Sec. 269. Radio Free Americas
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The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Secretary of Commerce, or the head of any other relevant Federal department may award annual grants to a country in Latin America or the Caribbean for the purpose of carrying out a broadcasting service, which— shall be known as Radio Free Americas ; shall consist of radio, television, social media, and other public communications efforts; and may not result in any curtailment of the ongoing work of Radio Martí.
Radio Free Americas shall— provide accurate and timely information, news, and commentary about events in the Americas and in other places around the world; and be a forum for a variety of opinions and voices from within nations in the Western Hemisphere whose people do not fully enjoy freedom of expression. Any grant awarded under this section shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions set forth in paragraphs
(2)through (5). No grant may be awarded under this section unless the headquarters of Radio Free Americas and its senior administrative and managerial staff are in a location that ensures economy, operational effectiveness, and accountability to the United States Government. Any agreement governing a grant awarded under this section shall require that any contract entered into by the grantee on behalf of Radio Free Americas specifies that all obligations related to the functions described in subsection
(b)be assumed by Radio Free Americas and not by the United States Government. Any such grant agreement shall require that any lease agreements entered into by the grantee on behalf of Radio Free Americas be assignable to the United States Government, to the maximum extent possible. Grants awarded under this section shall be made pursuant to a grant agreement— requiring that grant funds be used only for activities in accordance with this section; and specifying that failure to comply with the requirements under this section authorizes the termination of the agreement without fiscal obligation to the United States. It is the sense of Congress that administrative and managerial costs for the operation of Radio Free Americas— should be kept to a minimum; and should not exceed the costs that would have been incurred if Radio Free Americas had been operated as a Federal entity rather than through a grantee. Not later than 3 years after the date on which initial funding is provided for the purpose of operating Radio Free Americas, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding— whether Radio Free Americas— is technically sound and cost-effective; consistently meets the standards for quality and objectivity established under this section; and is received by a sufficient audience to warrant its continued operations; the extent to which the information, news, and commentary provided by Radio Free Americas is also being received by the target audience from other credible sources; and the extent to which the interests of the United States are being served by maintaining the operations of Radio Free Americas. The Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media shall notify the appropriate congressional committees before— entering into any agreement for the utilization of Voice of America transmitters, equipment, or other resources that will significantly reduce the broadcasting activities of the Voice of America in the Americas or in any other region in order to accommodate the broadcasting activities of Radio Free Americas; or entering into any agreements in regard to the utilization of Radio Free Americas transmitters, equipment, or other resources that will significantly reduce the broadcasting activities of Radio Free Americas. If the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media determines that Radio Free Americas is not carrying out the functions described in subsection
(b)in an effective and economical manner, the Chief Executive Officer may award the grant to carry out such functions to another entity. Nothing in this section may be construed to make Radio Free Americas a Federal agency or instrumentality. The Secretary of State may expend such sums as may be necessary from the Re-shoring and Near-shoring Account established under section 301 to carry out this section.