Washington, D.C. – Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement after the House voted to include in the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act an amendment, crafted by Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Chairman Royce, to establish a Global Engagement Center and reform the Broadcasting Board of Governors:

“One of the big reasons Russia and ISIS have been winning the information war is that our international broadcasting has been crippled by bureaucracy.  Real, meaningful reform to the systemically broken Broadcasting Board of Governors and its unwieldy management structure has long been a priority of mine.  This amendment to replace the part-time board with an empowered and permanent CEO is an important step forward. 

“Obviously, our work is far from done.  U.S. broadcasters helped take down the Iron Curtain by countering propaganda with accurate news and information in real time.  They can win today’s fight – over the airwaves and on the internet – but they must have a clear mission and necessary support.”

NOTE: For more on Chairman Royce’s long push for reforms to U.S. international broadcasting, click HERE.

###