,i  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #icig  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,decemb] #a1 #bjbb,ms4
 ,spanb]g] 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,/ew>t1 &    
,mr4 ,keat+7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2   
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign  
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to promote global 
int]net fre$om4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,int]net ,fre$om & 
,op]ations ,act ( #bjbb or ,,info ,act (
 #bjbb4  #b4 ,global int]net fre$om  7a7
 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,m
 ?an #c1jjj1jjj1jjj p use ! int]net     
ar\nd ! _w e day to access in=mation4   
7#b7 ,au?orit>ian & repressive gov]nm5ts
 r\t9ely use int]net access z a means ( 
suppress+ in=mation %>+ & communications
 betwe5 p1 civil society organizations1 
& j\rnali/s4  7#c7 ,foll[+ ! arre/ &    
subsequ5t murd] ( a #bb-ye>-old woman1  
,mahsa ,am9i1 :ile 9 ! cu/ody ( ,iran's 
8morality police01 ! gov]nm5t impos$    
sev]e int]net & mobile network          
re/rictions1 9 an attempt to isolate &  
intimidate its p4  7#d7 ,"u ! cov] ( su*

 int]net black\ts1 ! ,iranian ,gov]nm5t 
has int5sifi$ a brutal crackd[n on      
peaceful prote/ors1 kill+ hundr$s &     
arre/+ ?\s&s m4  7#e7 ,foll[+ its       
illegal invasion ( ,ukra9e1 ! ,russian  
,gov]nm5t has s\ght to re/rict access to
 indep5d5t report+ & elim9ate free spee*
 by =c+ ! closure ( indep5d5t press     
outlets & bann+ social m$ia websites4   
7#f7 ,"u ?is exp&+ policy ( /ate        
c5sor%ip & surveillance1 ! ,russian     
,gov]nm5t has block$ ov] #c1cjj         
websites1 includ+ bo? social m$ia sites 
su* z ,facebook1 ,in/agram1 & ,twitt]1 z
 well z ! ,,bbc1 ,associat$ ,press1 &   
o!r int]national news outlets4  7#g7    
,?is au?orit>ian abuse ( te*nology has  
dramatically r$uc$ access to indep5d5t  
in=mation & has increas$ ! ,kreml9's    
control ov] ! daily lives ( ! ,russian p
 ?r\gh secret monitor+ sy/ems design$ to
 unmask & surveil gov]nm5t critics &    
democracy activi/s4  7#h7 ,! ,unit$     
,/ates has a commitm5t to promote &     
uphold a free & op5 int]net globally4   

7#i7 ,! dem& = int]net fre$om s(tw>e1   
tools1 & te*nology has increas$         
expon5tially 9 rec5t ye>s z au?orit>ian 
regimes h pursu$ policies ( c5sor%ip &  
surveillance4  7b7 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x 
is ! s5se ( ,congress t-- 7#a7 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates %\ld provide direct assi/ance to 
te*nology & communications entities     
engag$ 9 int]net fre$om programs 9      
c\ntries re/rict+ int]net access &      
repress+ democratic & civil society2 &  
7#b7 ! ,unit$ ,/ates %\ld help gr[ !    
capacity ( ^! entities to respond       
rapidly to c5sor%ip ev5ts by support+ ! 
developm5t1 lic5s+1 & laun* ( plat=ms t 
enable direct int]net access & circumv5t
 au?orit>ian gov]nm5ts' re/rictions4    
7c7 ,/atem5t ( policy ,x is ! policy ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates to promote int]net fre$om
 ?r\gh programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate & 
! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national  
,developm5t 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z  
,,usaid7 t pres]ve & exp& ! int]net z an
 op51 global space = fre$om ( expression
 & association1 :i* %all be prioritiz$ =

 c\ntries-- 7#a7 ^: gov]nm5ts re/rict   
fre$om ( expression on ! int]net2 &     
7#b7 t are important to ! national      
int]e/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7d7 ,purpose 
& coord9ation ) o!r programs ,global    
int]net fre$om programm+ "u ?is         
section-- 7#a7 %all be coord9at$ ) o!r  
,unit$ ,/ates =eign assi/ance programs t
 promote democracy & support ! ef=ts (  
civil society-- 7,a7 to c\nt] !         
developm5t ( repressive int]net-relat$  
laws & regulations1 includ+ c\nt]+      
?reats to int]net fre$om at int]national
 organizations2  7,b7 to combat viol5ce 
aga9/ blogg]s & o!r civil society       
activi/s :o utilize ! int]net2 &  7,c7  
to enhance digital security tra9+ &     
capacity build+ = democracy activi/s2   
7#b7 %all seek to assi/ ef=ts-- 7,a7 to 
rese>* key ?reats to int]net fre$om2    
7,b7 to cont9ue ! developm5t (          
te*nologies t provide or enhance access 
to ! int]net1 includ+ circumv5tion tools
 t bypass int]net block+1 filt]+1 & o!r 
c5sor%ip te*niques us$ by au?orit>ian   

gov]nm5ts2 &  7,c7 to ma9ta9 !          
te*nological advantage ( ! ,f$]al       
,gov]nm5t ov] ! c5sor%ip te*niques      
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b72 &  7#c7    
%all be incorporat$ into c\ntry         
assi/ance & democracy promotion         
/rategies1 z appropriate4  7e7          
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ = fiscal ye> 
#bjbc-- 7#a7 #ge1jjj1jjj to ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,/ate & ,,usaid1 :i* %all be us$ to   
cont9ue ef=ts to promote int]net fre$om 
globally1 & %all be mat*$1 to ! maximum 
ext5t practicable1 by s\rces o!r ?an !  
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 includ+ ! private     
sector2 &  7#b7 #di1jjj1jjj to ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,ag5cy = ,global ,m$ia 7ref]r$ to
 9 ?is section z ! ,,usagm7 & its       
grantees1 :i* %all be us$ = int]net     
fre$om & circumv5tion te*nologies t are 
design$-- 7,a7 = op5-s\rce tools &      
te*niques to securely develop &         
di/ribute digital cont5t produc$ by !   
,,usagm & its grantees2  7,b7 to        
facilitate audi5ce access to su* digital

 cont5t on websites t are c5sor$2  7,c7 
to coord9ate ! di/ribution ( su* digital
 cont5t to t>get$ regional audi5ces2 &  
7,d7 to promote & di/ribute su* tools & 
te*niques1 includ+ digital security     
te*niques4  7f7 ,unit$ /ates ag5cy =    
global m$ia activities  7#a7 ,annual    
c]tification ,= any new tools or        
te*niques au?oriz$ "u subsection        
7d77#b71 ! ,*ief ,executive ,(fic] ( !  
,,usgam1 9 consultation ) ! ,presid5t ( 
! ,op5 ,te*nology ,fund 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is
 subsection z ! ,,otf 7 & relevant      
,f$]al dep>tm5ts & ag5cies1 %all submit 
an annual c]tification to ! appropriate 
congressional committees t v]ifies !y-- 
7,a7 h evaluat$ ! risks & b5efits ( su* 
new tools or te*niques2 &  7,b7 h       
e/abli%$ safegu>ds to m9imize ! use (   
su* new tools or te*niques = illicit    
purposes4  7#b7 ,in=mation %>+ ,!       
,secret>y ( ,/ate may n direct programs 
or policy ( ! ,,usagm or ! ,,otf1 b may 
%>e any rese>* & developm5t ) relevant  
,f$]al dep>tm5ts & ag5cies = ! exclusive

 purposes (-- 7,a7 %>+ in=mation1       
te*nologies1 & be/ practices2 &  7,b7   
assess+ ! effectiv5ess ( su*            
te*nologies4  7#c7 ,unit$ /ates ag5cy = 
global m$ia ,! ,*ief ,executive ,(fic] (
 ! ,,usagm1 9 consultation ) ! ,presid5t
 ( ! ,,otf1 %all-- 7,a7 coord9ate       
int]national broadca/+ programs &       
incorporate su* programs into c\ntry    
broadca/+ /rategies1 z appropriate2     
7,b7 solicit project proposals ?r\gh an 
op51 transp>5t1 & competitive           
application process1 includ+ by seek+   
input f te*nical & subject matt] exp]ts2
 &  7,c7 support int]net circumv5tion   
tools & te*niques = audi5ces 9 c\ntries 
t are /rategic priorities = ! ,,otf1 9  
accordance ) ,,usagm's annual language  
s]vice prioritization review4  7g7      
,usagm report ,n lat] ?an #abj days aft]
 ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,*ief
 ,executive ,(fice ( ! ,,usagm %all     
submit a report to ! appropriate        
congressional committees t describes--  
7#a7 z ( ! date ( ! report-- 7,a7 ! full

 scope ( int]net fre$om programs )9 !   
,,usagm1 includ+-- 7i7 ! ef=ts ( !      
,(fice ( ,int]net ,fre$om2 &  7ii7 !    
ef=ts ( ! ,op5 ,te*nology ,fund2  7,b7 !
 capacity ( int]net c5sor%ip            
circumv5tion tools support$ by ! ,(fice 
( ,int]net ,fre$om & grantees ( ! ,op5  
,te*nology ,fund t are available = use  
by individuals 9 =eign c\ntries seek+ to
 c\nt]act c5sors2 &  7,c7 any b>ri]s to 
! provision ( ! ef=ts describ$ 9 clauses
 7i7 & 7ii7 ( subp>agraph 7,a71 includ+ 
access to surge fund+2 &  7#b7          
successful examples f ! ,(fice (        
,int]net ,fre$om & ,op5 ,te*nology ,fund
 involv+-- 7,a7 respond+ rapidly to     
int]net %utd[ns 9 clos$ societies2 &    
7,b7 ensur+ un9t]rupt$ circumv5tion     
s]vices = ,,usagm entities to promote   
int]net fre$om )9 repressive regimes4   
7h7 ,jo9t report ,n lat] ?an #abj days  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,secret>y ( ,/ate & ! ,adm9i/rator (    
,,usaid %all jo9tly submit a report1 :i*
 may include a classifi$ annex1 to !    

appropriate congressional committees t  
describes-- 7#a7 z ( ! date ( ! report--
 7,a7 ! full scope ( int]net fre$om     
programs )9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate &       
,,usaid1 includ+-- 7i7 ,dep>tm5t        
circumv5tion ef=ts2 &  7ii7 ,,usaid     
ef=ts to support int]net infra/ructure2 
7,b7 ! capacity ( int]net c5sor%ip      
circumv5tion tools support$ by ! ,f$]al 
,gov]nm5t t are available = use by      
individuals 9 =eign c\ntries seek+ to   
c\nt]act c5sors2 &  7,c7 any b>ri]s to  
provision ( ! ef=ts enum]at$ 9 clauses  
7i7 & 7ii7 ( subsection 7g77#a77;,a71   
includ+ access to surge fund+2 &  7#b7  
any new res\rces ne$$ to provide !      
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t ) great] capacity to   
provide & boo/ int]net access-- 7,a7 to 
respond rapidly to int]net %utd[ns 9    
clos$ societies2 &  7,b7 to provide     
int]net connectivity to =eign locations 
:]e ! provision ( additional int]net    
access s]vice w\ld promote fre$om f     
repressive regimes4  7i7 ,security      
audits ,be=e provid+ any support = op5  

s\rce te*nologies "u ?is section1 su*   
te*nologies mu/ und]go compreh5sive     
security audits to ensure t su*         
te*nologies are secure & h n be5        
compromis$ 9 a mann] t is detrim5tal to 
! int]e/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates or to !      
int]e/s ( individuals & organizations   
b5efitt+ f programs support$ by su*     
fund+4  7j7 ,surge  7#a7 ,au?orization (
 appropriations ,subject to p>agraph    
7#b71 !re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$1
 9 addition to am\nts o!rwise made      
available = su* purposes1 #b1ejj1jjj to 
support int]net fre$om programs 9 clos$ 
societies1 includ+ programs t-- 7,a7 are
 c>ri$ out 9 crisis situations by vett$ 
entities t are already engag$ 9 int]net 
fre$om programs2  7,b7 involve          
circumv5tion tools2 or  7,c7 increase ! 
ov]seas b&wid? = companies t receiv$    
,f$]al fund+ dur+ ! previ\s fiscal ye>4 
7#b7 ,c]tification ,am\nts au?oriz$ to  
be appropriat$ pursuant to p>agraph 7#a7
 may n be exp5d$ until ! ,secret>y (    
,/ate has c]tifi$ to ! appropriate      

congressional committees1 ! ,committee  
on ,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate1 & !      
,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives t ! use ( su* funds is
 9 ! national int]e/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 
7k7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section-- 7#a7 ! 
t]m appropriate congressional committees
 means ! ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs (
 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & !          
,committee on ,=eign ,relations ( !     
,s5ate2  7#b7 ! t]m int]net c5sor%ip    
circumv5tion tool means a s(tw>e        
application or o!r tool t an individual 
c use to evade =eign gov]nm5t           
re/rictions on int]net access2 &  7#c7 !
 t]m 8vett$ entity0 means a private     
company or organization t has an        
e/abli%$ contractual relation%ip or is 9
 ! process ( becom+ a new v5dor =       
int]net fre$om programs ( ,,usagm4