CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

DemocratAmendment · S.Amdt. 6485· Senate(119-SAMDT-6485)

S.Amdt. 6485

Rep. Shaheen
Age: 79 years
New Hampshire
Introduced
6/24/2026
Sponsored by
Jeanne Shaheen
Cosponsors
Democrat - 0Republican - 1
Changes bill
119-S-4784 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

SA 6485, submitted by Mrs. Shaheen and Mr. Tillis, aims to add Section 1270A to title XII of bill S. 4784. The purpose of this amendment is to change the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 by adding a section that requires the Chief Executive Officer to provide annual grants to specific broadcasters.

The amendment adds the following requirements and changes:

  • Required Grants: The Chief Executive Officer must award annual grants to the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

  • Grant Terms: Grants must be based on agreements that ensure funds are used for activities consistent with the broadcasters' bylaws and the law. These agreements cannot require compliance with rules other than those specified in this Act and other Acts of Congress.

  • Funding and Disbursement: Funds come from Broadcasting Capital Improvements and International Broadcasting Operations (or successor accounts). The Chief Executive Officer must execute agreements and disburse the full appropriated amounts within 30 days of the relevant appropriations Act.

  • Oversight and Modifications:

    • Any major grant modification—defined as an action that materially alters the scope, amount, terms, governance, personnel authorities, operational independence, or duration of a grantee—must be reported to specific House and Senate committees 90 days before taking effect.
    • The Chief Executive Officer cannot withhold, materially reduce, or condition funding without providing a written determination to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that the recipient violated the law.
    • Terminating or suspending a grant requires the approval of 2/3 of the International Broadcasting Advisory Board and a written determination of a material violation of the law submitted to the House and Senate committees.

  • Private Funding: The specified broadcasters are allowed to accept funds from non-Federal sources, provided those funds are approved and vetted by the grantee's Board of Directors.