Providing for Consideration of HR 3717, Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3717, BROADCAST DECENCY ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - March 11, 2004)
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Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), a fellow member of the Committee on Rules.
Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick) for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 554 is a fair and balanced rule that will provide House Members with the opportunity to consider a number of issues affecting our efforts to get indecent material off our airwaves. Under this rule, the House will have the opportunity to consider a manager's amendment by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and an amendment by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) to strike the increased fine limit on entertainers, and an amendment by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) to direct the General Accounting Office to provide a detailed report to Congress about the number of complaints about indecent broadcasting and the processes and procedures that the FCC has implemented to investigate these complaints.
With respect to H.R. 3717, the underlying legislation, I want to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, for all of the time and effort he has invested in bringing this very important and well-crafted legislation to the House floor.
Vulgarity, profanity, and even obscenity are an all-too-common trend on our television and radio airwaves today. Originally, the Golden Globe Awards incident last year appeared to be an isolated event; however, the subsequent profanity during the Billboard Music Awards broadcast and the grossly inappropriate halftime show of the 2004 Super Bowl made clear that Congress needs to take action and give the FCC the tools it needs to crack down on such tawdry programming.
H.R. 3717 provides some of these tools for the FCC and is a step in the right direction. This legislation increases the penalties imposed for broadcast indecency, which allows the FCC to more authoritatively regulate on-air programming. Also, this bill makes it easier for the FCC to hold individuals subject to the same fines as broadcasters for indecent actions.
In conclusion, families must be able to watch prime-time TV together without the fear of watching obscene, profane, or vulgar programming; and H.R. 3717 will help make this a reality.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the rule so we may proceed to debate the underlying legislation.