[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S416-S417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1--PROVIDING FOR TELEVISION COVERAGE OF
OPEN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Mr. DOLE (for himself and Mr. Daschle) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and
Administration:
S. Con. Res. 1
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That it is hereby authorized to provide coverage
by television cameras of all open conference committee
meetings.
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, on June 2, 1986, the Senate opened its doors
to the American people through television cameras, a giant leap in
increasing the access of Americans to their Government. However, in
some areas, the Senate needs to take further steps to enter the 20th
century when it comes to opening our proceedings to the public.
The American people sent a lot of messages to Congress on November 8,
but certainly one was that they expect us to deliver on our promises.
We heard that message loud and clear, and we expect the people to hold
us accountable. As our employers, the American people have every right
to observe their Government in action, and we have a responsibility to
ensure that public access.
Today, along with my friend from South Dakota, Senator Daschle, I am
introducing two resolutions to increase public access to the
proceedings of Congress. The first is a Senate resolution which would
permit the electronic media to cover the majority leader's and minority
leader's so-called dugout briefings. These briefings, which have
traditionally been open only to reporters with notepads, have been held
on the Senate floor for a few minutes prior to the day's session.
Senate rules currently do not permit broadcasting of the Senate floor
while the Senate is not in session, but this resolution would allow it
for these sessions.
The second resolutions is a concurrent resolution which would permit
coverage by television cameras of all open House-Senate conference
committee meetings. These public meetings have been open to print
reporters and journalists without television cameras. It is high time
we permitted more of the American people to see with their own eyes
this important part of the legislative process.
I ask that these resolutions be printed and referred to the
appropriate committee.
[[Page S417]]
News organizations have also asked that the cameras
that cover the Senate floor, currently operated by Government
employees, be operated by journalists. That is an idea which is in my
view worthy of serious consideration. Clearly, while current coverage
of the Senate has provided the public with a greater understanding of
the legislative process, improvements can be made. I plan to consult
with Senator Daschle on the formation of a bipartisan Senate working
group to examine this issue, and all its implications. In the meantime,
I will suggest to the Rules Committee that they consult with broadcast
news journalists to consider appropriate changes to the procedures
determining camera coverage of floor activity, with an eye towards
making the coverage as complete as possible.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter from Brian Lamb,
chief executive officer of C-SPAN, as well as my response to him, be
included in the Record. I also note that I have had similar
correspondence with Bill Headline, chairman of the executive committee
of correspondents of the Senate radio-television gallery.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
C-SPAN,
Washington, DC, November 21, 1994.
Re further opening up the Senate to C-SPAN cameras.
Senator Robert Dole,
Republican Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Dole: As you and your colleagues prepare to
take the leadership of the Senate, we've noted with interest
an increasing national discussion about how to expand public
access to the legislative process.
We at C-SPAN are among those who have long been interested
in expanding the public's access to Congress. As such, we
would like to offer this proposal which we hope can
contribute to this goal: Consider opening the 104th Congress
fully to television cameras. Allow C-SPAN cameras into places
where they've historically been excluded--most importantly,
into the chamber of the U.S. Senate.
Here, more specifically, is what we propose:
(1) Allow C-SPAN cameras to cover Senate floor debates.
Senate cameras currently give C-SPAN and the rest of the news
media a restricted view of the floor. Under Senate rules,
cameras cannot pan the chamber or take reaction shots; they
must focus only on Senators who are speaking. These
procedures were agreed to by a Senate which has greatly
changed since the vote on Senate television in 1986. Only
half of the Senators who were present then are still in
office. Not only has the Senate changed, society has too--
consider how much our country's appetite for and access to
information has grown in those eight years.
Allow C-SPAN--a private, not-for-profit company to install
its own cameras in the Senate. Since C-SPAN brings Congress
into American living rooms, most Americans (and according to
our last survey, as many as half the Senators) think that C-
SPAN operates the cameras in the Congress. They don't know
that the cameras in the Senate chamber are controlled by
government employees using procedures established by the
Senate Rules Committee. Allowing C-SPAN cameras in the
chamber will help end the confusion and create a more honest
picture of Senate debates.
If you do allow our cameras into the chamber, we will
commit to covering Senate floor debates in the same style
we've established during 16 years and 25,000 hours of
Congressional committee coverage. We'll present a complete,
honest, and accurate picture of each day's events, and make
our telecasts available to others in the news media,
following accepted pooling practices. We hope you'll agree
that allowing our cameras in the Senate chamber is simply a
way to use technology to extend Congress' public galleries.
It allows 35 million C-SPAN2 homes the same opportunity to
see their Senators that 611 citizens can have by sitting in
the Senate gallery.
(2) Open the Leader's ``dugout chatter'' to television.
Established practice has kept cameras out of these on-the-
record briefings between reporters and the Majority Leader.
Let cameras in and allow the public to hear and see these
sessions for themselves. We can commit to televising these
briefings on C-SPAN2 each day; we would also extend a similar
opportunity to the Minority Leader.
(3) Allow C-SPAN to install a permanent camera position
just off the Floor. Our viewing public regularly tells us
they need more context for the debates they watch. Create a
permanent camera position near the floor so that we can
interview Senators during quorum calls, votes, and before
and/or after C-SPAN2's gavel-to-gavel coverage of Senate
sessions.
(4) Open all House-Senate conference committees to cameras.
Cameras are often excluded from this important, final step in
the legislative process. Budget Conferences are one important
example. We propose that the public be allowed to witness--
via television--the debate and decision making that finally
determines how their tax dollars are being spent.
As you can imagine, going forward with all of these
proposals would require considerable additional resources
from C-SPAN. You should know that the cable television
industry, which is responsible for creating and funding C-
SPAN and C-SPAN2, is committed to providing the additional
resources necessary to expand our coverage of Congress.
It took many years for the Senate to agree to televise its
sessions. Since then, other democracies have followed suit--
several of them allowing more complete television pictures
than American citizens now get. We hope you'll agree that
after eight years, it's time for the Senate to take the next
step--consider allowing C-SPAN cameras into the chamber and
open up the other venues we've suggested. Expand what
American citizens can see of their national legislature; make
the television picture of Congress more complete, and
therefore, more honest.
As you consider our proposals we are, of course, happy to
provide any details or technical information you may need.
Sincerely,
Brian Lamb,
Chief Executive Officer.
P.S.--A similar letter is being sent today to leaders of
the House; we will also be releasing copies to our colleagues
in the news media.
____
U.S. Senate,
Office of the Republican leader,
Washington, DC, December 27, 1994.
Mr. Brian Lamb,
Chief Executive Officer, C-SPAN, Washington, DC.
Dear Brian: As you know, I have been a strong supporter of
C-Span, broadcast coverage of the proceedings of the United
States Senate, and media access in the United States Capitol.
I am very interested in the ideas outlined in your letter of
November 21st, and I appreciate the time you spent with my
staff last week to discuss your suggestions for further
opening up coverage of the Senate. While I do not have the
personal authority to make many of the changes you propose, I
want to do what I can to increase public access to Congress.
I am prepared to immediately open to television cameras the
Majority Leader's so-called ``dugout'' briefings for
reporters. Because allowing broadcast coverage from the
Senate floor when the Senate is not in session would require
a Senate resolution, I may hold these briefings at a location
off the Senate floor at least until such a resolution is
approved. I assume you will provide a similar opportunity for
the Democrat Leader, and I will consult with Senator Daschle
before introducing a resolution.
I also support opening all public meetings of Senate-House
conference committees to television cameras. As you know,
this would require a concurrent resolution passed by both
houses of Congress, and I will consult with Senator Daschle
and Speaker Gingrich on initiating such a resolution.
While I believe the current coverage of the Senate has
provided the public with a greater understanding of the
legislative process, improvements can clearly be made. Your
suggestion that we permit cameras operated by new
organizations to provide coverage of the Senate is worthy of
serious consideration. I will consult with Senator Daschle on
forming a bipartisan Senate working group to examine this
issue and all its implications, including feasibility, cost
effectiveness, and the interests of other broadcast news
outlets. In the meantime, I will suggest to the Rules
Committee that they consult with C-Span and your colleagues
from the other network news divisions to consider appropriate
changes to the procedures determining camera coverage of
floor activity, with an eye towards making the coverage as
complete as possible.
As Republicans prepare to assume majority status in the
Senate, we look forward to working with you. Thanks again for
your constructive suggestions.
Sincerely,
Bob Dole,
Senate Republican Leader.
____________________