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often deny or delay applications for proposed independent radio stations, harass officials or staff of independent radio stations, or close independent radio stations;

Whereas 53 independent journalists in Africa have been killed over the past 8 years, 42 other journalists were imprisoned last year alone, and hundreds of others have been threatened, harassed, or even physically assaulted;

Whereas standards of journalistic professionalism often are low in Africa, which causes problems of accuracy in reporting that often lead governments to overreact and apply repressive legal remedies against the media, including radio broadcasts;

Whereas biased government radio broadcasts have promoted

ruling parties and limited coverage of opposition political parties, while inhibiting the free flow of information necessary for citizens to effectively exercise their electoral choices, thus undermining democracy;

Whereas the promotion of independent ownership of local

radio operations in Africa is a useful tool for advancing the United States foreign policy objective of promoting democracy and human rights;

Whereas the phenomenon of "hate radio" has fueled genocide in countries such as Rwanda, in which an estimated half million persons were killed in a largely ethnic purge in 1994;

Whereas surrogate broadcasting, which consists of locally generated news on issues of local concern, has been well demonstrated as a vehicle to promote democracy and human rights in repressed regions and countries throughout the world;

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Whereas the Voice of America has designed the "Radio Democracy for Africa" project to create a surrogate radio

operation throughout Africa to promote democracy and human rights; and

Whereas the African Growth and Opportunity Act calls for the United States Information Agency to use its broadcasts to promote economic reforms in addition to its current promotion of political reforms: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives

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(1) supports the creation and operation of the Voice of America's surrogate radio project known as "Radio Democracy for Africa" which includes journalist training and journalist exchange components;

(2) urges the United States Information Agency

to expand its economic, political, and human rights programming in Africa to support indigenous efforts aimed at promoting democratization, human rights, economic development, and good governance;

(3) calls on the Agency for International Development to adopt a comprehensive strategy for the promotion of free and independent African media, especially radio, by supporting journalist and other media training programs, assisting in the development of African media associations, facilitating the creation of African news gathering and delivery networks, and encouraging the use of radio as an edu

cational medium on a variety of topics, including but

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not limited to democracy, human rights, and eco

nomic development;

(4) calls on the United States Government to encourage local and foreign investment in independent local radio operations in Africa;

(5) urges the United States Government to make freedom of speech and the safety of journalists a priority in discussions with African governments

on democracy and human rights;

(6) encourages the United States Government to use all reasonable means to help safeguard the operation of independent radio stations and the legitimate activities of journalists in African countries; and

(7) urges the United States Government to support and assist the development of mechanisms and institutions for the protection of independent journalists and to discourage the now frequent use of

draconian laws and government policies inhibiting

freedom of speech in Africa.

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105TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION

H. R. 3743

To withhold voluntary proportional assistance for programs and projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency relating to the development and completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 29, 1998

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. KING, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. FROST, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. WYNN, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. METCALF, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. McGOVERN, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. ENSIGN, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. WAXMAN, and Mr. GOODE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

A BILL

To withhold voluntary proportional assistance for programs and projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency relating to the development and completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, and for other pur

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poses.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa

2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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This Act may be cited as the "Iran Nuclear Prolifera

3 tion Prevention Act of 1998".

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Iran remains the world's leading sponsor of international terrorism and is on the Department of State's list of countries that provide support for acts of international terrorism.

(2) Iran has repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel and Iran supports organizations, such as Hizballah, Hamas, and the Palestine Islamic

Jihad, which are responsible for terrorist attacks against Israel.

(3) Iranian officials have stated their intent to complete at least 3 nuclear power plants by 2015 and are currently working to complete the Bushehr

nuclear power plant located on the Persian Gulf

coast with the help of the International Atomic Energy Agency (LAEA).

(4) The United States has publicly opposed the completion of reactors at the Bushehr nuclear power

plant because the transfer of civilian nuclear tech

nology and training could help to advance Iran's nu

clear weapons program.