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HR 1579 103th Congress House

Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1993

Official title: To restrict the authorities of the President with respect to regulating the exchange of information with, travel to or from, and educational and cultural exchanges with, foreign countries.

Introduced: April 1, 1993 See on congress.gov
International Affairs Art objectsCultural relationsEducationEducational exchanges
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
ExhibitionsExport controlsFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceForeign banks and bankingForeign correspondentsForeign newsFreedom of speechImport restrictionsMagnetic tapesMicroformsMotion picturesPhonorecordsPhotographyPresidential powersPress organizationsReporters and reportingRight to travelScience, Technology, CommunicationsScientific exchangesTelephoneTrading with the enemyVideo tape recordingWar and emergency powers
This bill died when the 103rd Congress ended
It never became law before the 103rd Congress (1993–1994) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 16, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Trade and Environment.
Apr 14, 1993
Executive Comment Requested from State.
Apr 1, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Apr 1, 1993
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 16, 1993

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Trade and Environment.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1993 - Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Export Administration Act of 1979, the Trading With the Enemy Act, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to declare that the authority granted the President under such Acts does not include the authority to regulate or prohibit: (1) the importation from or exportation to any country, or the communication or telecommunication or other form of transmission to any country, of publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, audiotapes and video tapes, artworks, telephone conversations, other voice or data communications, telecasts, and news wire feeds; (2) other forms of telecommunications; (3) other materials which in the United States would be protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; (4) information that is not otherwise controlled under the Export Administration Act of 1979; (5) travel related to importation, exportation, communication, telecommunication, or transmission; (6) transactions for the creation or circulation of such information, or rights to such information, whether commercial or otherwise; (7) other transactions incidental to the above-mentioned activities or transactions; (8) any transactions ordinarily incident to travel to and from any country; (9) any transactions ordinarily incident to travel and maintenance within any country; (10) any transactions incident to the arrangement, promotion, or facilitation of travel to, from, or within a country; (11) any transactions incident to nonscheduled flights or voyages to and from any country; (12) normal banking transactions incident to travel to and from any country; (13) the importation or exportation of publications or other informational materials from any country; (14) financial or other transactions, or travel, incident to activities of scholars, other educational or academic activities, cultural activities and exchanges, or public exhibitions by nationals of one country in another country; or (15) financial or other transactions related to the establishment of U.S. news bureaus in foreign countries, or the establishment of foreign news bureaus in the United States.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1579: Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1993. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-1579/
MLA
"H.R. 1579: Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1993." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-1579/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1579, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-1579/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1579: Free Trade in Ideas Act of 1993](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-1579/)
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