H.R. 3719 — Restoring American Freedom Act

This section amends sec. 1(b)(3) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to require the Secretary of State to monitor and ensure that no Department employee, officer, agent, or recipient of Department funds engages in or facilitates conduct unconstitutionally abridging the free speech (as defined in sec. 2(b)(2)(C) of the Restoring American Freedom Act) of a U.S. citizen; prohibits use of Department funds for such conduct; and mandates appropriate corrective action for past misconduct (with conforming clerical amendments). It further prohibits awarding Department funds to any person or entity that (A) publishes or disseminates an advertising blacklist (i.e., a curated list discouraging advertisers from supporting a U.S. citizen due to the content of their speech) or (B) creates, tests, or distributes a censorship tool (i.e., a tool scrutinizing speech with intent to suppress it, including coercing third parties like social media companies) lacking safeguards, as determined by the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy. Finally, it requires the Secretary, within seven days of notification of actual or potential censorship by Department personnel or fund recipients, to notify the Chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and the affected U.S. citizen.