[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.
     

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