SCREEN Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1690

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-27: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2025-05-08T16:21:08Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The SCREEN Act aims to restrict the U.S. Department of State's (State Department) resources and federal assets from supporting film productions by U.S. companies that have submitted content to Chinese authorities for approval or altered films to meet Chinese censorship demands. It seeks to prevent U.S. government involvement in projects influenced by the People's Republic of China (PRC) or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), promoting content integrity free from foreign censorship.

Key Provisions

• Conditions for State Department Support (Section 2(a)):
• The Secretary of State can only provide technical support (e.g., access to embassies or facilities) or approve contracts for film production/funding if the U.S. company:
• Submits a list of all films it produced or funded in the past 10 years (or since the Act's enactment, whichever is shorter) that were sent to PRC or CCP officials for review to allow screening in China. The list must include each film's title and submission date.
• Signs a written agreement promising not to change the film's content (e.g., script or description) in response to, or in expectation of, requests from PRC or CCP officials.
• Provides this agreement to the Secretary.

• Prohibitions on Support (Section 2(b)):
• No federal technical support, asset access, or contracts are allowed for films:
• Co-produced with a PRC-based entity that faces content restrictions imposed by PRC or CCP officials.
• Involving U.S. companies identified in the Act's required congressional report as having altered content for Chinese screening in the past 3 or 10 years.

• Annual Reporting Requirement (Section 2(c)):
• Within 180 days of enactment and yearly thereafter, the Secretary of State must report to Congress (specifically, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee) on:
• Films submitted to PRC/CCP for screening, including company names, titles, and dates.
• Films covered by no-alteration agreements, with company and title details.
• Films where content was likely altered for PRC/CCP approval (based on Secretary's assessment), categorized by recent (past 3 years) or longer-term (past 10 years) submissions.
• Reports focus on U.S. companies that have received State Department support or federal contracts for films.

• Definitions (Section 2(d)):
• "Appropriate committees of Congress": Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees.
• "Content": Any film description, including scripts.
• "U.S. company": A private entity incorporated under U.S. federal or state laws.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new federal restrictions on using government resources for cultural productions, specifically targeting foreign influence from China. Prior to this, there were no explicit requirements for U.S. film companies to disclose censorship submissions or agree not to alter content when seeking State Department or federal support. It adds mandatory vetting, agreements, and public reporting, shifting from unregulated access to conditional oversight.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The State Department faces increased administrative duties, including reviewing company disclosures, enforcing agreements, and preparing detailed annual reports. This could slow approvals for film-related contracts and strain resources in the Foreign Affairs committees for oversight.
• On Citizens: U.S. film industry professionals and companies may encounter barriers to using federal assets (e.g., diplomatic facilities for filming), particularly if they have past or ongoing ties to Chinese markets. This could limit creative opportunities but encourage resistance to foreign censorship.
• On International Relations: The Act signals U.S. opposition to Chinese censorship practices, potentially escalating tensions with the PRC by restricting collaborative projects. It may strengthen U.S. cultural diplomacy but complicate bilateral film industry exchanges.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Film Companies: Primary targets, as they must comply with disclosure and no-alteration rules to access federal support; non-compliance risks exclusion from government-backed projects.
• State Department and Federal Agencies: Responsible for implementation, enforcement, and reporting; heads of agencies cannot approve prohibited contracts.
• Congress: Gains oversight through required reports, enabling monitoring of U.S.-China cultural influences.
• PRC and CCP Entities: Indirectly affected, as their censorship demands could disqualify co-productions or partnerships with U.S. firms seeking federal aid.
• U.S. Public and Creatives: Broader film audience and artists may benefit from unaltered content but face indirect limits on industry growth tied to Chinese markets.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes enforceable conditions on federal funding and assets, potentially leading to disputes over what constitutes "alteration" (e.g., via Secretary's assessments). It could invite lawsuits if companies claim arbitrary denials, requiring clear guidelines for compliance.
• Constitutional: Raises First Amendment concerns by conditioning government support on content promises, though it applies only to federal resources (not private speech). It avoids direct censorship but indirectly pressures companies to prioritize U.S. values over foreign demands.
• Political: Positions the U.S. as a defender of free expression against authoritarian influence, appealing to anti-CCP sentiments. As a bipartisan-introduced bill (by Rep. Green and others), it may advance in a Congress focused on China competition, but could face opposition from industries reliant on global markets.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7]

Cosponsors (3)

Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-27: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-27: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-27: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Stopping Communist Regimes from Engaging in Edits Now Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (7 pages)