[Senate Report 111-214]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 439
111th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 111-214
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PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF RADIO FREE ASIA ACT OF 2010
_______
June 22, 2010.--Ordered to be printed
Mr. Kerry, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 3104]
The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under
consideration the bill (S. 3104) to permanently authorize Radio
Free Asia, and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and recommends
that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose..........................................................1
II. Committee Action.................................................1
III. Discussion.......................................................1
IV. Cost Estimate....................................................2
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................3
VI. Changes in Existing Law..........................................3
I. Purpose
The purpose of S. 3104 is to amend Section 309 of the
United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C.
6208) to permanently authorize funding for Radio Free Asia.
II. Committee Action
S. 3104 was introduced by Senators Lugar, Franken, Inouye,
Kaufman, Risch, and Webb on March 11, 2010. On May 25, 2010,
the committee ordered the bill, with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute, reported favorably by voice vote.
III. Discussion
Radio Free Asia provides daily broadcasting of news,
commentary, analysis, and cultural programming to Asian
countries in several languages, including: Mandarin, three
Tibetan dialects, Korean, Burmese, Cantonese, Vietnamese,
Laotian, Khmer, Uyghur, and Wu. These programs, broadcast in
shortwave frequencies and on the Internet, serve as substitutes
for indigenous free media in regions lacking free media outlets
and enable informed decision-making by the people within Asia.
S. 3104 reaffirms that it is the policy of the United
States to support free press in Asia and to promote
governmental accountability and the protection of human rights.
It authorizes the permanent funding of Radio Free Asia and
calls for more congressional funding for cyber security
initiatives and Internet censorship circumvention.
IV. Cost Estimate
In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this
estimate of the costs of this legislation prepared by the
Congressional Budget Office.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 2, 2010.
Hon. John F. Kerry, Jr.,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 3104, a bill to
permanently authorize Radio Free Asia, and for other purposes.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita
D'Monte.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf,
Director.
Enclosure.
S. 3104--A bill to permanently authorize Radio Free Asia, and for other
purposes
AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ON MAY
25, 2010
S. 3104 would permanently extend the authorization for
Radio Free Asia (RFA). RFA is a private, nonprofit corporation
that broadcasts news, cultural programming, and other
information in several languages to countries in Asia. Under
current law, the authorization for RFA expires at the end of
fiscal year 2010. Based on the 2010 appropriated level of $37
million, CBO estimates that RFA would require an appropriation
of $38 million for 2011 (that amount is identical to the
President's request for 2011). After adjusting for inflation,
CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $188
million over the 2011-2015 period, assuming appropriation of
the necessary amounts. Enacting this legislation would not
affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures would not apply.
S. 3104 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The estimated budgetary impact of S. 3104 is shown in the
following table. The costs of this legislation fall within
budget function 150 (international affairs).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011-2015
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CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Estimated Authorization Level................. 38 38 39 40 41 196
Estimated Outlays............................. 32 38 39 39 40 188
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The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D'Monte.
The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact
Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is
no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation.
VI. Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be
omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in
italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in
roman).
United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994
* * * * * * *
SEC. 309. RADIO FREE ASIA.
(a) Authority.--
* * * * * * *
(c) Grant Agreement.--Any grant agreement or grants under
this section shall be subject to the following limitations and
restrictions:
(1) The Board may not make any grant to Radio Free
Asia unless the headquarters of Radio Free Asia and its
senior administrative and managerial staff are in a
location which ensures economy, operational
effectiveness, and accountability to the Board.
(2) Any grant agreement under this section shall
require that any contract entered into by Radio Free
Asia shall specify that all obligations are assumed by
Radio Free Asia and not by the United States Government
[, and shall further specify that funds to carry out
the activities of Radio Free Asia may not be available
after September 30, 2010].
* * * * * * *
[(f) Sunset Provision.--The Board may not make any grant
for the purpose of operating Radio Free Asia after September
30, 2009.]
[(g)] (f) Notification and Consultation Regarding
Displacement of Voice of America Broadcasting.--[The Board]
(1) Notification._ The Board shall notify the appropriate
congressional committees [before entering] before--
(A) entering into any agreements for the utilization
of Voice of America transmitters, equipment, or other
resources that will significantly reduce the
broadcasting activities of the Voice of America in Asia
or any other region in order to accommodate the
broadcasting activities of [Radio Free Asia.] Radio
Free Asia; or
(B) entering into any agreements in regard to the
utilization of Radio Free Asia transmitters, equipment,
or other resources that will significantly reduce the
broadcasting activities of Radio Free Asia.
(2) Consultation._The Chairman of the Board shall consult
with such committees on the impact of any such reduction in
Voice of America broadcasting activities or Radio Free Asia
broadcasting activities.
[(h)] (g) Not a Federal Agency or Instrumentality.--Nothing
in this title may be construed to make Radio Free Asia a
Federal agency or instrumentality.
* * * * * * *