H. R. 2121
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two
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 Federa-
tion in order to promote and strengthen democratic government and civil society
and independent media in that country.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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 stand-
ards 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 infrastruc-
ture for a market economy. Approximately two-thirds of the
Russian Federation’s gross domestic product is now generated
H. R. 2121—2
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 laun-
dering, 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 Secu-
rities 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 Rus-
sian cooperation with the United States on a wide range of
political, economic, and security issues, the success of democ-
racy 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 Rus-
sian 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 intel-
ligence 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, internation-
ally 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
H. R. 2121—3
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 desta-
bilizing 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 frame-
work 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 govern-
ance 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 inde-
pendent media, representatives of nongovernmental organiza-
tions, 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 Federa-
tion 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 Organiza-
tion;
(8) to persuade the Government of the Russian Federation
to honor its commitments made to the Organization for Security
H. R. 2121—4
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 finan-
cial institutions, including the World Bank, the International
Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development, to develop financial safeguards and trans-
parency 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 non-
governmental 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 democ-
racy, the public policy process, market institutions, and
an independent judiciary function in Western societies;
‘‘(G) political parties and coalitions committed to pro-
moting democracy, human rights, and economic reforms;
‘‘(H) support for civic organizations committed to pro-
moting human rights;’’; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(J) strengthened administration of justice through pro-
grams 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 Assist-
ance 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:
H. R. 2121—5
‘‘(3) INDEPENDENT
MEDIA.—Developing free and inde-
pendent 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 pro-
viding 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 offi-
cials.’’.
(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 Rus-
sian 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 democ-
racy, 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 inde-
pendent 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, INDE-
PENDENT 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.
H. R. 2121—6
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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.