H.R. 5704 seeks to repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013 and restrict federal government messaging directed at domestic audiences. The bill prohibits the State Department and the U.S. Agency for Global Media from using federal funds to influence public opinion or distribute propaganda within the United States, though it allows Congress and the press to access these materials for oversight purposes. Materials created for foreign audiences would be archived and made publicly viewable only after a 20-year waiting period, with clear labels indicating their origin and intended foreign audience. The legislation allows the government to provide factual information about its operations to media and the public, and preserves existing educational and cultural exchange programs. No specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are specified in the bill.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.