[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 549 Engrossed in House (EH)]

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H. Res. 549

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      December 9, 2020.
Whereas the principle that an informed and engaged electorate is critical to a 
        vibrant democracy is deeply rooted in our laws of free speech and 
        underpins the virtues on which we established our Constitution, ``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 having independent, diverse, and local media that provide exposure to a 
        broad range of viewpoints and the ability to contribute to the political 
        debate is central to sustaining that informed engagement;
Whereas it is in the public interest to encourage source, content, and audience 
        diversity on our Nation's shared telecommunications and media platforms;
Whereas the survival of small, independent, and diverse media outlets that serve 
        diverse audiences and local media markets is essential to preserving 
        local culture and building understanding on important community issues 
        that impact the daily lives of residents;
Whereas research by the American Society of News Editors, the Radio Television 
        Digital News Association, the Pew Research Center, and others has 
        documented the continued challenges of increasing diversity among all 
        types of media entities;
Whereas with increasing media experience and sophistication, it is even more 
        important to have minority participation in local media to ensure a 
        diverse range of information sources are available and different ideas 
        and viewpoints are expressed to strengthen social cohesion among 
        different communities; and
Whereas the constriction in small, independent, and diverse media outlets and 
        limited participation of diverse populations in media ownership and 
        decisionmaking are combining to negatively impact our goal of increasing 
        local civic engagement and civic knowledge through increased voter 
        participation, membership in civic groups, and knowledge of local 
        political and civil information: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms its commitment to diversity as a core tenet of the 
        public interest standard in media policy; and
            (2) pledges to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to 
        develop common ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media 
        diversity.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.