Iran Freedom and Democracy Support Act

Bill: 108-hr-2466
Sponsor: Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27]
Introduced: 2003-06-12 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Agriculture and Food
Agriculture in foreign trade
Armed Forces and National Security
Arms control
Arts, Culture, Religion
Books
Child health
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Democracy
Development credit institutions
Due process of law
Economic assistance
Families
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Free enterprise
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Human rights
Import restrictions
International broadcasting
Iran
Law
Middle East and North Africa
Nuclear nonproliferation
Nuclear weapons
Radio broadcasting
Radio programs
Referendum
Rule of law
Sanctions (International law)
Science, Technology, Communications
State-sponsored terrorism
Television broadcasting
Television programs
Terrorism
Textile fabrics
Translating and interpreting
Video tape recording
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: 
Iran Freedom and Democracy Support Act - Declares it to be U.S. policy to: (1) support democracy and freedom in Iran; (2) support an internationally-monitored referendum by which the Iranian people can peacefully change the system of government in Iran; and (3) help the Iranian people achieve a free press and a free, democratic society.
 
Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to: (1) require the head of Radio Farda to develop programming in consultation with Iranian exiles who support such a referendum and with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the Department of State; and (2) ensure that a significant percentage of Radio Farda programming discusses democratic change in Iran.
 
Requires the MEPI and ECA to provide grants for the translation and distribution of materials on democracy for the Iranian people.
 
Authorizes the MEPI and ECA to award grants to fund programs and activities to promote a democratic referendum in Iran. 
 
Prohibits the importation of any textile or food article from Iran until the President certifies that Iran has shown substantial progress in respecting human rights, ceased its support for international terrorism, and terminated its nuclear weapons program.
 
Authorizes the reduction in amounts available for U.S. contributions to international financial institutions that provide assistance to Iran in an amount equal to such assistance, and the reallocation of such contributions to the U.S. Agency for International Development for child survival and HIV/AIDS programs, until the President provides the certification referenced above.
 
Requires the President to report to Congress on the presence of al Qaeda elements in Iran.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Referred to the Committee 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.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Referred to the Committee 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.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Referred to the Committee 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.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Introduced in House