Bill > HR5704

This bill seeks to repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013 and strengthen prohibitions on domestic government propaganda. Specifically, the legislation restricts the U.S. Department of State and the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) from disseminating information materials within the United States that were originally created for international audiences. The bill mandates that such materials can only be made available domestically for examination purposes by press associations, newspapers, and Members of Congress, and cannot be reproduced or redistributed. Materials produced for foreign audiences would be archived by the National Archives and made available for public viewing after 20 years, with clear identifiers indicating their origin, intended audience, and purpose. The bill explicitly prohibits using government funds to influence public opinion domestically and prevents USAGM from distributing program materials within the United States, with narrow exceptions for providing factual information about operations and responding to public inquiries. The legislation aims to maintain a clear separation between government-produced international communication efforts and domestic information channels, ensuring transparency and preventing potential misuse of government communication resources for domestic propaganda.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5704/all-info