role in designing and implementing such programs, while maintaining appropriate oversight and monitoring. SEC. 3. UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.-It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government should (1) recognize that a democratic and economically stable Russian Federation is inherently less confrontational and destabilizing in its foreign policy and therefore that the promotion of democracy in Russia is in the national security interests of the United States; and (2) continue and increase assistance to the democratic forces in the Russian Federation, including the independent media, regional administrations, democratic political parties, and nongovernmental organizations. (b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.-It shall be the policy of the United States (1) to facilitate Russia's integration into the Western community of nations, including supporting the establishment of a stable democracy and a market economy within the framework of the rule of law and respect for individual rights, including Russia's membership in the appropriate international institutions; (2) to engage the Government of the Russian Federation and Russian society in order to strengthen democratic reform and institutions, and to promote transparency and good governance in all aspects of society, including fair and honest business practices, accessible and open legal systems, freedom of religion, and respect for human rights; (3) to advance dialogue among United States Government officials, private sector individuals, and representatives of the Government of the Russian Federation regarding Russia's integration into the Western community of nations; (4) to encourage United States Government officials and private sector individuals to meet regularly with democratic activists, human rights activists, representatives of the independent media, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, civic organizers, church officials, and reform-minded politicians from Moscow and all other regions of the Russian Federation; (5) to incorporate democratic reforms, the promotion of independent media, and economic reforms in a broader United States dialogue with the Government of the Russian Federation; (6) to encourage the Government of the Russian Federation to address, in a cooperative and transparent manner consistent with internationally recognized and accepted principles, crossborder issues, including the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, environmental degradation, crime, trafficking, and corruption; (7) to consult with the Government of the Russian Federation and the Russian Parliament on the adoption of economic and social reforms necessary to sustain Russian economic growth and to ensure Russia's transition to a fully functioning market economy and membership in the World Trade Organization; (8) to persuade the Government of the Russian Federation to honor its commitments made to the Organization for Security 22 USC 2295 note. and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at the November 1999 Istanbul Conference, and to conduct a genuine good neighbor policy toward the other independent states of the former Soviet Union in the spirit of internationally accepted principles of regional cooperation; and (9) to encourage the G-8 partners and international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to develop financial safeguards and transparency practices in lending to the Russian Federation. SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961. (a) IN GENERAL.— (1) DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW.-Section 498(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295(2)) is amended(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking "DEMOCRACY" and inserting "DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW"; (I); (B) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (G); (C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: "(E) development and support of grass-roots and nongovernmental organizations promoting democracy, the rule of law, transparency, and accountability in the political process, including grants in small amounts to such organizations; "(F) international exchanges and other forms of public diplomacy to promote greater understanding on how democracy, the public policy process, market institutions, and an independent judiciary function in Western societies; "(G) political parties and coalitions committed to promoting democracy, human rights, and economic reforms; "(H) support for civic organizations committed to promoting human rights;"; and (E) by adding at the end the following: "(J) strengthened administration of justice through programs and activities carried out in accordance with section 498B(e), including "(i) support for nongovernmental organizations, civic organizations, and political parties that favor a strong and independent judiciary; "(ii) support for local organizations that work with judges and law enforcement officials in efforts to achieve a reduction in the number of pretrial detainees; and "(iii) support for the creation of legal associations or groups that provide training in human rights and advocacy, public education with respect to human rights-related laws and proposed legislation, and legal assistance to persons subject to improper government interference.". (2) INDEPENDENT MEDIA.-Section 498 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295) is amended— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (13) as paragraphs (4) through (14), respectively; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: "(3) INDEPENDENT MEDIA.-Developing free and independent media, including "(A) supporting all forms of independent media reporting, including print, radio, and television; "(B) providing special support for, and unrestricted public access to, nongovernmental Internet-based sources of information, dissemination and reporting, including providing technical and other support for web radio services, providing computers and other necessary resources for Internet connectivity and training new Internet users in nongovernmental civic organizations on methods and uses of Internet-based media; and "(C) training in journalism, including investigative journalism techniques that educate the public on the costs of corruption and act as a deterrent against corrupt officials.". (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.-Section 498B(e) of such Act 22 USC 2295b. is amended by striking "paragraph (2)(G)" and inserting "paragraph (2)(J)". SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. (a) ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.-In providing assistance to the Russian Federation under chapter 11 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.), the President is authorized to (1) work with the Government of the Russian Federation, the Duma, and representatives of the Russian Federation judiciary to help implement a revised and improved code of criminal procedure and other laws; (2) establish civic education programs relating to democracy, public policy, the rule of law, and the importance of independent media, including the establishment of "American Centers" and public policy schools at Russian universities and encourage cooperative programs with universities in the United States to offer courses through Internet-based off-site learning centers at Russian universities; and (3) support the Regional Initiatives (RI) program, which provides targeted assistance in those regions of the Russian Federation that have demonstrated a commitment to reform, democracy, and the rule of law, and which promotes the concept of such programs as a model for all regions of the Russian Federation. (b) RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY AND VOICE OF AMERICA.-RFE/RL, Incorporated, and the Voice of America should use new and innovative techniques, in cooperation with local independent media sources and using local languages as appropriate and as possible, to disseminate throughout the Russian Federation information relating to democracy, free-market economics, the rule of law, and human rights. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR DEMOCRACY, INDE- Of the amounts made available to carry out the provision of chapter 11 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.) and the FREEDOM Support Act for fiscal year 2003, $50,000,000 is authorized to be available for the activities authorized by paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 498 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended by section 4(a) of this Act. 22 USC 2295 note. Brandeis Applicability. SEC. 7. PRESERVING THE ARCHIVES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND (a) AUTHORIZATION.-The President is authorized, on such (b) FUNDING.-There is authorized to be appropriated to the President to carry out subsection (a) not more than $1,500,000. SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF LAW. The provisions of section 108(c) of H.R. 3427, as enacted by section 1000(a)(7) of Public Law 106-113, shall apply to United States contributions for fiscal year 2003 to the organization described in section 108(c) of H.R. 3427. Approved October 23, 2002. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY-H.R. 2121: HI Vol. 147 (2001): Dec. 11, considered and passed House. Vol. 148 (2002): Sept. 20, considered and passed Senate, amended. WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 38 (2002): Public Law 107-247 107th Congress An Act To increase, effective as of December 1, 2002, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Oct. 23, 2002 [H.R. 4085] Veteran's This Act may be cited as the "Veterans' Compensation Cost- of 2002. of-Living Adjustment Act of 2002". 38 USC 101 note. SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND 38 USC 1114 DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION. note. (a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.-The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, effective on December 1, 2002, increase the dollar amounts in effect for the payment of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation by the Secretary, as specified in subsection (b). (b) AMOUNTS TO BE INCREASED. The dollar amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the following: (1) COMPENSATION.-Each of the dollar amounts in effect under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code. (2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS.-Each of the dollar amounts in effect under section 1115(1) of such title. (3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.-The dollar amount in effect under section 1162 of such title. (4) NEW DIC RATES.-The dollar amounts in effect under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1311(a) of such title. (5) OLD DIC RATES.-Each of the dollar amounts in effect under section 1311(a)(3) of such title. (6) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES WITH MINOR CHILDREN.-The dollar amount in effect under section 1311(b) of such title. (7) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR DISABILITY.—The dollar amounts in effect under sections 1311(c) and 1311(d) of such title. (8) DIC FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.-The dollar amounts in effect under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. (c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE. (1) The increase under subsection (a) shall be made in the dollar amounts specified in subsection (b) as in effect on November 30, 2002. (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), each such amount shall be increased by the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1, |