NDAA 2017 S. 2943

SEC. 1287. GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT CENTER.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other
relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall establish
within the Department of State a Global Engagement Center
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Center’’).
(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Center shall be to lead,
synchronize, and coordinate efforts of the Federal Government
to recognize, understand, expose, and counter foreign state
and non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts aimed
at undermining United States national security interests.
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The Center shall carry out the following functions:
(1) Integrate interagency and international efforts to track
and evaluate counterfactual narratives abroad that threaten
the national security interests of the United States and United
States allies and partner nations.
(2) Analyze relevant information, data, analysis, and analytics
from United States Government agencies, United States
allies and partner nations, think tanks, academic institutions,
civil society groups, and other nongovernmental organizations.
(3) As needed, support the development and dissemination
of fact-based narratives and analysis to counter propaganda
and disinformation directed at the United States and United
States allies and partner nations.
(4) Identify current and emerging trends in foreign propaganda
and disinformation in order to coordinate and shape
the development of tactics, techniques, and procedures to expose
and refute foreign misinformation and disinformation and
proactively promote fact-based narratives and policies to
audiences outside the United States.
(5) Facilitate the use of a wide range of technologies and
techniques by sharing expertise among Federal departments
and agencies, seeking expertise from external sources, and
implementing best practices.
(6) Identify gaps in United States capabilities in areas
relevant to the purpose of the Center and recommend necessary
enhancements or changes.
(7) Identify the countries and populations most susceptible
to propaganda and disinformation based on information provided
by appropriate interagency entities.
(8 ) Administer the information access fund established
pursuant to subsection (f).
(9) Coordinate with United States allies and partner
nations in order to amplify the Center’s efforts and avoid
duplication.
(10) Maintain, collect, use, and disseminate records (as
such term is defined in section 552a(a)(4) of title 5, United
States Code) for research and data analysis of foreign state
and non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts and
communications related to public diplomacy efforts intended
for foreign audiences. Such research and data analysis shall
be reasonably tailored to meet the purposes of this paragraph
and shall be carried out with due regard for privacy and civil
liberties guidance and oversight.
S. 2943—548
(c) HEAD OF CENTER.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The head of the Center shall be an
individual who is an official of the Federal Government, who
shall be appointed by the President.
(2) COMPLIANCE WITH PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES LAWS.—
The President shall designate a senior official to develop guidance
for the Center relating to relevant privacy and civil liberties
laws and to ensure compliance with such guidance.
(d) EMPLOYEES OF THE CENTER.—
(1) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government employee may
be detailed to the Center without reimbursement, and such
detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service
status or privilege for a period of not more than 3 years.
(2) PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTORS.—The Secretary of
State may hire United States citizens or aliens as personal
services contractors for purposes of personnel resources of the
Center, if—
(A) the Secretary determines that existing personnel
resources are insufficient;
(B) the period in which services are provided by a
personal services contractor, including options, does not
exceed 3 years, unless the Secretary determines that exceptional
circumstances justify an extension of up to one additional
year;
(C) not more than 50 United States citizens or aliens
are employed as personal services contractors under the
authority of this paragraph at any time; and
(D) the authority of this paragraph is only used to
obtain specialized skills or experience or to respond to
urgent needs.
(e) TRANSFER OF AMOUNTS AUTHORIZED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—If amounts authorized to be appropriated
or otherwise made available to carry out the functions of the
Center—
(A) for fiscal year 2017 are less than $80,000,000,
the Secretary of Defense is authorized to transfer, from
amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act for
the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2017, to the
Secretary of State an amount, not to exceed $60,000,000,
to be available to carry out the functions of the Center
for fiscal year 2017; and
(B) for fiscal year 2018 are less than $80,000,000,
the Secretary of Defense is authorized to transfer, from
amounts authorized to be appropriated by an Act authorizing
funds for the Department of Defense for fiscal year
2018, to the Secretary of State an amount, not to exceed
$60,000,000, to be available to carry out the functions
of the Center for fiscal year 2018.
(2) NOTICE REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall
notify the congressional defense committees of a proposed
transfer under paragraph (1) not less than 15 days prior to
making such transfer.
(3) INAPPLICABILITY OF REPROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS.—
The authority to transfer amounts under paragraph (1) shall
not be subject to any reprogramming requirement under any
other provision of law.
(f) INFORMATION ACCESS FUND.—
S. 2943—549
(1) AUTHORITY FOR GRANTS.—The Center is authorized to
provide grants or contracts of financial support to civil society
groups, media content providers, nongovernmental organizations,
federally funded research and development centers, private
companies, or academic institutions for the following purposes:
(A) To support local independent media who are best
placed to refute foreign disinformation and manipulation
in their own communities.
(B) To collect and store examples in print, online, and
social media, disinformation, misinformation, and propaganda
directed at the United States and its allies and
partners.
(C) To analyze and report on tactics, techniques, and
procedures of foreign information warfare with respect to
disinformation, misinformation, and propaganda.
(D) To support efforts by the Center to counter efforts
by foreign entities to use disinformation, misinformation,
and propaganda to influence the policies and social and
political stability of the United States and United States
allies and partner nations.
(2) FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary
of State shall provide that each organization that applies
to receive funds under this subsection is selected in accordance
with the relevant existing regulations to ensure its bona fides,
capability, and experience, and its compatibility with United
States interests and objectives.
(g) REPORTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date
on which the Center is established, the Secretary of State
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report evaluating the success of the Center in carrying out
its functions under subsection (b) and outlining steps to improve
any areas of deficiency.
(2) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate
congressional committees’’ means—
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee
on Armed Services, the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee
on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee
on Armed Services, the Committee on Homeland Security,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(h) LIMITATION.—None of the funds authorized to be appropriated
or otherwise made available to carry out this section shall
be used for purposes other than countering foreign propaganda
and misinformation that threatens United States national security.
(i) TERMINATION.—The Center shall terminate on the date that
is 8 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

The flag shows a picture of President Putin in front of a Russian and Syrian flag, with the words peacemaker under it.

From all the articles I've read about it, it's laughable how so many people have no idea what the message is. Some Twitter posts even show people being afraid. It shows how deep the Western media's propaganda has been engrained in people's minds.

Many people jumped to the conclusion that the banned was paid for by Trump or his family, or put up by Russians themselves.

It's obvious to what the true meaning of the banner is. It is making a statement to how Putin is dedicated to achieving peace in Syria, different from what Western media portrays him as. It is declaring the US and its coalition, are causing more war and chaos by supporting terrorists, and attempting to take down the democratically elected leadership of Assad, the only ones capable of defeating ISIS and the rest of the terrorists in Syria. (also known as moderate rebels to Obama)