Laws

Section 1078 of National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239)

“Information intended for foreign audiences may, upon request and reimbursement of the reasonable costs incurred in fulfilling such a request, be made available, in the United States.”

Link to National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for...Read More »


What does Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 say about "government propaganda"?

“No funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State or the Broadcasting Board of Governors shall be used to influence public opinion in the United States.”

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and the Department of State are not authorized to use taxpayers’ money to influence public opinion in...Read More »


Smith-Mundt Act of 1948 did not prohibit access to government news by American media

It was always legal for Americans and American media to use U.S. government-funded news programs in the United States and rebroadcast such programs if they had obtained access to them on their own.

In other words, there were no legal prohibitions on using such programs by American citizens, residents of the...Read More »


1985 Amendment from Senator Edward Zorinsky (D-NE) to the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948

Senator Edward Zorinsky (D-NE)

Congressional Record of the 99th Congress, 1st Session, June 7, 1985 (legislative day of June 3, 1985):

Mr. ZORINSKY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The amendment is as follows:

On page 19,...Read More »


Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1972 Amendment to the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948

Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1972

DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION WITHIN UNITED STATES

SEC. 204. The second sentence of section 501 of the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (22 U.S.C. 1461) is amended to read as follows: “Any such information (other than “Problems of Communism” which may continue to...Read More »