Congress · Laws

Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act

Public Law 98-111 · S. 602 · 98th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 4, 1983 · Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor: Sen. Paula Hawkins (R-FL)

Cosponsors (35): Sen. Lawton Chiles, Sen. Howard Metzenbaum,

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 302 yea, 109 nay302–109
SenateVoice vote

Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act - Directs the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) to provide for radio broadcasting to Cuba. Requires such broadcasting to be part of the voice of America radio broadcasting to Cuba. Sets forth the radio frequencies and facilities that shall be used for such broadcasting. Provides that the Director of the USIA may lease time on other stations if broadcasts to Cuba are subject to a specified amount of jamming or interference. Requires that any U.S. Government radio broadcasts to Cuba shall be designated "Voice of America: Cuba Service" or "Voice of America: Radio Marti Program." Provides for using other facilities if the regular facilities are destroyed.

Requires the Director of the USIA to establish within the Voice of America a Cuba Service which shall be responsible for radio broadcasts to Cuba.

Establishes within the Office of the President the Advisory Board for Radio Broadcasting to Cuba which shall review the activities carried out under this Act and shall make recommendations as it deems necessary. Authorizes appropriations for the Board.

Authorizes other Federal agencies to assist the USIA in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Expresses the intent of Congress that the Secretary of State should seek settlement of U.S. claims against the Government of Cuba arising from Cuban interference with broadcasting in the United States. Authorizes the USIA to make payments to U.S. radio broadcasting station licensees for expenses which such such licensees have incurred or will incur in mitigating the effects of Cuban interference with the transmission or reception of broadcasts by these licensees. Directs the FCC to regulate and establish procedures for providing compensation to U.S. broadcasters. Authorizes appropriations for such compensation.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should establish a task force to analyze the level of interference from the operation of Cuban radio stations experienced by broadcasters in the United States and to seek a solution to this problem.

Authorizes appropriations to the USIA for FY 1984 and 1985 to provide radio broadcasts to Cuba and to establish a Cuba service within the Voice of America. Authorizes appropriations to the USIA for FY 1984 and 1985 for expenses incurred in modernizing facilities and operations of the Voice of America.

Requires the USIA to arrange an independent evaluation of Cuba Service programming and to transmit the results of such evaluation to Congress.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 98th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 303 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

303 yea110 nay20 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(152)

Rep. Sala BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. William LehmanD-FL-17
Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-18
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-7
Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2
Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. Meldon LevineD-CA-27
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-18
Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-18
Rep. Frank HarrisonD-PA-11
Rep. Bernard DwyerD-NJ-6
Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-21
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3
Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
Rep. Lawrence SmithD-FL-16
Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-19
Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-22
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
Rep. Joseph KolterD-PA-4
Rep. Harry ReidD-NV-1
Rep. Douglas BoscoD-CA-1
Rep. Robert TorricelliD-NJ-9
Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
Rep. James ClarkeD-NC-11
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-32
Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. Charles DowdyD-MS-4
Rep. Wyche FowlerD-GA-5
Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-3
Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-6
Rep. Edward FeighanD-OH-19
Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. Charles HatcherD-GA-2
Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
Rep. Charles BrittD-NC-6
Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20
Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-14
Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Royden DysonD-MD-1
Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Robert ThomasD-GA-1
Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-23
Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-5
Rep. David McCurdyD-OK-4
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-2
Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
Rep. Thomas CarperD-DE
Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
Rep. Buddy MacKayD-FL-6
Rep. Michael AndrewsD-TX-25
Rep. Tim ValentineD-NC-2
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. Ben ErdreichD-AL-6
Rep. James OlinD-VA-6
Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. Ed JenkinsD-GA-9
Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-11
Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
Rep. Thomas HuckabyD-LA-5
Rep. Tommy VandergriffD-TX-26
Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7
Rep. Billy TauzinD-LA-3
Rep. Richard RayD-GA-3
Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-10
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Buddy RoemerD-LA-4
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17

Republicans who voted yea(151)

Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-15
Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-29
Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-25
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-7
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-17
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-22
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-21
Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. John McKernanR-ME-1
Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Thomas RidgeR-PA-21
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
Rep. Rodney ChandlerR-WA-8
Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. David MartinR-NY-26
Rep. Guy MolinariR-NY-14
Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. Steven GundersonR-WI-3
Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-15
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Raymond McGrathR-NY-5
Rep. Thomas EvansR-IA-3
Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
Rep. George WortleyR-NY-27
Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-8
Rep. James CourterR-NJ-12
Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-2
Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
Rep. Thomas LewisR-FL-12
Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
Rep. Donald SundquistR-TN-7
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. William FranklinR-MS-2
Rep. Bobbi FiedlerR-CA-21
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Robert SmithR-OR-2
Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Jack KempR-NY-31
Rep. Edwin ZschauR-CA-12
Rep. Lynn MartinR-IL-16
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-35
Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
Rep. Bob McEwenR-OH-6
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-3
Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. John McCainR-AZ-1
Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-15
Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. Bill EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-45
Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-13
Rep. Hal DaubR-NE-2
Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-20
Rep. Daniel CoatsR-IN-4
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-14
Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. Eugene ChappieR-CA-2
Rep. Mark SiljanderR-MI-4
Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-5
Rep. Mike DeWineR-OH-7
Rep. John WeberR-MN-2
Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-43
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
Rep. Judd GreggR-NH-2
Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-30
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Alfred McCandlessR-CA-37
Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1
Rep. John HilerR-IN-3
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Rep. Barbara VucanovichR-NV-2
Rep. Jack FieldsR-TX-8
Rep. Hank BrownR-CO-4
Rep. Steve BartlettR-TX-3
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Connie MackR-FL-13
Rep. Larry CraigR-ID-1
Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-24
Rep. Dan SchaeferR-CO-6
Rep. Howard NielsonR-UT-3
Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. Thomas HartnettR-SC-1
Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6
Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
Rep. David DreierR-CA-33
Rep. Norman ShumwayR-CA-14
Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
Rep. Denny SmithR-OR-5
Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12
Rep. Daniel CraneR-IL-19
Rep. William DannemeyerR-CA-39

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 346 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Foreign Relations Committee · Senate · hearings by (full committee), markup by, referred to, reported by

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.

Oct 4, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-111.
Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
Sep 30, 1983PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
Sep 29, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 302 - 109 (Record Vote No: 365).House roll call 365
Sep 22, 1983FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
Sep 13, 1983FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
FloorFloor · Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Aug 3, 1983FloorFloor · First cloture on the motion to proceed invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 62-33. Record Vote No: 242.Senate roll call 242
Jun 21, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Jun 8, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Apr 27, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Feb 24, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Foreign Relations Committee
IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate

Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.