Sec. 221. Governance of the Freedom News Network
889 words·~4 min read·
/bill/113/hr/4490/rh/section-221·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
A board shall oversee the Freedom News Network and consist of nine individuals with a demonstrated background in media or the promotion of democracy and experience in measuring media impact. Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chairs and Ranking Members of the appropriate congressional committees shall identify candidates for the first board of the Freedom News Network, direct the appointment of board members, and select the first chair of the board of the Freedom News Network as follows:
Two individuals shall be appointed by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. Two individuals shall be appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. Two individuals shall be appointed by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. Two individuals shall be appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. One individual shall be appointed by consensus of the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
The board members of the first board of the Freedom News Network shall determine the bylaws, select the Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom News Network, and file articles of incorporation under the corporate name Freedom News Network . The first board of the Freedom News Network may change the organization’s name in accordance with such bylaws. The board members of the first board of the Freedom News Network may not serve more than a three-year term, and shall be replaced in accordance with the bylaws referred to in paragraph
(1)and the succession process described in paragraph (3). The board members of the first board of the Freedom News Network and all subsequent boards shall fill vacancies on the board due to death, resignation, removal, or term expiration through an election process described in the bylaws referred to in paragraph
(1)and in accordance with the principle of a self-replenishing body. Members of the board of the Freedom News Network may not receive any fee, salary, or remuneration of any kind for their service as members, except that such members may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, such as board-related travel, incurred with approval of the board upon presentation of vouchers. No officers of the Freedom News Network, other than the Chief Executive Officer, shall be eligible to receive compensation at a rate in excess of the annual rate of basic pay for level II on the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. The boards of directors of RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be abolished on the date of the first official meeting of the first board of the Freedom News Network. The Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom News Network shall serve at the pleasure of the board of the Freedom News Network, and be responsible for the day-to-day management and operations of the Freedom News Network, including the selection of individuals for management positions. The board of the Freedom News Network may add to the duties and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer as the board determines appropriate, and such additional duties and responsibilities shall be codified in the bylaws of the Freedom News Network. Not later than 180 days after the date of the first official meeting of the first board of the Freedom News Network, the chair of the board of the Freedom News Network shall submit a report to, and consult with, the appropriate congressional committees on the plan to consolidate RFE/RL, Incorporated, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Incorporated into a single non-Federal grantee organization. The consolidation plan referred to in paragraph
(1)shall include the following components: The location and distribution of employees, including administrative, managerial, and technical staff, of the Freedom News Network that will be located within and outside the metropolitan area of Washington, D.C. An organizational chart identifying the managerial and supervisory lines of authority among all employees of the Freedom News Network. Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the chair of the board of the Freedom News Network shall fully implement the consolidation plan referred to in paragraph
(1)after consultation with the appropriate congressional committees. Not later than five years after the date on which initial funding is provided for the purpose of operating the Freedom News Network, the chair of the board of the Freedom News Network shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that details the following: Whether the Freedom News Network is technically sound and cost-effective. Whether the Freedom News Network consistently meets the standards for quality and impact established by this title. Whether the Freedom News Network is receiving a sufficient audience to warrant its continued operation. The extent to which the Freedom News Network’s programming and content is already being received by the target audience from other credible indigenous or external sources. The extent to which the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States are being served by maintaining operations of the Freedom News Network.