Congressional Record—Senate S13810
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S13810 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 19, 1995 the period of 1992 to 1996, the program The motion to lay on the table was block programming and a rating sys- averaged $54.8 million a year, which is agreed to tem for programming are not nec- 3.5 times what it was in the previous The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- essary. period. ator from North Dakota. Mr. President, the U.S. News & World As we have noted, the program last f Report’s review of fall TV program- year appears to be in the neighborhood ming suggests otherwise. It is regret- PRIME TIME TELEVISION—THE of $120 million. CRS says $119.5 million table that the networks are dem- NEW FALL TV PROGRAM LINEUP is their estimate. That is not a final- onstrating such disregard for the wish- ized figure. Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I would es of American families. The UCLA Mr. President, the other point that I like to bring the attention of the Sen- Center for Communications Policy’s think is important, that the real cost ate an article entitled ‘‘Sex and Vio- Network Violence Study released ear- of this program is not what it costs the lence on TV’’ from the most recent lier today confirms some of these con- taxpayers, which is significant and issue of U.S. News & World Report— tinuing concerns regarding violent pro- growing dramatically. It is what it September 11, 1995. The article reviews gramming. The UCLA study points out costs the consumers of America, which television network programming for that while some programming shows CRS indicates may be in the neighbor- the upcoming fall TV season. I am par- improvement in the overall reduction hood of $300 million to $500 million a ticularly troubled by the direction of of violence, the study identified serious year. the networks. The lead in the article problems regarding the level of vio- It is clear this is an area that merits describes the season as ‘‘to hell with lence in theatrical films on television, reform. I appreciate my colleagues kids—that must be the motto of the on-air promotions, children’s television pointing out the proper role of the au- new fall TV season.’’ The article sug- and the lack of parental advisories. I thorizing committee here. I hope we gests that the family viewing hour— urge the American public to let their will make progress on it. Since we have the 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. period—is dead, and Senators and Members of the House of reached agreement on the revised that sex, vulgarity and violence rules Representatives know their views on amendment, I believe Members will be prime time. programming for the upcoming fall TV comfortable in voting on this by voice. Tom Shales in his review this week- season, and to express strong support A rollcall vote will not be necessary. end of fall television network program- for the v-chip legislation when it is Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, if the ming in the Washington Post makes considered by the House-Senate Con- Senator would yield for a response, the similar observations. He remarked, ference on the telecommunications amendment now is acceptable, I am ‘‘vulgarity is on the rise. Sitcom writ- bill. I ask unanimous consent Mr. told, on both sides of the aisle. ers make big bucks coming up with President, that the text of the article I understand, too, that the yeas and cheap laughs. Buried in the dust of from the U.S. News & World Report be nays had been ordered but that we can competition is the old family viewing printed in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD vitiate the yeas and nays and no roll- concept that made the 8 p.m. hour—7 at the conclusion of my remarks. call vote would be necessary. p.m. on Sundays—a haven from adult The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without If there is no objection, I ask unani- themes and language.’’ objection, it is so ordered. mous consent that the yeas and nays As my colleagues are aware, earlier (See exhibit 1.) be vitiated. this summer, the Senate and House of Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I just The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Representatives debated at length the want to conclude by saying the evi- objection, it is so ordered. issue of television violence as part of dence is, really, overwhelming. I have Mr. COCHRAN. I suggest to Senators the telecommunications bill, S. 652 and been working on this issue for 5 years. who have time under the agreement if H.R. 1555. Both the House and Senate I have put together a national coali- we yield back all time we can vote on bills include provisions requiring that tion that involves church groups, law the amendment on a voice vote. new television sets be equipped with enforcement, all of the children’s advo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- technology to permit parents to block cacy groups, the principals of America, ator from Colorado. television programming with violent, the teachers, the National Education Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I yield sexual or other objectionable content. Association, group after group after such time as I have. The measure also encourages the devel- Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I yield group who have said, ‘‘Enough is opment of a voluntary rating system back what time I have. enough. Let us reduce the mindless, re- by the television industry, a system The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time petitive violence that is on television. that would enable parents to make in- having been yielded back, and no one Let us reduce that objectionable sexual formed decisions about television view- wishing to speak on this amendment, content. Let us have television realize ing for their children. the question now occurs on the Brown the promise that it offers the American Mr. President, with all the attention amendment, No. 2688, as modified, to people, to uplift, to educate, to in- focused on television violence over the the committee amendment on page 83, form.’’ That is what our society des- past few months—including a recent line 4 of the bill. perately needs. pledge by my distinguished colleague The question is on agreeing to the And over and over the networks have senator ROBERT DOLE to clean up tele- amendment. told us, ‘‘Be patient, just wait. We are The amendment (No. 2688), as modi- vision and movies—it is astonishing going to act.’’ fied, was agreed to. that television networks are promoting Now, we have the fall schedule and Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I move a fall TV season that demonstrates so we can see how hollow those promises to reconsider the vote. much disregard for the wishes of Amer- are. Over and over we have been told, Mr. CONRAD. I move to lay that mo- ican families and the clear majority of ‘‘We are going to do better. We are tion on the table. the House and Senate. American people going to reduce the level of violence. The motion to lay on the table was want television networks to develop We are going to reduce other objection- agreed to. programming with considerably less vi- able content.’’ VOTE ON COMMITTEE AMENDMENT, ON PAGE 83, olence, sexual and indecent content. Mr. President, they have not kept LINE 4 THROUGH LINE 2, PAGE 84, AS AMENDED The new fall television schedule is a the promise. I call on my colleagues to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The tragedy. stand fast. We passed here, by 73 to 26, question now occurs on the committee Time and time again, I, and members the ‘‘choice chips’’ that will permit amendment, as amended. of the Citizens Task Force on Tele- parents to decide what their children The committee amendment, as vision Violence have been told by the are exposed to. That is the appropriate amended, was agreed to. media that Government intervention response. Mr. COCHRAN. I move to reconsider to reduce violent and objectionable tel- I, once again, call on the networks to the vote by which the committee evision programming is not necessary. take action to keep their promises and, amendment was agreed to. We were assured that the media will hopefully, to support this legislation Mr. CONRAD. I move to lay that mo- act responsibly. The networks argue that will provide ‘‘choice chips’’ in new tion on the table. that the technology for parents to television sets so parents can choose; VerDate Aug 31 2005 06:55 May 28, 2008 Jkt 041999 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA15\1995_F~1\S19SE5.REC S19SE5 mmaher on MIKETEMP with SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS September 19, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S13811 so parents can decide what their chil- says of a blind date: ‘‘In case she’s a dog, I Hollywood isn’t convinced that media dren are exposed to. can fake a heart attack.’’ Ward’s study will mayhem inspires the real thing. ‘‘When I was appear in the October Journal of Youth and little, I went to the movies every week and EXHIBIT 1 Adolescence. saw violent cartoons and two or three West- [From U.S. News & World Report, September Then there’s soap-opera sex, talk-show sex erns in which the entire Sioux nation was 11, 1995] chatter, sex crimes on the news—how do kids massacred by the cavalry,’’ recalls Steven SEX AND VIOLENCE ON TV process all that? Little academic work has Bochco, creator of ‘‘NYPD Blue.’’ ‘‘I never (By Marc Silver) been done in this area. Yet, researchers are had a question that what I was watching was moving ahead gingerly, and certain conclu- The family hour is gone.