Internet Freedom Rapid Response Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.8075 | Sponsor: Rep. Demings, Val Butler (D-FL)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Internet Freedom Rapid Response Act of 2022
This bill authorizes the U.S. Agency for Global Media's Open Technology Fund to make grants to eligible entities to support internet freedom technologies to counter acute escalations in censorship in closed countries (generally countries in which democratic participation, free expression, freedom of movement, or access to information is suppressed).

To authorize the Open Technology Fund of the United States Agency for 
 Global Media to make grants to surge and sustain support for internet 
  freedom technologies to counter acute escalations in censorship in 
               closed countries, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Internet Freedom Rapid Response Act 
of 2022''.

SEC. 2. OPEN TECHNOLOGY FUND GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--In addition to grants made to the Open Technology 
Fund of the United States Agency for Global Media pursuant to section 
305 of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 
U.S.C. 6204) to make grants for the purposes specified in section 309A 
of such Act (22 U.S.C. 6208a), the Open Technology Fund may make grants 
to eligible entities to surge and sustain support for internet freedom 
technologies to counter acute escalations in censorship in closed 
countries.
    (b) Methodology.--Grants under this section shall be made 
competitively, and shall be subject to audits by the Open Technology 
Fund to ensure that technologies described in subsection (a) are secure 
and have not been compromised in a manner detrimental to the interests 
of the United States or to individuals or organizations benefitting 
from programs supported by such grants.
    (c) Reporting.--The Open Technology Fund shall annually submit to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and 
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee 
on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
Senate a report on grants made and activities carried out pursuant to 
such grants during the immediately preceding fiscal year.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to carry 
        out this section.
            (2) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated 
        pursuant to this subsection are authorized to remain available 
        until expended.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Closed countries.--The term ``closed countries'' means 
        countries in which democratic participation, free expression, 
        freedom of movement, or access to information is suppressed or 
        explicitly prohibited through political, judicial, social, or 
        technical means, or as otherwise determined by the Secretary of 
        State, the Chief Executive Officer for the United States Agency 
        for Global Media, or the President of the Open Technology Fund.
            (2) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entities'' 
        means public or private sector entities with proven and 
        already-deployed technology relating to surging and sustaining 
        support for internet freedom technologies to counter acute 
        escalations in censorship in closed countries.
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