[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3466 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 246
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3466
To prohibit the use of Federal funds for the production of programs by
United States companies that alter political content for screening in
the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 10, 2022
Mr. Cruz introduced the following bill; which was read the first time
January 18, 2022
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the use of Federal funds for the production of programs by
United States companies that alter political content for screening in
the People's Republic of China, 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 ``Stopping Censorship, Restoring
Integrity, and Protecting Talkies Act'' or the ``SCRIPT Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Chinese government official.--The term ``Chinese
Government official'' means an official of the Government of
the People's Republic of China or of the Chinese Communist
Party.
(3) Description.--The term ``description'' means any
description of the elements of a program, including the
screenplay or script.
(4) Political content.--The term ``political content''
means content that is considered sensitive by the Chinese
Communist Party or by the Government of the People's Republic
of China for political reasons, including issues related to--
(A) human rights, freedom of expression, Taiwan,
Tibet, Hong Kong, and the Tiananmen Square massacre;
(B) the repression of Uyghurs, the Falun Gong, and
other religious and spiritual minorities; and
(C) the ongoing genocide of the Uyghurs, including
through methods of gender-based violence, such as
forced abortions, involuntary sterilization, and the
involuntary implantation of contraceptives.
(5) Program.--The term ``program'' has the meaning given
the term ``motion pictures'' in section 101 of title 17, United
States Code, including works developed for or broadcast,
rebroadcast, or otherwise transmitted via--
(A) a television station licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission;
(B) a cable system or satellite carrier;
(C) a cable or satellite carrier service; or
(D) an on-demand video streaming service.
(6) Reporting period.--The term ``reporting period'' means
the shorter of--
(A) the immediately preceding 10-year period; or
(B) the period elapsed since the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of State.
(8) United states company.--The term ``United States
company'' means a private entity incorporated in the United
States.
SEC. 3. CONDITION FOR FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS AND PROHIBITION OF
FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS ON
CONTENT OR ALTERED FOR SCREENING IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
OF CHINA.
(a) Condition for Federal Support.--The President may only
authorize the provision of technical support or access to an asset
controlled by the Federal Government for, or authorize the head of a
Federal agency to enter into a contract relating to, the production or
funding of a program by a United States company if the United States
company, as a condition of receiving the support or access--
(1) provides to the Secretary a list of all programs
produced or funded by the United States company, the
description of which has been submitted, during the reporting
period, to a Chinese Government official for evaluation with
respect to disseminating the program in the People's Republic
of China, including, for each program--
(A) the title of the program; and
(B) the date on which the submission occurred; and
(2) enters into a written agreement with the Secretary
committing not to--
(A) alter the political content of the program in
response to, or in anticipation of, a request by a
Chinese Government official; or
(B) co-produce the program with an entity located
in the People's Republic of China that is subject to
conditions on political content imposed by a Chinese
Government official.
(b) Prohibition of Federal Support Relating to Programs, the
Political Content of Which Was Altered for Dissemination in the
People's Republic of China.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the
President may not authorize the provision of technical support or
access to any asset controlled by the Federal Government for, or
authorize the head of a Federal agency to enter into any contract
relating to, the production or funding of a program by a United States
company if, with respect to the most recent report submitted pursuant
to section 4, the United States company is included on the list
described in section 4(b)(3).
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS REGARDING PROGRAMS BY UNITED STATES
COMPANIES THAT ALTER CONTENT FOR SCREENING IN THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding
the programs disclosed pursuant to section 3.
(b) Elements.--Each report submitted pursuant to subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) a description of each program disclosed pursuant to
section 3(a)(1), including--
(A) the name of the United States company that
produced the program;
(B) the title of such program; and
(C) the date on which such submission occurred;
(2) a description of each program subject to a written
agreement required under section 3(a)(2), including--
(A) the United States company that entered into
such agreement;
(B) the title of such program; and
(C) whether the Secretary determines that the
political content was altered in response to, or in
anticipation of, a request by a Chinese Government
official; and
(3) a list of United States companies that the Secretary
determines--
(A) altered the political content of a program
referred to in paragraphs (1) or (2); or
(B) co-produced a program referred to in paragraph
(2) with an entity located in the People's Republic of
China that is subject to conditions on content imposed
by a Chinese Government official.
Calendar No. 246
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3466
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the use of Federal funds for the production of programs by
United States companies that alter political content for screening in
the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
January 18, 2022
Read the second time and placed on the calendar