H.R. 2278

H.R. 2278 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) on May 6, 2009.

H.R. 2278 directs the President to submit a report to Congress regarding anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East. The bill also requires that the report include a country-by-country list of media outlets and satellite companies that engage in such incitement.

H.R. 2278 states that the U.S. should designate as global terrorists satellite providers that knowingly and willingly contract with entities designated as specially designated global terrorists or to consider implementing other punitive measures against satellite providers that transmit al-Aqsa TV, al-Manar TV, al-Rafidayn TV, or any other terrorist owned and operated station. The legislation also states that the U.S. should consider state-sponsorship of anti-American incitement to violence when determining the level of assistance to, and frequency and nature of relations with regional states.

The bill finally urges all governments and private investors who own shares in satellite companies or otherwise influence decisions about satellite transmissions to oppose such transmissions.

Several media outlets in the Middle East repeatedly publish or broadcast incitements to violence against the U.S. and Americans. Television channels such as al-Manar, al-Aqsa, al-Zawra, and others, are especially egregious in this respect.

There is no Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate available for this bill.