WASHINGTON (8 December) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), which would label certain Middle Eastern satellite providers of incendiary television programming as terrorist organizations, in an effort to prevent radical anti-American propaganda from hitting the airwaves.

“This legislation will provide the United States with critical baseline information to combat media outlets that serve as vehicles for violent anti-American incitement,” said Bilirakis, who is a member of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security. “Given the danger such incitement and radicalization poses to Americans both at home and aboard, it is crucial that these tools of terror be distinguished from reputable news outlets.”

H.R. 2278 designates satellite providers that knowingly and willingly contract with terrorist entities as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and directs the President to submit a comprehensive annual report to Congress regarding anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East. The report must include a country-by-country list and description of media outlets that engage in anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East and a list of satellite companies that carry such media.

“Instead of denouncing such incitement, many countries in the region effectively provide financial, material or technological support to the purveyors of incitement,” Bilirakis added. “The United States in crafting its foreign policy must consider state-sponsorship of anti-American incitement to violence when determining the level of assistance to, and frequency and nature of relations with, regional states. We already spend too much on foreign aid to countries that take our money with one hand and slap us with the other. This legislation will help us ratchet down foreign aid to countries who take this approach.”