Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions S161

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

By Mr. HOLLINGS (for himself, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. DORGAN, and Mrs. HUTCHISON):

S. 161. A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require that violent video programming is limited to broadcast after the hours when children are reasonably likely to comprise a substantial portion of the audience, unless it is specifically rated on the basis of its violent content so that it is blockable by electronic means specifically on the basis of that content; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Children's Protection from Violent Programming Act. This legislation is of vital importance to our young children and their families.

The purpose of the bill is to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider whether to institute a "Safe Harbor" during which gratuitously violent television programming could not be televised to America's children. Today, I am joined in this effort by several of my colleagues, Senators HUTCHISON, INOUYE, and DORGAN, who are all original cosponsors of the legislation. I have sponsored similar legislation in each of the last five Congresses and this same legislation was reported out of the Senate Commerce Committee during the 106th Congress by a vote of 17 to 1. I feel compelled to reintroduce this bill again to stem the tide of violent programming that is becoming more and more prevalent in our society.
Unfortunately, violence in the media begets violence by our youths and we have an obligation to address this societal problem head on. We know commercial interests will not, so we must act.