Repeal Of The Smith-Mundt Act In 2012.pdf

H.R. 5736 aims to amend the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, allowing the domestic dissemination of information and material about the United States intended primarily for foreign audiences. The bill, known as the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012, authorizes the Secretary and the Broadcasting Board of Governors to use funds for public diplomacy information programs, including preparation, dissemination, and use of information about the United States through various media. It also permits the release of material prepared for foreign audiences in the United States, 12 years after initial dissemination abroad, and allows the Archivist to charge fees for recovering costs associated with providing the material. The bill clarifies that it does not require making material disseminated abroad available in any format other than the original, and it does not affect the allocation of funds appropriated for public diplomacy. Additionally, it amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act to prohibit using funds to influence public opinion in the United States, while allowing the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors to provide information about their operations and make program material available to the media, public, or Congress.