Sec. 4. ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND SOVEREIGNTY IN BELARUS

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## SEC. 4 ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND SOVEREIGNTY IN BELARUS ###

(a)Purposes of Assistance The assistance under this section shall be available for the following purposes: ####

(1)To assist the people of the Republic of Belarus in their pursuit of freedom, democracy, and human rights and in their aspiration to join the Trans-Atlantic community of democracies. ####

(2)To assist the people of Belarus in building the sovereignty and independence of their country. ####

(3)To encourage free, fair, and transparent presidential, parliamentary, and local elections in Belarus, conducted in a manner consistent with internationally accepted standards and under the supervision of internationally recognized observers and independent domestic observers. ####

(4)To assist in the development of a democratic political culture and civil society in Belarus. ###

(b)Authorization for Assistance To carry out the purposes of subsection (a), the President is authorized to furnish assistance and other support for the activities described in subsection (c), to be provided primarily for indigenous Belarusian groups and Belarusian groups outside of Belarus that are committed to the support of democratic processes and Belarusian sovereignty. ###

(c)Activities Supported Activities that may be supported by assistance under subsection

(b)include— ####

(1)expanding independent radio and television broadcasting to and within Belarus; ####

(2)facilitating the development of independent broadcast, print, and Internet media working within Belarus and from locations outside the country and supported by nonstate-controlled printing facilities; ####

(3)countering internet censorship and repressive surveillance technology that seek to limit free association, control access to information, and prevent citizens from exercising their rights to free speech; ####

(4)aiding the development of civil society through assistance to nongovernmental organizations promoting democracy and supporting human rights, including youth groups, entrepreneurs, and independent trade unions; ####

(5)supporting the work of human rights defenders; ####

(6)enhancing the development of democratic political parties; ####

(7)assisting the promotion of free, fair, and transparent electoral processes; ####

(8)enhancing international exchanges and advanced professional training programs for leaders and members of the democratic forces in skill areas central to the development of civil society; ####

(9)supporting the work of women advocating freedom, human rights, and human progress; ####

(10)supporting the development of Belarusian language education; ####

(11)enhancing the development of the private sector, particularly the information technology sector, and its role in the economy of Belarus, including by increasing the capacity of private sector actors, developing business support organizations, offering entrepreneurship training, and expanding access to finance for small and medium enterprises; ####

(12)supporting political refugees in neighboring European countries fleeing the crackdown in Belarus; ####

(13)supporting the gathering of evidence on and investigating of the human rights abuses in Belarus; ####

(14)supporting the public health response, including filling the information void, in Belarus during the COVID–19 pandemic; and ####

(15)other activities consistent with the purposes of this Act. ###

(d)Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that, in light of the political crisis in Belarus and the unprecedented mobilization of the Belarusian people, United States foreign assistance to Belarusian civil society should be reevaluated and increased— ####

(1)to carry out the purposes described in subsection (a); and ####

(2)to include the activities described in subsection (c). ###

(e)Coordination With European Partners In order to maximize impact, eliminate duplication, and further the achievement of the purposes described in subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall ensure coordination with the European Union and its institutions, the governments of countries that are members of the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada. ###

(f)Report on Assistance Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020, the Secretary of State, acting through the Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, and in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees describing the programs and activities carried out to achieve the purposes described in subsection (a), including an assessment of whether or not progress was made in achieving those purposes. ###

(g)Authorization of Appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2021 and 2022.