I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2323 
To enhance the missions, objectives, and effectiveness of United States 
international communications, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 14, 2015 
Mr. ROYCE (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. ROS- 
LEHTINEN, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. 
SALMON, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. SIRES, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. 
KEATING, and Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To enhance the missions, objectives, and effectiveness of 
United States international communications, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘United States International Communications Reform Act 
of 2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings and declarations. 
Sec. 3. Purposes. 
Sec. 4. Definitions. 
Sec. 5. Broadcasting standards. 
Sec. 6. Eligible broadcast areas. 
TITLE I—ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND MANAGEMENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 
AGENCY 
Subtitle A—Establishment of the United States International Communications 
Agency 
Sec. 101. Existence within the Executive Branch. 
Sec. 102. Establishment of the Board of the United States International Com-
munications Agency. 
Sec. 103. Authorities and duties of the board of the United States International 
Communications Agency. 
Sec. 104. Establishment of the Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
International Communications Agency. 
Sec. 105. Authorities and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Communications Agency. 
Sec. 106. Role of the Secretary of State. 
Sec. 107. Role of the Inspector General. 
Sec. 108. Enhanced coordination between United States International Commu-
nications Agency and the Freedom News Network; Program 
content sharing; Grantee independence. 
Sec. 109. Enhanced coordination among the United States International Com-
munications Agency, the Freedom News Network, and the De-
partment of State; Freedom News Network independence. 
Sec. 110. Grants to the Freedom News Network. 
Sec. 111. Other personnel and compensation limitations. 
Sec. 112. Reporting requirements of the United States International Commu-
nications Agency. 
Subtitle B—The Voice of America 
Sec. 121. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 122. Principles of the Voice of America. 
Sec. 123. Duties and responsibilities of the Voice of America. 
Sec. 124. Limitation on Voice of America news, programming, and content; Ex-
ception for broadcasting to Cuba. 
Sec. 125. Director of Voice of America. 
Subtitle C—General Provisions 
Sec. 131. Federal agency coordination in support of United States public diplo-
macy. 
Sec. 132. Federal agency assistance and coordination with the United States 
International Communications Agency and the Freedom News 
Network during international broadcast surges. 
Sec. 133. Freedom News Network right of first refusal in instances of Federal 
disposal of radio or television broadcast transmission facilities 
or equipment. 
Sec. 134. Repeal of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994. 
Sec. 135. Effective date. 
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TITLE II—THE FREEDOM NEWS NETWORK 
Sec. 201. Sense of Congress. 
Subtitle A—Consolidation of Existing Grantee Organizations 
Sec. 211. Formation of the Freedom News Network from existing grantees. 
Sec. 212. Mission of the Freedom News Network. 
Sec. 213. Standards and principles of the Freedom News Network. 
Subtitle B—Organization of the Freedom News Network 
Sec. 221. Governance of the Freedom News Network. 
Sec. 222. Budget of the Freedom News Network. 
Sec. 223. Assistance from other government agencies. 
Sec. 224. Reports by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of 
State; Audits by GAO. 
Sec. 225. Amendments to the United States Information and Educational Ex-
change Act of 1948. 
TITLE III—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 301. Preservation of United States National Security objectives. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS. 
Congress finds and declares the following: 
(1) United States international broadcasting ex-
ists to advance the United States interests and val-
ues by presenting accurate, objective, and com-
prehensive news and information, which is the foun-
dation for democratic governance, to societies that 
lack a free media. 
(2) Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights states that ‘‘[e]veryone has the right 
to freedom of opinion and expression’’, and that 
‘‘this right includes freedom to hold opinions without 
interference and to seek, receive and impart infor-
mation and ideas through any media and regardless 
of frontiers’’. 
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