Congress seeks more control over government news agency
A key panel has voted to reform a US news agency whose Middle East coverage has long frustrated lawmakers.
![Was2589505 TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SHAUN TANDON "ENTERTAINMENT-US-AFGHANISTAN-TELEVISION"
Voice Of America (VOA) Afghan Service broadcaster Daoud Sediqi listens to a caller during a show on September 16, 2009 in a studio of the VOA in Washington. Sediqi, the former host of "Afghan Idol", one of Afghanistan's most popular television programs which showcases musical talent, joined the VOA in the US where he was granted asylum to escape Taliban threats. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AF](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/04/91011547.jpg/91011547.jpg?h=c2c5b897&itok=2bLyw2wj)
On April 30, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved reforms to the government news agency that require it to promote US foreign policy goals and give Congress greater oversight over its operations, notably in the Middle East.
The bill, which passed by unanimous voice vote, would replace the Broadcasting Board of Governors with a US International Communications Agency overseeing Voice of America. It would consolidate other news operations — including the Middle East Broadcasting Network — under a separate Freedom News Network.