers, and business executives who are 

25 practiced in the basic concepts of fairness 

26 and equal access in a civil society; and 
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•S 2096 RS 

1 (B) are able to be financially self-sufficient 

2 through subscription fees, advertising revenues, 

3 donations, or other funding mechanisms. 

4 (4) Private sector groups in the United States, 

5 including businesses and nongovernmental organiza6 tions, have carried out a variety of activities to pro7 mote free press and open media in foreign countries. 

8 (5) There is a need to establish an entity—

9 (A) to address issues related to the devel10 opment of a free press and open media; and 

11 (B) to bring together individuals and insti12 tutions to organize and focus greater attention 

13 on the establishment of new, and the enhance14 ment of existing, free media programs through15 out the world. 

16 (6) The National Endowment for Democracy 

17 (in this section referred to as the ‘‘NED’’) is a non18 profit, federally funded, grantmaking, nongovern19 mental organization recognized by Congress in the 

20 National Endowment for Democracy Act (22 U.S.C. 

21 4411 et seq.). 

22 (7) The NED has historically provided support 

23 and coordination of the activities of private sector 

24 groups and nongovernmental organizations that pro25 mote democratic institutions. 
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•S 2096 RS 

1 (8) The NED has received strong bipartisan 

2 support from Presidents and Congress since it was 

3 established in 1983. 

4 (9) The NED is the appropriate entity—

5 (A) to address issues related to the devel6 opment of a free press and open media; and 

7 (B) to bring together individuals and insti8 tutions to organize and focus greater attention 

9 on the establishment of new, and enhancement 

10 of existing, free media programs throughout the 

11 world. 

12 SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR 

13 DEMOCRACY ACT. 

14 (a) PURPOSES OF THE ENDOWMENT.—Section 

15 502(b) of the National Endowment for Democracy Act (22 

16 U.S.C. 4411(b)) is amended— 

17 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘rights)’’ and 

18 inserting ‘‘rights and freedom of the press and other 

19 media)’’; 

20 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and busi21 ness;’’ and inserting ‘‘business, and media;’’; 

22 (3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘media,’’ 

23 after ‘‘business,’’; and 

24 (4) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘media,’’ 

25 after ‘‘business,’’. 
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1 (b) FUNDS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF THE

2 PRESS.—Section 503 of the National Endowment for De3 mocracy Act (22 U.S.C. 4412) is amended by striking sub4 section (e) and inserting the following: 

5 ‘‘(e) Not less than 10 percent of the amounts made 

6 available to the Endowment for fiscal year 2005 should 

7 be made available for programs to promote freedom of the 

8 press and other media.’’. 
Calendar No. 459

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2096

[Report No. 108–246] 

A BILL

To promote a free press and open media through 

other purposes. the National Endowment for Democracy and for 

MARCH 18, 2004

Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of 

March 12, 2004, without amendment