[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5704 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5704
To repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013 and to prohibit
domestic propagandization by the Federal Government.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 8, 2025
Mr. Massie (for himself and Mr. Perry) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013 and to prohibit
domestic propagandization by the Federal Government.
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 ``Repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization
Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. REPEAL SMITH-MUNDT DOMESTIC PROPAGANDIZATION.
(a) United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of
1948.--Section 501 of the United States Information and Educational
Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 501. GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.
``(a) Dissemination of Information Abroad.--The Secretary of State
and the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global
Media (USAGM) are authorized to provide for the preparation and
dissemination abroad of information about the United States, its
people, and its policies, through press, publications, radio, motion
pictures, the internet, and other information media, and through
information centers and instructors abroad, except that such
dissemination may not include the use of social media accounts,
websites, or podcasts other than official platforms maintained by the
Department of State or USAGM for purposes of foreign dissemination.
``(b) Ability To Review Information Domestically.--
``(1) Any materials produced under subsection (a) shall,
upon request, be made available in the English language, at all
reasonable times following their release abroad, for
examination at the Department of State or the United States
Agency for Global Media, as appropriate, by representatives of
United States press associations, newspapers, magazines, radio
systems, and stations, and by Members of Congress. Except as
provided in subsection (c), such materials may not be
disseminated within the United States, except that Members of
Congress may use such materials in the exercise of their
official oversight functions.
``(2) No funds authorized to be appropriated to the
Department of State or the United States Agency for Global
Media, or its component networks, shall be used for the purpose
of influencing public opinion or propagandizing in the United
States.
``(c) Archival of Records.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State and the Chief
Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media
shall make available to the Archivist of the United States any
materials produced under subsection (a). Such materials shall
be maintained by the Archivist and made accessible to the
public only for examination in a format that permits viewing
but not reproduction or redistribution--
``(A) beginning on the date that is 20 years after
the date on which such material was initially
disseminated abroad; or
``(B) in the case of material that was prepared but
never disseminated abroad, beginning on the date that
is 20 years after the date on which such material was
prepared.
``(2) Restriction on domestic dissemination.--Any materials
produced under subsection (a)--
``(A) may not be distributed domestically by the
Archivist before the expiration of the 20-year period
described in paragraph (1); and
``(B) any materials made accessible by the
Archivist after such period, shall bear a clear and
permanent identifier, watermark, or disclaimer
indicating--
``(i) the United States Government entity
responsible for its production;
``(ii) the foreign country or region for
which the material was originally prepared or
disseminated; and
``(iii) the purpose or program under which
the material was produced, if applicable.
``(3) Responsibilities of the archivist.--The Archivist--
``(A) shall be the official custodian of the
material described in paragraph (1);
``(B) shall promulgate regulations to--
``(i) facilitate public examination of such
materials in accordance with paragraph (1); and
``(ii) govern the release of such materials
in accordance with paragraph (2), including
requirements that any person seeking such
release--
``(I) has secured all necessary
United States rights and licenses; and
``(II) has paid a fee, in
accordance with section 2116(c) of
title 44, United States Code,
sufficient to cover the costs incurred
by the Archivist in providing such
materials; and
``(C) shall ensure that all fees collected under
subparagraph (B)(ii)(II) are deposited into,
administered, and expended as part of the National
Archives Trust Fund.
``(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to require the Secretary of State or the Chief Executive
Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media to make material
disseminated abroad available in any format other than in the format
disseminated abroad.''.
(b) Foreign Relations Authorizations Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and
1987.--
(1) In general.--Section 208 of the Foreign Relations
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 (22 U.S.C. 1461-
1a) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 208. BAN ON DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTION OF PROGRAM MATERIAL.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Use of funds.--No funds authorized to be appropriated
to the Department of State or the United States Agency for
Global Media (USAGM), or any of its component networks, may be
used to influence public opinion in the United States.
``(2) Restriction on domestic distribution.--No program
material prepared by USAGM may be distributed in the United
States, except as provided in section 501 of the United States
Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C.
1461).
``(3) Transparency exception.--Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed to prohibit or delay the Department of State
or USAGM from providing factual information about their
operations, policies, or programs, or from making such
information available to members of the media, the public, or
Congress, in accordance with other applicable law.
``(b) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed--
``(1) to apply to programs carried out pursuant to the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2451 et seq.); or
``(2) to prohibit any employee of USAGM from responding to
inquiries from members of the public about USAGM operations,
policies, or programs.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for the
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987
(22 U.S.C. 1461-1a) is amended by striking the item relating to
section 208 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 208 Ban on domestic distribution of program material.''.
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