[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 518 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 518

Reaffirming support for increased media diversity, recognizing May 2018 
 as ``National Media Diversity Month'', and encouraging appreciation, 
   awareness, and support for independent, diverse, and local media 
                               entities.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 21, 2018

 Mr. Heller submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

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                               RESOLUTION


 
Reaffirming support for increased media diversity, recognizing May 2018 
 as ``National Media Diversity Month'', and encouraging appreciation, 
   awareness, and support for independent, diverse, and local media 
                               entities.

Whereas the principle that an informed and engaged electorate is critical to a 
        vibrant democracy is deeply rooted in the laws of free speech in the 
        United States and underpins the virtues on which the United States has 
        established the Constitution of the United States and the tenets of 
        citizenship, which are, as presented in the Preamble to the 
        Constitution, ``We the people of the United States in Order to form a 
        more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, 
        provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure 
        the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity'';
Whereas an independent, diverse, and local media that provides exposure to a 
        broad range of viewpoints and the ability to contribute to the political 
        debate is central to sustaining that informed engagement by all citizens 
        of the United States;
Whereas varying media entities play a significant role in how constituents are 
        exposed to news and discussions that impact the ability of 
        constituents--

    (1) to learn about and debate local, State, and national issues central 
to the stability and security of the United States; and

    (2) to effectively monitor their representatives;

Whereas Congress recognizes the central role of mass communication and 
        encourages source, content, and audience diversity on the shared 
        telecommunications and media platforms of the United States;
Whereas encouraging diversity is important to the survival of small independent 
        and diverse media outlets that serve diverse audiences and local media 
        markets;
Whereas, 50 years after the Kerner Commission issued its media diversity 
        recommendations, challenges remain with underrepresentation in minority 
        and rural populations in the media and participation in ownership and 
        control of media decisionmaking, despite those populations comprising 
        over 40 percent of the population of the United States; and
Whereas small independent and diverse media outlets positively contribute to the 
        sense of community in the United States and the goal of increasing local 
        civic engagement and civic knowledge, such as by increasing voting 
        levels, participation in civic groups, and knowledge of local political 
        and civil information: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to diversity as 
        a core tenet of the ``public interest standard'' in media 
        policy;
            (2) pledges to work with media entities and diverse 
        stakeholders to develop common-ground solutions to eliminate 
        barriers to media diversity; and
            (3) establishes May 2018 as ``National Media Diversity 
        Month'', during which efforts are encouraged to promote media 
        diversity appreciation and support.
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