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H.R. 2061 — what changed

North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2017

From Introduced in House to Engrossed in House. 3 sections amended and 3 added between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.

Sec. 3 Sense of Congress

(a)
added In general— It is the sense of Congress that—

removed It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)
renumbered was (3) the United States should continue to seek cooperation from all foreign governments to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees access to process North Korean refugees overseas for resettlement and to allow United States officials access to process refugees for resettlement in the United States (if that is the destination country of the refugees’ choosing);
(2)
renumbered was (4) the Secretary of State, through persistent diplomacy by senior officials, including United States ambassadors to Asia-Pacific countries, and in close cooperation with United States ally South Korea, should make every effort to promote the protection of North Korean refugees and defectors; and
(3)
renumbered was (5) because North Koreans fleeing into China face a well-founded fear of persecution upon their forcible repatriation, the United States should urge China to—
(A)
renumbered was (5)(2) immediately halt the forcible repatriation of North Koreans;
(B)
renumbered was (5)(3) allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees unimpeded access to North Koreans inside China to determine whether such North Koreans require protection as refugees; and
(C)
renumbered was (5)(4) fulfill its obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and the Agreement on the Upgrading of the UNHCR Mission in the People's Republic of China to UNHCR Branch Office in the People's Republic of China (signed December 1, 1995).
(b)
added Continuing sense of Congress— It remains the sense of Congress, as specified in section 3(3) of the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–346; 22 U.S.C. 7801 note), that “the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues should be a full-time position within the Department of State in order to properly promote and coordinate North Korean human rights and humanitarian issues, and to participate in policy planning and implementation with respect to refugee issues, as intended by the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–333; 22 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.)”.

Sec. 4 Reauthorization of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004

(a)
Human rights and democracy programs— Paragraph (1) of section 102(b) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7812(b)) is amended by striking “2017” and inserting “2022”.
(b)
changed Promoting freedom of information— Section 104 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7814) is amended by striking “2017” in each place it appears and inserting “2022”.amended—
(1)
added in subsection (b)(1)—
(A)
added by striking “$2,000,000” and inserting “$3,000,000”; and
(B)
added by striking “2017” and inserting “2022”; and
(2)
added in subsection (c), by striking “2017” and inserting “2022”.
(c)
Report by special envoy on North Korean human rights— Subsection (d) of section 107 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7817) is amended by striking “2017” and inserting “2022”.
(d)
Report on humanitarian assistance— Section 201 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7831) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking “2017” and inserting “2022”.
(e)
Assistance provided outside of North Korea— Paragraph (1) of section 203(c) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7833(c)) is amended by striking “2017” and inserting “2022”.
(f)
Annual reporting— Section 305 of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7845) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking “2017” and inserting “2022”.

Sec. 5 Actions to promote freedom of information and democracy in North Korea

added The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, as amended by this Act, is further amended—

(a)
removed In general— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that—
(1)
removed describes the status of current United States broadcasting to North Korea and the extent to which the Board has achieved the goal of 12-hour-per-day broadcasting to North Korea, in accordance with section 103(a) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7813(a)); and
(2)
removed includes a strategy to overcome obstacles to such communication with the North Korean people, including through unrestricted, unmonitored, and inexpensive electronic means.
(1)
changed Form— The report required under in subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.of section 103 (22 U.S.C. 7813)—
(A)
added by striking “radio broadcasting” and inserting “broadcasting, including news rebroadcasting,”; and
(B)
added by striking “increase broadcasts” and inserting “increase such broadcasts, including news rebroadcasts,”; and
(2)
changed Appropriate congressional committees— In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees has the meaning given such term in section 5 of the North Korean Human Rights Act subsection (a) of 2004 section 104 (22 U.S.C. 7803).7814)—
(A)
added by striking “The President” and inserting the following:

added “(1) In general—The President”

(B)
added by inserting “, USB drives, micro SD cards, audio players, video players, cell phones, wi-fi, wireless internet, webpages, internet, wireless telecommunications, and other electronic media that share information” before the period at the end; and
(C)
added by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

added “(2) Distribution—In accordance with the sense of Congress described in section 103, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, is authorized to distribute or provide grants to distribute information receiving devices, electronically readable devices, and other informational sources into North Korea, including devices and informational sources specified in paragraph (1). To carry out this paragraph, the President is authorized to issue directions to facilitate the free-flow of information into North Korea.

added “(3) Research and development grant program—In accordance with the authorization described in paragraphs (1) and (2) to increase the availability and distribution of sources of information inside North Korea, the President, acting through the Secretary of State, is authorized to establish a grant program to make grants to eligible entities to develop or distribute (or both) new products or methods to allow North Koreans easier access to outside information. Such program may involve public-private partnerships.

added “(4) Culture—In accordance with the sense of Congress described in section 103, the Broadcasting Board of Governors may broadcast American, Korean, and other popular music, television, movies, and popular cultural references as part of its programming.

added “(5) Rights and laws—In accordance with the sense of Congress described in section 103, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall broadcast to North Korea in the Korean language information on rights, laws, and freedoms afforded through the North Korean Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and any other applicable treaties or international agreements to which North Korea is bound.

added “(6) Broadcasting report—Not later than—

added “(A) 180 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Broadcasting Board of Governors, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that sets forth a detailed plan for improving broadcasting content for the purpose of reaching additional audiences and increasing consumption of uncensored news and information using all available and reasonable means; and

added “(B) 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and annually thereafter for each of the next 5 years, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Broadcasting Board of Governors, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the effectiveness of actions taken pursuant to this section, including data reflecting audience and listenership, device distribution and usage, technological development and advancement usage, and other information as requested by such committees.”

Sec. 6 Repeal of duplicate authorizations

added

added Section 403 of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–122; 22 U.S.C. 9253) is hereby repealed.

Sec. 7 Report by the Broadcasting Board of Governors

added
(a)
added In general— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that—
(1)
added describes the status of current United States broadcasting to North Korea and the extent to which the Board has achieved the goal of 12-hour-per-day broadcasting to North Korea, in accordance with section 103(a) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7813(a)); and
(2)
added includes a strategy to overcome obstacles to such communication with the North Korean people, including through unrestricted, unmonitored, and inexpensive electronic means.
(b)
added Form— The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(c)
added Appropriate congressional committees— In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
added the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
added the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

Sec. 8 Report by the Department of State

added
(a)
added In general— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes a description of any ongoing or planned efforts of the Department of State with respect to each of the following:
(1)
added Resuming the repatriation from North Korea of members of the United States Armed Forces missing or unaccounted for during the Korean War.
(2)
added Reuniting Korean Americans with their relatives in North Korea.
(3)
added Assessing the security risks posed by travel to North Korea for United States citizens.
(b)
added Form— The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form.
(c)
added Appropriate congressional committees— In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
added the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
added the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.