Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications

(a) Establishment There is authorized to be in the Department an Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy for matters pertaining to strategic communication, global access to free information, countering foreign censorship efforts, and such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. (b) Responsibilities In addition to the responsibilities described under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications shall oversee and coordinate all matters pertaining to foreign policy messaging in the conduct of foreign policy, including, as appropriate— (1) overseeing foreign-facing information operations; (2) managing regional content operations and media relations; (3) overseeing and providing strategic direction for all United States Government funded media entities; (4) establishing and overseeing an Office of Global Distribution and News Services that shall— (A) create and lead the open-content wire service; and (B) manage translation and distribution of United States Government content; (5) supporting investigative and independent media; (6) advocating for internet freedom; (7) advancing circumvention and access tools; (8) opposing censorship by foreign governments; (9) leading diplomatic engagements on information freedom; and (10) performing such other duties as the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy may from time to time designate. (c) Appointments (1) First appointment The individual serving as the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs on the day immediately prior to the date of the enactment of this Act shall be the Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications on and after the date of the enactment of this Act, until such individual vacates or is removed from such position. (2) Subsequent appointments Any appointment of an individual to the position of Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications subsequent to the term of the individual described in paragraph (1) shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.