I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2800 
To improve the conduct of strategic communication by the Federal 
Government. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 20, 2007 
Mr. THORNBERRY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To improve the conduct of strategic communication by the 
Federal Government. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strategic Communica-
tion Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER FOR STRATEGIC COM-
MUNICATION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The ability of the United States to credibly 
communicate to populations throughout the world is 
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critical for achieving national objectives and is essen-
tial for improving national security and foreign pol-
icy. 
(2) Strategic communication describes a variety 
of instruments used by governments to understand 
global attitudes and cultures, to engage in a dialogue 
of ideas between peoples and institutions, to advise 
policymakers, diplomats, and military leaders on the 
public opinion implications of policy choices, and to 
influence attitudes and behavior through commu-
nications strategies. 
(3) There have been dramatic changes in the 
world, including changes in technology, changes in 
religious, ethnic, and regional conflicts, and changes 
in economic, political, and military relationships. 
These dramatic changes necessitate that the depart-
ments and agencies of the Federal Government re-
sponsible for national security and homeland secu-
rity work more closely together so they may function 
more effectively. 
(4) Since 2001, more than 15 private sector 
and congressional reports have examined public di-
plomacy, with each coming to the conclusion that 
United States efforts in public diplomacy, a subset 
of strategic communication, are lacking in leader-
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ship, strategic direction, interagency coordination, 
and a culture of measurement and evaluation. Spe-
cifically, the Defense Science Board Task Force on 
Strategic Communication concluded that ‘‘United 
States strategic communication must be trans-
formed.’’. 
(b) CENTER FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of State shall solicit from organizations whose 
primary role is research and analysis related to na-
tional security and foreign policy offers to establish 
a Center for Strategic Communication (in this Act 
referred to as the ‘‘Center’’) within such organiza-
tions. The Secretary shall select from among such 
offers one organization to establish the Center. 
(2) TAX EXEMPT REQUIREMENT.—To be eligi-
ble to make an offer under this subsection, an orga-
nization shall be an organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 
exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Center shall have the following du-
ties: 
(1) Provide information and analysis on a reg-
ular basis to civilian and military decisionmakers in 
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the Department of State, the Department of De-
fense, the Department of Justice, the Department of 
Homeland Security, and the Director of National In-
telligence on issues vital to United States national 
security and foreign policy to enhance the ability of 
such decisionmakers to make informed decisions re-
garding the following: 
(A) Global public opinion. 
(B) The role of culture, values, and reli-
gion in shaping human behavior. 
(C) Media trends and influences on audi-
ences. 
(D) Information technologies. 
(E) The implications of all source intel-
ligence assessments. 
(F) Such other subject matters or issues 
as such decisionmakers request. 
(2) Develop plans, themes, products, and pro-
grams for the creation and implementation of 
United States communication strategies that pro-
mote diplomatic opportunities, provide a positive 
view of the United States, and respond to national 
security threats. 
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(3) Support government-wide strategic commu-
nication through services provided on a cost-recovery 
basis. Such services shall— 
(A) use, whenever possible, nongovern-
mental entities to foster cross-cultural ex-
changes of ideas, people, and information; 
(B) maintain knowledge management sys-
tems, language and skills inventories, and pro-
cedures to recruit private sector experts for 
short term assignments; and 
(C) develop and maintain the ability to de-
ploy temporary communication teams to aug-
ment planning, recruitment, and training for 
strategic communication within the Federal 
Government. 
(4) Develop tools and techniques to monitor 
and evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and mes-
sage continuity of their own operations and of gov-
ernment-wide strategic communication initiatives to 
help adapt plans, themes, products, and programs to 
meet current and anticipated requirements. 
(5) Perform functions including— 
(A) audience polling and analysis, includ-
ing analysis related to ethnographic, psycho-
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graphic, demographic, behavioral and tracking 
research, and focus groups; 
(B) cultural influence analysis, including 
analysis related to values, religion, entertain-
ment, and education; 
(C) analysis of media influences on audi-
ences, including analysis related to content 
analysis, agendas, political and social ten-
dencies, relevance and credibility, and media or-
ganization structure, ownership, and business 
models; and 
(D) fostering cross-cultural exchanges of 
ideas, peoples, and information. 
(6) Contract with private sector and academic 
entities, whenever possible, for a range of products 
and programs that communicate strategic themes 
and messages to appropriate target audiences, in-
cluding themes and messages related to— 
(A) respect for human dignity and indi-
vidual rights; 
(B) individual education and economic op-
portunity; and 
(C) personal freedom, safety, and mobility. 
(7) Mobilize nongovernment initiatives, includ-
ing temporary communication teams, coalition build-
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ing partnerships, and deployment of language-quali-
fied global messengers. 
(d) LIAISON.—The Secretary of State shall designate 
an individual from the Department of State to serve as 
a liaison between the departments and agencies described 
in subsection (c)(1) and the Center. 
(e) FUNDING.—From amounts appropriated to the 
Department of State each fiscal year, $250,000,000 shall 
be made available to support the administration of the 
Center and to fund work with private sector and academic 
entities. Additional funding for projects and programs to 
be carried out by the Center may be provided through con-
tracts and task orders entered into by departments and 
agencies of the Government. 
SEC. 3. REPORT. 
Not later than six months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
Congress a report describing the actions taken in accord-
ance with this Act to strengthen the Federal Government’s 
strategic communication capability. The report shall, at a 
minimum, contain the following information: 
(1) A description of the efforts taken to under-
stand global public opinion, the strategic implica-
tions of policymaking, and engage in more effective 
communication with global audiences. 
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(2) A description of the efforts taken to coordi-
nate the components of strategic communication, in-
cluding components related to public diplomacy, 
public affairs, international broadcasting, and mili-
tary information operations. 
(3) Recommendations for additional statutory 
changes to improve the public diplomacy capabilities 
of the United States. 
(4) An examination of the feasibility of estab-
lishing a strategic communication organization with-
in the National Security Council to coordinate the 
efforts of the Center. 
(5) Recommendations for elevating officials of 
the Department of State who are responsible for 
matters relating to public diplomacy and public af-
fairs to the levels of Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
State or Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary. 
(6) Recommendations for elevating the Coordi-
nator of the Bureau of International Information 
Programs to Assistant Secretary of State. 
Æ 
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