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119-s-2844119th Congress

Charlie Kirk Act

Sponsored By: Senator Lee, Mike [R-UT]

Introduced

Summary

Authorizes the United States Agency for Global Media to spread information overseas while sharply restricting domestic distribution. The bill would let the USAGM Chief Executive Officer and its networks prepare and disseminate information about the United States, its people, and its policies abroad through press, publications, radio, motion pictures, the internet, information centers, instructors abroad, and other direct or indirect means of communication.

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  • Would let the USAGM CEO and component networks create and share U.S. information overseas using press, radio, film, the internet, instructors, and other media.
  • Would bar general domestic distribution while allowing representatives of U.S. press groups, researchers, scholars, and Members of Congress to examine materials in English at the Department of State after release.
  • Would require materials to be made available for domestic distribution after 12 years from their overseas release, and allow USAGM to be reimbursed for expenses tied to implementing that delay.
  • Would make the Archivist of the United States the official custodian, responsible for securing rights and charging fees that are paid into the National Archives Trust Fund.
  • Would permit only two items to be sold by the Government Publishing Office: Problems of Communism and English Teaching Forum.
  • Would add a ban on using USAGM funds to influence public opinion in the United States and bar domestic distribution of program material, while preserving the ability of USAGM employees to respond to public inquiries.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban on USAGM domestic distribution

This bill would bar use of USAGM funds to influence opinion inside the United States. It would stop most USAGM program material from being distributed domestically. Press groups, scholars, and Members of Congress could still examine some items in English at the State Department. Only the "Problems of Communism" and the "English Teaching Forum" could be sold by the Government Publishing Office. Programs under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act would be exempt. USAGM employees would still be allowed to answer public inquiries about agency operations.

12-year release of USAGM materials

This bill would require USAGM material made for foreign audiences to be given to the National Archives after 12 years. If a work was never shown abroad, it would be released 12 years after it was made. The Archivist would be the official custodian and would make rules to check that requesters have needed U.S. rights and licenses. People who ask for material would pay fees to cover the Archivist's costs, and those fees would go into the National Archives Trust Fund. USAGM could be reimbursed for expenses from its appropriation. The Archivist would only have to provide material in the same format used abroad.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lee, Mike [R-UT]

UT • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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