(a) Prohibition

After February 16, 1990, the Voice of America shall not select candidates for employment who must be or are preapproved for employment at the Voice of America by a foreign government or an entity controlled by a foreign government.

(b) Exception

The prohibition referred to in this section shall not apply to—

(1) participants in the Voice of America’s exchange programs; or

(2) clerical, technical, or maintenance staff at Voice of America offices in foreign countries.

(c) Report

If the Broadcasting Board of Governors determines that the prohibition under subsection (a) would require the termination of a specific Voice of America foreign language service, then, not less than 90 days before the Board begins to recruit such candidates, the Board shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report concerning—

(1) the number and location of speakers of the applicable foreign language who could be recruited by the Voice of America without violating this section; and

(2) the efforts made by the Voice of America to recruit such individuals for employment.