II 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2096

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 introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

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’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the following findings: 

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

9 States to promote the development of free press and 
2

•S 2096 IS 

1 open media around the world, as such development 

2 increases the national security of the United States. 

3 (2) A free press and open media, including tra4 ditional forms of communications such as print 

5 media, television, and radio programming, and films 

6 and entertainment media, as well as emerging forms 

7 of communication such as media transmitted on the 

8 Internet and by wireless transmissions, are among 

9 the foundations of democratic institutions in an open 

10 society that respects human rights. 

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

12 achieved if the press and media—

13 (A) are located in a country that—

14 (i) has legal protections to ensure that 

15 the press and media are independent of 

16 government control or subversion and are 

17 able to deliver information without impedi18 ment; and 

19 (ii) has journalists, editors, publishers, 

20 producers, and business executives who are 

21 practiced in the basic concepts of fairness 

22 and equal access in a civil society; and 

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

24 through subscription fees, advertising revenues, 

25 donations, or other funding mechanisms. 
3

•S 2096 IS 

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

2 including businesses and nongovernmental organiza3 tions, have carried out a variety of activities to pro4 mote free press and open media in foreign countries. 

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

6 (A) to address issues related to the devel7 opment of a free press and open media; and 

8 (B) to bring together individuals and insti9 tutions to organize and focus greater attention 

10 on the establishment of new, and the enhance11 ment of existing, free media programs through12 out the world. 

13 (6) The National Endowment for Democracy 

14 (in this section referred to as the ‘‘NED’’) is a non15 profit, federally funded, grantmaking, nongovern16 mental organization recognized by Congress in the 

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

18 4411 et seq.). 

19 (7) The NED has historically provided support 

20 and coordination of the activities of private sector 

21 groups and nongovernmental organizations that pro22 mote democratic institutions. 

23 (8) The NED has received strong bipartisan 

24 support from Presidents and Congress since it was 

25 established in 1983. 
4

•S 2096 IS 

1 (9) The NED is the appropriate entity—

2 (A) to address issues related to the devel3 opment of a free press and open media; and 

4 (B) to bring together individuals and insti5 tutions to organize and focus greater attention 

6 on the establishment of new, and enhancement 

7 of existing, free media programs throughout the 

8 world. 

9 SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR 

10 DEMOCRACY ACT. 

11 (a) PURPOSES OF THE ENDOWMENT.—Section 

12 502(b) of the National Endowment for Democracy Act (22 

13 U.S.C. 4411(b)) is amended— 

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

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

16 media)’’; 

17 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and busi18 ness;’’ and inserting ‘‘business, and media;’’; 

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

20 after ‘‘business,’’; and 

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

22 after ‘‘business,’’. 

23 (b) FUNDS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF THE

24 PRESS.—Section 503 of the National Endowment for De-
5

•S 2096 IS 

1 mocracy Act (22 U.S.C. 4412) is amended by striking sub2 section (e) and inserting the following: 

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

4 available to the Endowment for fiscal year 2005 should 

5 be made available for programs to promote freedom of the 

6 press and other media.’’.

Æ