Published by: World Tibet Network News, Friday, October 4, 1996

H.R.1561 FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 1996 AND 1997 (ENROLLED BILL (SENT TO PRESIDENT)

SEC. 1303. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR TIBET .

(a) UNITED STATES SPECIAL ENVOY FOR TIBET - The President should appoint within the Department of State a United States Special Envoy for Tibet , who shall hold office at the pleasure of the President.

(b) RANK- A United States Special Envoy for Tibet appointed under subsection (a) shall have the personal rank of ambassador and shall be appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(c) SPECIAL FUNCTIONS- The United States Special Envoy for Tibet should be authorized and encouraged--

(1) to promote substantive negotiations between the Dalai Lama or his representatives and senior members of the Government of the People's Republic of China ;

(2) to promote good relations between the Dalai Lama and his representatives and the United States Government, including meeting with members or representatives of the Tibetan government-in-exile; and

(3) to travel regularly throughout Tibet and Tibetan refugee settlements.

(d) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES- The United States Special Envoy for Tibet should--

(1) consult with the Congress on policies relevant to Tibet and the future and welfare of all Tibetan people;

(2) coordinate United States Government policies, programs, and projects concerning Tibet ; and

(3) report to the Secretary of State regarding the matters described in section 536(a)(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law 103-236).

SEC. 1410. EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TIBETANS AND BURMESE.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE FOR TIBETANS- The Director of the United States Information Agency shall establish programs of educational and cultural exchange between the United States and the people of Tibet . Such programs shall include opportunities for training and, as the Director considers appropriate, may include the assignment of personnel and resources abroad.

(b) SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TIBETANS AND BURMESE-

(1) For each of the fiscal years 1996 and 1997, at least 30 scholarships shall be made available to Tibetan students and professionals who are outside Tibet , and at least 15 scholarships shall be made available to Burmese students and professionals who are outside Burma.

(2) WAIVER- Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the extent that the Director of the United States Information Agency determines that there are not enough qualified students to fulfill such allocation requirement.

(3) SCHOLARSHIP DEFINED- For the purposes of this section, the term `scholarship' means an amount to be used for full or partial support of tuition and fees to attend an educational institution, and may include fees, books, and supplies, equipment required for courses at an educational institution, living expenses at a United States educational institution, and travel expenses to and from, and within, the United States.

SEC. 1411. INITIATION OF BROADCASTS BY RADIO FREE ASIA.

Section 309 of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6208) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(j) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1996 and 1997, Radio Free Asia shall initiate regular broadcasts to the People's Republic of China , Burma, Cambodia , Laos , North Korea , Tibet , and Vietnam . Such broadcasts shall be conducted under the name `Radio Free Asia' and shall provide accurate and timely information, news, and commentary about events in the respective countries of Asia and elsewhere, and shall be a forum for a variety of opinions and voices from within Asian nations whose people do not fully enjoy freedom of expression.'.