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HR 1767 101th Congress House Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Cultural relations Educational exchanges Export controls Freedom of speech Import restrictions Passports Presidential powers Right to travel Scientific exchanges Treaties

Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1989

Introduced: April 11, 1989 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 13, 1990
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 24, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade.
Apr 24, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations.
Apr 11, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Apr 11, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1989 - Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Trading With the Enemy Act to declare that the authority granted the President under such Acts does not include the authority to regulate or prohibit: (1) any transactions ordinarily incident to travel to and from any country; (2) any transactions ordinarily incident to travel and maintenance within any country; (3) any transactions incident to the arrangement, promotion, or facilitation of travel to, from, or within a country; (4) any transactions incident to nonscheduled flights or voyages to and from any country; (5) normal banking transactions incident to travel to and from any country; or (6) the importation or exportation of publications or other informational materials from any country.

Authorizes the President to regulate or prohibit such transactions incident to travel whenever a U.S. citizen's passport has been duly restricted for travel.

Prohibits denying, revoking, or limiting a passport because of any speech, activity, belief, affiliation, or membership which, if held or conducted within the United States, would be protected by the first amendment.

Provides that Federal agencies, in carrying out a specified agreement on educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges (the Beirut Agreement of 1948), may not consider visual or auditory material as failing to qualify as international educational material simply because: (1) it advocates a particular viewpoint; (2) it might lend itself to misrepresentation; (3) it is not representative, authentic, and accurate, unless the material contains widespread and gross misstatements of fact; or (4) it does not augment international understanding and goodwill.

What's happening now March 13, 1990

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1767: Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1989. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-1767/
MLA
"H.R. 1767: Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1989." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-1767/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1767, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-1767/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1767: Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1989](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-1767/)
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