H.R. 8075 – Internet Freedom Rapid Response Act of 2022

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:05 PM UTC

The Internet Freedom Rapid Response Act authorizes the Open Technology Fund, part of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, to award competitive grants to public or private groups that have deployed internet‑freedom tools. The grants are meant to quickly boost support for those technologies when censorship spikes in closed countries. The bill provides up to $5 million each year from 2022 through 2026 and requires audits and annual reporting to congressional committees.

Key Provisions

Grants may be made to eligible entities to surge and sustain internet‑freedom technologies in response to acute censorship escalations in closed countries
Grants are awarded competitively and must be audited to ensure security and that they do not harm U.S. interests or beneficiaries
The Open Technology Fund must submit an annual report on grant activities to relevant House and Senate committees
Up to $5 million is authorized for each fiscal year 2022‑2026, with funds available until spent
Defines “closed countries” as those suppressing democratic participation, free expression, movement, or information, and “eligible entities” as public or private groups with proven, deployed technology

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

June 15, 2022

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 15, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

June 15, 2022

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 15, 2022

I

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8075

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 15, 2022

Mrs. Demings (for herself and Mr. Keating) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

A BILL

To authorize the Open Technology Fund of the United States Agency for Global Media to make grants to surge and sustain support for internet freedom technologies to counter acute escalations in censorship in closed countries, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Internet Freedom Rapid Response Act of 2022.

2.

Open Technology Fund grants

(a)

In general

In addition to grants made to the Open Technology Fund of the United States Agency for Global Media pursuant to section 305 of the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6204) to make grants for the purposes specified in section 309A of such Act (22 U.S.C. 6208a), the Open Technology Fund may make grants to eligible entities to surge and sustain support for internet freedom technologies to counter acute escalations in censorship in closed countries.

(b)

Methodology

Grants under this section shall be made competitively, and shall be subject to audits by the Open Technology Fund to ensure that technologies described in subsection (a) are secure and have not been compromised in a manner detrimental to the interests of the United States or to individuals or organizations benefitting from programs supported by such grants.

(c)

Reporting

The Open Technology Fund shall annually submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate a report on grants made and activities carried out pursuant to such grants during the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to carry out this section.

(2)

Availability

Amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to this subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.

(e)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Closed countries

The term closed countries means countries in which democratic participation, free expression, freedom of movement, or access to information is suppressed or explicitly prohibited through political, judicial, social, or technical means, or as otherwise determined by the Secretary of State, the Chief Executive Officer for the United States Agency for Global Media, or the President of the Open Technology Fund.

(2)

Eligible entities

The term eligible entities means public or private sector entities with proven and already-deployed technology relating to surging and sustaining support for internet freedom technologies to counter acute escalations in censorship in closed countries.