[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 56 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 56

 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the importance of ``family 
                 friendly'' programming on television.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 14, 1999

  Mr. Voinovich (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Bunning, Mr. DeWine, 
   Mrs. Lincoln, and Mr. Gorton) submitted the following concurrent 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                           and Tranportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the importance of ``family 
                 friendly'' programming on television.

Whereas American children and adolescents spend between 22 and 28 hours each 
        week viewing television;
Whereas American homes have an average of 2.75 television sets, and 87 percent 
        of homes with children have more than 1 television set;
Whereas there is a need to increase the availability of programs suitable for 
        the entire family during prime time viewing hours;
Whereas surveys of television content demonstrate that many programs contain 
        substantial sexual or violent content;
Whereas although parents are ultimately responsible for appropriately 
        supervising their children's television viewing, it is also important to 
        provide positive, ``family friendly'' programming that is suitable for 
        parents and children to watch together;
Whereas efforts should be made by television networks, studios, and the 
        production community to produce more quality family friendly programs 
        and to air those programs during times when parents and children are 
        likely to be viewing together;
Whereas members of the Family Friendly Programming Forum are concerned about the 
        availability of family friendly television programs during prime time 
        viewing hours; and
Whereas Congress encourages activities by the Forum and other entities designed 
        to promote family friendly programming, including--

    (1) participating in meetings with leadership of major television 
networks, studios, and production companies to express concerns;

    (2) expressing the importance of family friendly programming at 
industry conferences, meetings, and forums;

    (3) honoring outstanding family friendly television programs with a new 
tribute, the Family Program Awards, to be held annually in Los Angeles, 
California;

    (4) establishing a development fund to finance family friendly scripts; 
and

    (5) underwriting scholarships at television studies departments at 
institutions of higher education to encourage student interest in family 
friendly programming: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes and honors the efforts of the Family 
        Friendly Programming Forum and other entities supporting family 
        friendly programming;
            (2) supports efforts to encourage television networks, 
        studios, and the production community to produce more quality 
        family friendly programs;
            (3) supports the proposed Family Friendly Programming 
        Awards, development fund, and scholarships, all of which are 
        designed to encourage, recognize, and celebrate creative 
        excellence in, and commitment to, family friendly programming; 
        and
            (4) encourages the media and American advertisers to 
        further a family friendly television environment within which 
        appropriate advertisements can accompany the programming.
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