including journalists affiliated with the United States Agency for Global Media. (j) International freedom of expression and independent media Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading Economic Support Fund , not less than $20,000,000 shall be made available for programs to protect international freedom of expression and independent media, including through multilateral initiatives, as described under this section in the report accompanying this Act. INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 7033. (a) International religious freedom office Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading Diplomatic Programs shall be made available for the Office of International Religious Freedom, Department of State. (b) Assistance Funds appropriated by this Act under the headings Economic Support Fund , Democracy Fund , and International Broadcasting Operations shall be made available for international religious freedom programs and funds appropriated by this Act under the headings International Disaster Assistance and Migration and Refugee Assistance shall be made available for humanitarian assistance for vulnerable and persecuted ethnic and religious minorities: Provided, That funds made available by this Act under the headings Economic Support Fund and Democracy Fund pursuant to this section shall be the responsibility of the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, in consultation with other relevant United States Government officials, and shall be subject to prior consultation with the Committees on Appropriations. (c) Authority Funds appropriated by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs under the heading Economic Support Fund may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law for assistance for ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. (d) Designation of non-State actors Section 7033(e) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017 (division J of Public