[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2609 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2609

   To establish a Presidential Commission to investigate and propose 
    solutions to reduce the broadcasting of violence on television.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 1, 1993

  Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mrs. Roukema) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a Presidential Commission to investigate and propose 
    solutions to reduce the broadcasting of violence on television.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Presidential Commission on TV 
Violence and Children Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the United States is continuing to experience 
        widespread increases in violence and violent crime which 
        threaten the well-being of our society;
            (2) graphic and gratuitous violence continue to be a 
        widespread and integral part of television programming;
            (3) an extensive, 20-year body of research exists 
        indicating a causal relationship between violence on television 
        and violence in society; and
            (4) there is a need to find solutions that limit the 
        harmful influence of television violence and yet maintain our 
        freedom of expression.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``Presidential 
Commission on TV Violence and Children'' (in this Act referred to as 
the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) review and report on findings linking television 
        violence and violence in children and society;
            (2) solicit opinions from children and their parents on 
        their views concerning television violence and their 
        suggestions for lessening its negative effects;
            (3) solicit opinions from public health, crime, and 
        education experts; and broadcast, cable, film and advertising 
        industry of television violence and their recommendations for 
        lessening its negative effects; and
            (4) present a final report and recommendations for 
        comprehensive strategies and solutions to alleviate harmful 
        effects of television violence that continue to preserve our 
        tradition of free expression.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of--
            (1) the Surgeon General;
            (2) the Attorney General; and
            (3) 26 members appointed by the President as follows:
                    (A) 12 shall be individuals from the following 
                groups: broadcast television networks and their local 
                affiliates; independent television stations; cable 
                industry; film studios; writers and producers of 
                television shows and film; and major advertisers.
                    (B) 8 shall be individuals from the following 
                groups: parents and children; parents organizations; 
                and leaders of community and religious groups.
                    (C) 6 shall be individuals from the following 
                groups: public health experts who study television 
                violence; crime prevention experts who study television 
                violence; and education experts who study television 
                violence.
    (b) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
        life of the Commission.
            (2) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
        occurring before the expiration of the term for which the 
        member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for 
        the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the 
        expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken 
        office. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
        manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (c) Pay Prohibited.--
            (1) Rates of pay.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
            (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
        Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or 
        employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not 
        receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of 
        their service on the Commission.
    (d) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 
5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (f) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--The Surgeon General shall serve 
as chairperson and the Attorney General shall serve as vice chairperson 
of the Commission.
    (g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
chairperson.

SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

    (a) Director.--The Commission shall, without regard to section 
5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, have a Director who shall be 
appointed by the Commission. The Director shall be paid at the maximum 
rate of basic pay payable for GS-13 of the General Schedule.
    (b) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of 
additional personnel as it considers appropriate.
    (c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The staff of the 
Commission shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and 
subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates.
    (d) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Chairperson, 
the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a 
reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency 
to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this 
Act.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of 
carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, 
take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers 
appropriate.
    (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which 
the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
    (c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any department or agency of the United States information 
necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the 
Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that 
department or agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
    (d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.
    (e) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act.

SEC. 8. REPORTS.

    The Commission shall transmit a final report to the President and 
the Congress not later than one year from the date the Commission 
members are appointed. The final report shall contain a detailed 
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together 
with its recommendations for such legislative, administrative, and 
voluntary actions on the part of appropriate industry as the Commission 
considers appropriate to alleviate the harmful effects of television 
violence.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 6 months after submitting its final 
report pursuant to section 8.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this 
Act.

SEC. 11. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.

    Any spending authority (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of 
section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 
651(c)(2)(A) and (C))) authorized by this Act shall be effective only 
to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation 
Acts.

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