Bills · HR 5704
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 5704International Affairs
Repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013
INTRO OCT 8· LAST ACTION OCT 8
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
10
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it touches on the fundamental question of how much the government should be allowed to communicate with its own citizens using information originally designed for foreign audiences. If this bill becomes law, it would prioritize preventing any potential for government "propaganda" aimed at Americans, by creating a strong wall between foreign public diplomacy and domestic information sharing. This means less direct access for the public to government-produced content about foreign affairs.
If the bill does not pass, the current system established by the 2013 law would remain in place, allowing for greater domestic access to materials produced for foreign audiences. This bill forces a choice between transparency (allowing citizens to see what their government tells others) and protection (preventing the government from influencing domestic opinion through foreign messaging campaigns).
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
This bill repeals the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013.
This undoes the law that allowed U.S. government information created for foreign audiences to be distributed within the United States.
PROVISION 02
It strictly prohibits U.S. government agencies like the State Department and USAGM from using funds to influence public opinion in the United States or from distributing materials meant for foreign audiences within the U.S.
This re-establishes a strong legal barrier preventing the government from using foreign-focused information or taxpayer money to shape what Americans think.
PROVISION 03
The bill allows U.S. press associations, newspapers, magazines, radio systems, and Members of Congress to review materials produced for foreign audiences upon request, but it prohibits their broad domestic dissemination.
This aims to strike a balance by providing some transparency and oversight for specific groups while still maintaining the ban on widespread public distribution within the U.S.
PROVISION 04
Materials produced for foreign audiences must be sent to the National Archives, where they will only be made publicly accessible for viewing (not reproduction or redistribution) after 20 years, with clear disclaimers.
This ensures that these historical government materials will eventually be available for public examination, but only after a significant delay and with safeguards against immediate domestic use.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 10
R· Kentucky
YRS IN OFFICE
13
BILLS LED
29
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 10 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSOCT 8
Introduced in House
OCT 8
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 5704
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedOct 8, 2025
Last actionOct 8, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED OCT 8, 2025
House BillHR 5704International Affairs
Repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013
INTRODUCED OCT 8, 2025· LAST ACTION OCT 8, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
10
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
