S.Amdt. 1947

SA 1947. Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Bennet)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S.
4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of part I of subtitle G of title V, add the
following:

SEC. ___. PROMOTION OF DIGITAL AND MEDIA LITERACY TO COMBAT
FOREIGN INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) People in the United States rely on information from
mass media, social media, and digital media to make decisions
about all aspects of social, economic, and political life,
including products and services consumption, employment,
career and professional development, family and leisure
choices, health and wellness, and democratic engagement.
Ensuring that people in the United States possess the skills
to make these informed decisions based on media begins early
in life.
(2) Adversaries from Russia, China, and Iran are using
information warfare to influence democracies across the
world, and terrorist organizations often use digital
communications to recruit members. The Unites States can
fight these influences by ensuring that citizens of the
United States possess the necessary skills to discern
disinformation and misinformation and think critically about
their digital activities.
(3) Influence campaigns by foreign adversaries reached tens
of millions of voters during the 2016 and 2018 elections with
racially and divisively targeted messages. The Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate found in its
investigation of the interference in the 2016 election that
social media posts by Russia's Internet Research Agency (IRA)
reached tens of millions of voters in 2016 and were meant to
pit people of the United States against one another and sow
discord. The preservation of elections free of foreign
influence is of utmost importance, and therefore Congress
must take steps to counter influence campaigns with digital
and media literacy.
(4) Researchers have documented persistent, pervasive, and
coordinated online targeting of members of the Armed Forces,
veterans, and their families by foreign adversaries seeking
to undermine the democracy of the United States. Veterans and
the social-media followers of several congressionally
chartered veterans service organizations were specifically
targeted by the Internet Research Agency with at least 113
advertisement during and after the 2016 election. This
represents a fraction of the Russian activity that targeted
this community with divisive propaganda.
(5) The Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a bicameral and
bipartisan commission, established in the John S. McCain
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
(Public Law 115-232), concluded in its finished report that
the ``U.S. government should promote digital literacy, civics
education, and public awareness to build societal resilience
to foreign, malign cyber-enabled information operations and
that the U.S. government must ensure that individual
Americans have both the digital literacy tools and the civics
education they need to secure their networks and their
democracy from cyber-enabled information operations.'' The
report recommended that Congress authorize a grant program
``to study how best to improve digital citizenship and to
incorporate effective digital literacy curricula in American
classrooms at the K-12 level and beyond''.
(6) In addition to bolstering national security by building
societal resistance to foreign influence campaigns, digital
and media literacy education is critical to allow young
people to make informed decisions about products and
services, education, health and wellness, and democratic
decisions associated with public policy. Digital and media
literacy education must be inclusive and accessible for all
students, including students with disabilities. Digital and
media literacy empowers young people and gives them the
agency to make informed decisions about their future,
advertisements, the use of controlled substances, nutrition,
and physical health. Equipping students with the skills to
make informed decisions in these areas contributes to the
betterment of mental health and public health.
(7) A successful and inclusive digital and media literacy
program must be directed at students beginning in
kindergarten and should continue throughout the completion of
postsecondary education. Learning to critically analyze and
create digital content and media is a lifelong process that
can be developed by integrating media literacy competencies
into academic curriculum across content areas and
disciplines.
(8) Digital and media literacy also allows young people to
develop the critical thinking skills that will help them
become informed voters. The right to vote is a fundamental
right afforded to United States citizens by the Constitution.
The unimpeded free exercise of this right is essential to the
functioning of our democracy. The process to protect our
democracy begins with educating young people in the United
States to ensure that the young people possess the skills to
engage in civic activities, engage with communities, and
eventually become informed voters.
(b) Sense Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that,
given the threat foreign influence campaigns pose for
American democracy and the recommendations of the Cyberspace
Solarium Commission, Congress must immediately act to pass
legislative measures to increase digital and media literacy
among Americans.
(c) Digital and Media Literacy Education Grant Program.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Esea definitions.--The terms ``child with a
disability'', ``local educational agency'', ``State
educational agency'', ``specialized instructional support
personnel'', and ``universal design for learning'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(B) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(i) a State educational agency; or
(ii) a local educational agency.
(C) Digital citizenship.--The term ``digital citizenship''
means the ability to--
(i) safely, responsibly, and ethically use communication
technologies and digital information technology tools and
platforms;
(ii) create and share media content using principles of
social and civic responsibility and with awareness of the
legal and ethical issues involved; and
(iii) participate in the political, economic, social, and
cultural aspects of life related to technology,
communications, and the digital world by consuming and
creating digital content, including media.
(D) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Digital and Media Literacy Education Grant Program who
shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.
(E) Media literacy.--The term ``media literacy'' means the
ability to--
(i) access relevant and accurate information through media
in a variety of forms;
(ii) critically analyze media content and the influences of
different forms of media;
(iii) evaluate the comprehensiveness, relevance,
credibility, authority, and accuracy of information;
(iv) make educated decisions based on information obtained
from media and digital sources;
(v) operate various forms of technology and digital tools;
and
(vi) reflect on how the use of media and technology may
affect private and public life.
(2) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--The Director shall establish a program to
promote digital and media literacy, through which the
Director shall award grants to eligible entities to enable
those eligible entities to carry out the activities described
in paragraph (4).
(B) Designation.--The program established under
subparagraph (A) shall be known as the ``Digital and Media
Literacy Education Grant Program''.
(3) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant
under this subsection shall submit an application to the
Director at such time and in such manner as the Director may
require, including, at a minimum--
(A) a description of the activities the eligible entity
intends to carry out with the grant funds;
(B) an estimate of the costs associated with such
activities; and
(C) such other information and assurances as the Director
may require.
(4) Use of funds.--
(A) State educational agencies.--
(i) In general.--An eligible entity that is a State
educational agency receiving a grant under this subsection
shall use grant funds to carry out one or more of the
following activities:

(I) Creating and supporting a media literacy advisory
council to--

(aa) provide recommendations about digital citizenship and
media literacy guidelines;
(bb) identify barriers and opportunities for implementing
media literacy in kindergarten through grade 12 in public
schools in the State for all students, including students who
are children with disabilities;

[[Page S3427]]

(cc) identify best practices and effective models for media
literacy education, including incorporating universal design
for learning and providing additional accommodations for
students who are children with disabilities when needed;
(dd) identify existing models of curriculum and existing
policies in different States that are aimed at overcoming the
barriers identified in item (bb);
(ee) gather data or conduct research to assess the media
literacy and digital citizenship competencies of students,
teachers, or specialized instructional support personnel;
(ff) submit a report to the State educational agency
containing findings and recommendations regarding the items
identified under this subclause; and
(gg) annually update those findings and recommendations.

(II) Assisting local educational agencies in the
development of units of instruction on media literacy, either
as a new subject or as a part of the existing curriculum.
(III) Assisting local agencies in developing means of
evaluating student learning in media literacy.
(IV) Assisting local agencies in developing or providing
professional development for teachers that relates to media
literacy.

(ii) Media literacy advisory council.--

(I) Members.--The media literacy advisory council described
in clause (i)(I) shall include experts in media literacy,
including academic experts, individuals from nonprofit
organizations, individuals with expertise in education for
students who are children with disabilities, teachers,
librarians, representatives from parent organizations,
educators, administrators, students, and other stakeholders.
(II) Diversity of representation.--Such membership shall
include representation from rural and urban local educational
agencies, small and large schools, high- and low-resource
schools, teachers of students with disabilities, and schools
in communities from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

(iii) Guidelines.--

(I) In general.--A State educational agency that creates a
media literacy advisory council under clause (i)(I) shall,
only after consideration of the findings and recommendations
described in clause (i)(I)(aa) and (ff), develop and publish
on the State educational agency website inclusive digital
citizenship and media literacy guidelines for students in
kindergarten through grade 12 in public schools in the State.
(II) Requirements.--The guidelines described in subclause
(I) shall be designed to develop media literacy and digital
citizenship competencies by promoting students'--

(aa) research and information fluency;
(bb) critical thinking and problem solving skills;
(cc) technology operations and concepts;
(dd) information and technological literacy;
(ee) concepts of media representation and stereotyping;
(ff) understanding of explicit and implicit media messages;
(gg) understanding of values and points of view that are
included and excluded in media content;
(hh) understanding of how media may influence ideas and
behaviors;
(ii) understanding of the importance of obtaining
information from multiple media sources and evaluating
sources for quality;
(jj) understanding how information on digital platforms can
be altered through algorithms, editing, and augmented
reality; and
(kk) ability to create media in civically and socially
responsible ways.
(B) Local educational agencies.--An eligible entity that is
a local educational agency receiving a grant under this
subsection shall use grant funds to carry out one or more of
the following activities:
(i) Incorporating digital citizenship and media literacy
into the existing curriculum (across content and disciplinary
areas) or establishing new educational opportunities to learn
about media literacy.
(ii) Employing specialized instructional support personnel,
such as a librarian or other personnel who can provide
instructional services in media literacy.
(iii) Providing funding to educators who are carrying out
activities described in clause (i) to further their
professional development in relation to media literacy,
including funding for traveling to media literacy conferences
to share knowledge with regional and national stakeholders.
(iv) Other activities, including student led efforts, to
support, develop, or promote the implementation of media
literacy education programs, policies, teacher preparation,
curriculum, or standards.
(5) Reporting.--
(A) Reports by eligible entities.--Not later than 1 year
after the date the eligible entity receives grant funds under
this subsection, each eligible entity shall prepare and
submit to the Director a report describing the activities the
eligible entity carried out using grant funds and the
effectiveness of those activities.
(B) Report by the director.--Not later than 90 days after
the Director receives the report described in subparagraph
(A) from the last eligible entity to submit such a report,
the Director shall prepare and submit a report to Congress
describing the activities carried out under this subsection
and the effectiveness of those activities.
(6) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Director should establish and maintain a list of eligible
entities that receive a grant under this subsection, and
individuals designated by those eligible entities as
participating individuals. The Director should make that list
available to those eligible entities and participating
individuals in order to promote communication and further
exchange of information regarding sound digital citizenship
and media literacy practices among recipients of a grant
under this subsection.
(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $20,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2020, 2022, and 2024.
(d) Veterans Grant Program.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity''
includes--
(i) a civil society organization, including a community
group, a nongovernmental organization, a nonprofit
organization, a labor union, an indigenous group, a
charitable organization, a professional association, and a
foundation; and
(ii) an organization recognized by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under
section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
(B) Digital citizenship.--The term ``digital citizenship''
means the ability to--
(i) safely, responsibly, and ethically use communication
technologies and digital information technology tools and
platforms;
(ii) create and share media content using principles of
social and civic responsibility and with awareness of the
legal and ethical issues involved; and
(iii) participate in the political, economic, social, and
cultural aspects of life related to technology,
communications, and the digital world by consuming and
creating digital content, including media.
(C) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs.
(D) Media literacy.--The term ``media literacy'' means the
ability to--
(i) access relevant and accurate information through media
in a variety of forms;
(ii) critically analyze media content and the influences of
different forms of media;
(iii) evaluate the comprehensiveness, relevance,
credibility, authority, and accuracy of information;
(iv) make educated decisions based on information obtained
from media and digital sources;
(v) operate various forms of technology and digital tools;
and
(vi) reflect on how the use of media and technology may
affect private and public life.
(2) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
promote digital citizenship and media literacy, through which
the Director shall award grants to eligible entities to
enable those eligible entities to carry out the activities
described in paragraph (4).
(3) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant
under this subsection shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary
may require, including, at a minimum--
(A) a description of the activities the eligible entity
intends to carry out with the grant funds;
(B) an estimate of the costs associated with such
activities; and
(C) such other information and assurances as the Secretary
may require.
(4) Use of funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant
under this subsection shall use the grant funds to carry out
one or more of the following activities to increase digital
and media literacy among veterans to develop media literacy
and digital citizenship competencies and improve personal
cybersecurity by promoting veterans'--
(A) research and information fluency;
(B) critical thinking and problem solving skills;
(C) technology operations and concepts;
(D) information and technological literacy;
(E) concepts of media and digital representation and
stereotyping;
(F) understanding of explicit and implicit media and
digital messages;
(G) understanding of values and points of view that are
included and excluded in media and digital content;
(H) understanding of how media and digital content may
influence ideas and behaviors;
(I) understanding of the importance of obtaining
information from multiple media sources and evaluating
sources for quality;
(J) understanding how information on digital platforms can
be altered through algorithms, editing, and augmented
reality;
(K) ability to create media and digital content in
civically and socially responsible ways;
(L) understanding of influence campaigns conducted by
foreign adversaries and the tactics employed by foreign
adversaries for conducting influence campaigns;
(M) ability to implement and maintain safe cybersecurity
practices;
(N) ability to mitigate cyber vulnerabilities;
(O) ability to recognize cyber threats; and
(P) ability to identify instances of online manipulation.
(5) Reporting.--
(A) Reports by eligible entities.--Not later than 1 year
after the date an eligible entity receives a grant funds
under this subsection, such eligible entity shall prepare and
submit to the Secretary a report describing the activities
the eligible entity carried out using the grant funds and the
effectiveness of those activities.

[[Page S3428]]

(B) Report by the secretary.--Not later than 90 days after
the date on which the Secretary receives a report under
subparagraph (A) from the last eligible entity receiving a
grant under this subsection and required to submit a report
under such subparagraph, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report describing the activities carried out under
this subsection and the effectiveness of those activities.
(6) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) the Secretary should establish and maintain a list of--
(i) eligible entities that receive a grant under this
subsection; and
(ii) the individuals designated by those eligible entities
as participating individuals; and
(B) the Secretary should make such list available to those
eligible entities and participating individuals in order to
promote communication and further exchange of information
regarding sound digital citizenship and media literacy
practices among recipients of a grant under this subsection.
(7) Authorization of appropriations.--
(A) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this subsection $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2020, 2022, and 2024.
(B) Supplement, not supplant.--Amounts appropriated
pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall supplement, not supplant,
amounts otherwise appropriated for the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
______