I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2466
To encourage democratic reform in Iran and to strengthen United States 
policy toward the current Government of Iran. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2003
Mr. SHERMAN (for himself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. 
SOUDER, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. 
WEINER, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. NADLER, Mr. DEUTSCH, and 
Mr. ENGEL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To encourage democratic reform in Iran and to strengthen 
United States policy toward the current Government of Iran.
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 ‘‘Iran Freedom and De-
mocracy Support Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
(1) The Government of Iran is currently seek-
ing to develop nuclear weapons and other weapons 
of mass destruction and has an active and successful 
ballistic missile program. 
(2) Recent revelations have shown that Iran is 
further along than previously believed in enriching 
uranium and developing nuclear weapons, and may 
only be months away from developing the capability 
to manufacture nuclear weapons. 
(3) There is currently not a democratic govern-
ment in Iran. Iran is an ideological dictatorship pre-
sided over by an unelected ‘‘Supreme Leader’’ with 
limitless veto power, an unelected Expediency Coun-
cil, a Council of Guardians capable of eviscerating 
any reforms, and a President elected only after the 
Council disqualified 234 other candidates for being 
too liberal, reformist, or secular. 
(4) The April 2003 Department of State report 
on terrorism indicates that Iran remained the most 
active state sponsor of terrorism in 2002. 
(5) That report also states that Iran continues 
to provide funding, safehaven, training, and weapons 
to known terrorist groups, notably Hizballah, 
HAMAS, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, and the Pop-
ular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
(6) Human rights have failed to improve in 
Iran under the pseudo-reformers. Torture, execu-
tions after unfair trials, and censorship of all media 
remain rampant throughout the country. Stoning 
and beheading are used as methods of punishment. 
(7) While the Government of Iran remains 
overtly hostile to the United States, the people of 
Iran have demonstrated that they wish for improved 
relations with the United States. 
(8) The people of Iran have demonstrated their 
desire for a democratically-elected, more secular gov-
ernment, committed to protecting the human rights 
of all of its citizens. The people of Iran have also 
demonstrated their desire to see such changes come 
about through an internationally-monitored ref-
erendum. 
SEC. 3. POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States to—
(1) support transparent, full democracy in Iran; 
(2) support an internationally-monitored ref-
erendum in Iran by which the Iranian people can 
peacefully change the system of government in Iran; 
(3) support the aspirations of the Iranian peo-
ple to live in freedom; and
(4) help the Iranian people achieve a free press 
and build an open, democratic, and free society. 
SEC. 4. RADIO FARDA REFORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Broadcasting Board of Gov-
ernors shall—
(1) require the head of Radio Farda to develop 
programming for Radio Farda, after consulting 
with—
(A) Iranian-Americans and other Iranian 
exiles who—
(i) support a referendum described in 
section 3(2); and 
(ii) oppose the current Government of 
Iran; and 
(B) the Middle East Partnership Initiative 
(MEPI) at the Department of State and the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs 
(ECA) at the Department of State; and 
(2) ensure that a significant percentage of the 
programming on Radio Farda is devoted to dis-
cussing democratic change in Iran including an 
internationally-monitored democratic referendum in 
Iran as described in section 3(2). 
(b) TRANSLATIONS OF WRITTEN AND VIDEO MATE-
RIALS FOR THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.—
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The MEPI and ECA shall 
provide grants to appropriate entities to create and 
maintain websites, translate and distribute books, 
videos, documents, and other materials on democ-
racy, rule of law free market economics, and related 
topics. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The MEPI and ECA 
shall consult with nongovernmental entities and with 
Iranian-American opposition groups that support the 
holding of an internationally-monitored referendum 
in Iran as described in section 3(2) to select mate-
rials to be translated into Persian. 
(c) IRAN DEMOCRACY SUPPORT INITIATIVE.—
(1) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the MEPI and ECA are authorized 
to award grants to an eligible entity for the purpose 
of funding programs and activities to promote a 
democratic referendum in Iran. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The following persons 
are eligible for grants under paragraph (1): 
(A) A person who provides radio or tele-
vision broadcasting into Iran that includes pro-
gramming intended to promote an internation-
ally-monitored democratic referendum in Iran.