US House of Representatives Considers Foreign Assistance Bill (3/3)

In providing about $32 million more than 2007 levels for broadcasting, and $14 million above the president's original request, lawmakers provide funding to roll back proposed cuts to specific language programs.

VOA English, which has been slated for elimination, is described as making an essential contribution to U.S. public diplomacy, and especially important since it provides accurate, objective and comprehensive news to a potential English-speaking audience of 1.6 billion people worldwide.

Similar recommendations are made regarding proposed cuts in Tibetan and Cantonese at Radio Free Asia, along with five European language services of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The legislation also funds increased broadcasting to North Korea in accordance with the North Korea Human Rights Act approved by Congress in 2004.

Lawmakers are withholding funds to enhance the U.S. funded Al-hurra Arabic language television for the Middle East, in the wake of controversy over programming it aired, including anti-American and anti-Israel statements by Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.

That controversy led to the recent resignation of the station's top official in charge of news, and Congress is awaiting reports from the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the State Department Inspector General on management and other changes.