(d) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairman may, with the 
consent of the Secretary and without regard to the 
civil service laws and regulations, appoint and termi-
nate a Director and such other additional personnel 
as may be necessary to enable the Center to carry 
out its functions. The employment of the Director 
shall be subject to confirmation by the Steering 
Committee. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairman may fix 
the compensation of the Director and other per-
sonnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter 
III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, re-
lating to classification of positions and General 
Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for 
the executive director and other personnel may not 
exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of that title. 
(3) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.— 
Any Federal Government employee may be detailed 
to the Center without reimbursement, and such de-
tail shall be without interruption or loss of civil serv-
ice status or privilege. 
(4) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTER-
MITTENT
SERVICES.—The Chairman may procure 
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temporary and intermittent services under section 
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for 
individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level 
V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
that title. 
(e) INFORMATION ACCESS FUND.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of State for fiscal years 2017 and 2018 
$20,000,000 to support the Center and provide 
grants or contracts of financial support to civil soci-
ety groups, journalists, nongovernmental organiza-
tions, federally funded research and development 
centers, private companies, or academic institutions 
for the following purposes: 
(A) To support local independent media 
who 
are 
best 
placed 
to 
refute 
foreign 
disinformation and manipulation in their own 
communities. 
(B) To collect and store examples in print, 
online, and social media, disinformation, misin-
formation, and propaganda directed at the 
United States and its allies and partners. 
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(C) To analyze tactics, techniques, and 
procedures of foreign government information 
warfare with respect to disinformation, misin-
formation, and propaganda. 
(D) To support efforts by the Center to 
counter efforts by foreign governments to use 
disinformation, misinformation, and propa-
ganda to influence the policies and social and 
political stability of the United States and 
United States allies and partners. 
(2) 
FUNDING
AVAILABILITY
AND
LIMITA-
TIONS.—All organizations that apply to receive 
funds under this subsection must undergo a vetting 
process in accordance with the relevant existing reg-
ulations to ensure their bona fides, capability, and 
experience, and their compatibility with United 
States interests and objectives. 
SEC. 4. INCLUSION IN DEPARTMENT OF STATE EDUCATION 
AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS OF 
FOREIGN STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEAD-
ERS FROM COUNTRIES AND POPULATIONS 
SUSCEPTIBLE TO FOREIGN MANIPULATION. 
When selecting participants for United States edu-
cational and cultural exchange programs, the Secretary of 
State shall give special consideration to students and com-
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munity leaders from populations and countries the Sec-
retary deems vulnerable to foreign propaganda and 
disinformation campaigns. 
SEC. 5. REPORTS. 
Not more than one year after the establishment of 
the Center, the Secretary of State shall submit to Con-
gress a report evaluating the success of the Center in ful-
filling the purposes for which it was authorized and out-
lining steps to improve any areas of deficiency. 
SEC. 6. TERMINATION OF CENTER AND STEERING COM-
MITTEE. 
The Center for Information Analysis and Response 
and the Steering Committee shall terminate ten years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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