# 119-s-417: INFORM Act

119-s-417, INFORM Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK); status introduced (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-417
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-417
- Congress: 119
- Title: INFORM Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-05
- Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**Expand access to independent, uncensored information for people in the People’s Republic of China.** This bill would create a U.S. government strategy, an interagency task force, and a new Global News Service grantee structure to fund Mandarin-language content and internet circumvention tools that reach audiences inside and outside the PRC. - PRC citizens: Would increase timely Mandarin-language news and programming tailored to issues like food safety, healthcare, jobs, and transparency, and pair that content with tools to bypass PRC internet controls so more people can view it. - U.S. broadcasters, diaspora, and foreign media: Creates a Global News Service under the U.S. international broadcasting framework to fund and distribute Mandarin and English content, prioritize distribution to countries influenced by PRC-controlled media, and target the Chinese diaspora. - State Department, USAGM, and tech partners: Requires an interagency task force led by a presidential coordinator, directs the State Department to expand funding for content and open-source circumvention tools, and charges the Open Technology Fund with solicitations and partnerships for tool development. *Would authorize $25 million per year to the Department of State and $50 million per year to the United States Agency for Global Media for fiscal years 2025–2029, totaling about $75 million per year in authorized spending over that period.*

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New Global News Service funding: benefit, medium. This bill would create a Global News Service under the U.S. broadcasting law and authorize $50 million per year for FY2025–FY2029 to support it. The Service would give grants to produce, translate, and distribute Mandarin and English China‑related content. Grants could not be used to influence U.S.…
- State Department China info funding: benefit, medium. This bill would authorize $25 million per year for the State Department for FY2025–FY2029. The money would fund programs under the bill's China information strategy. Funds could pay outside groups to survey people in China and the Indo‑Pacific. Actual spending would depend on later congressional ap…
- U.S. plan to reach people in China: benefit, medium. This bill would require the President to deliver a strategy within one year to expand Mandarin access to independent information. It would create an interagency task force and a coordinator to run the plan. The State Department would oversee Mandarin content and seek more funding for circumvention…

## Related bills

- 119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-2012: Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025
- 119-s-3257: John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act

## Sources
- [119-s-417 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/417)

## Related
- [119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-2012: Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2012)
- [119-s-3257: John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3257)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-417 (as of 2025-12-21).