[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10429-S10430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page S10429]]



SENATE RESOLUTION--290--RELATIVE TO MAJOR BROADCAST TELEVISION NETWORKS

  Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Nunn, Mr. DeWine, Mr. 
Coats, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Byrd, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Conrad, 
and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 290

       Expressing the sense of the Senate that the major broadcast 
     television networks should revive their traditional ``Family 
     Hour'' and voluntarily reserve the first hour of prime time 
     broadcasting for family-oriented programming.
       Whereas the major broadcast television networks once 
     adhered to a voluntary, self-enforced practice of setting 
     aside the first hour of prime time for programming suitable 
     for audiences of all ages, especially young children;
       Whereas the major networks have recently abandoned this 
     practice and chosen to fill this hour with programs laden 
     with sexually suggestive language and behavior and mature 
     themes;
       Whereas according to the most recent Nielsen ratings, 
     approximately 9,000,000 children between the ages of 2 and 11 
     watch television during an average minute between 8:00 p.m. 
     and 9:00 p.m. e.s.t;
       Whereas the clear majority of American parents are 
     concerned about the negative influence of television on 
     younger viewers, who watch on average 21 hours of television 
     a week;
       Whereas that concern was recently demonstrated again in a 
     poll conducted by U.S. News & World Report which found that 
     76 percent of Americans believe that television contributes 
     to the problem of teenage pregnancy, 83 percent believe that 
     television contributes to casual sex, 90 percent believe that 
     television contributes to teenagers having sex too soon, and 
     92 percent believe that television contributes to violence on 
     our streets;
       Whereas the Senate is comprised of elected representatives 
     who have a responsibility to give voice to the concerns of 
     their constituents; and
       Whereas the Senate expresses public sentiment in this 
     resolution, and does not attempt to establish by law or 
     otherwise mandate or dictate any requirements regarding the 
     content of television programming: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the major 
     broadcast television networks should renew their commitment 
     to voluntarily reserving the first hour of prime time for 
     programming suitable for members of American families of all 
     ages.

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to continue a dialog on an 
issue that many Americans, especially millions of parents, care deeply 
about: the profound and often harmful influence that television is 
having on our children and our country.
  As my colleagues know, the public's increasing anger about the 
pervasive presence of sex, violence, and vulgarity on the small screen 
has resulted in widespread criticism of the television industry. I 
believe that much of that criticism has been warranted. Just about a 
year ago this week I came to the floor to take the major networks to 
task for sponsoring what was widely reviled as the most lewd, crude, 
and rude prime-time lineup in television history, and for helping to 
drag our societal standards down yet another notch.
  So today, with the debut of the 1996 fall season upon us, I think it 
is only fair and right to focus on what I see as some truly positive 
developments on this front, and to give praise to the television 
industry where praise is due.
  Over the last 18 months, we have seen industry leaders embrace the V-
chip, which I was proud to cosponsor along with my colleague from North 
Dakota, Senator Conrad, and accept our challenge to create a self-
enforced ratings system that will give parents more information about 
the programs coming into their homes. We have seen the nation's 
broadcasters acknowledge their obligation to promote more educational 
shows for children, and commit to airing every week at least 3 hours of 
programming that will enrich young minds and promote positive values.
  And perhaps most encouraging of all, we have seen--quite literally 
seen--some modest yet significant changes in the quality of the product 
flowing over the airwaves. The deluge of perversity and degradation 
coming out of the trash talk TV shows has receded, and Rosie O'Donnell 
has shown with her quick wit and engaging personality that clean talk 
can clean up in the ratings. Also, in response to the deep concern the 
American people have expressed about the damage done by televised 
violence, the major broadcast networks have made a real effort to 
reduce the number of graphic killings, assaults and rapes depicted 
during prime time, and it has made a noticeable difference.
  And, in terms of the new fall season, the reviews I've read indicate 
that many of the shows premiering in the next few days turn away from 
the smuttiness that characterized so many of the sitcoms that debuted 
last year and offended and disgusted so many viewers. Even more 
promising, the networks seem more willing to take a chance on family-
oriented shows that seek to uplift as they entertain and to reinforce 
rather than tear down our common values. Programs such as ``Second 
Noah,'' which ABC chose to bring back this fall, and ``Touched By an 
Angel,'' which CBS stuck by when it struggled to gain an audience and 
is now one of the networks prized assets.

  I think it's worth noting to my colleagues that the producer of 
``Touched by An Angel,'' Martha Williamson, will be honored at 
reception in the Capitol tonight for her commitment to creating 
entertainment that elevates us and appeals to our better rather than 
our baser natures. I am proud to be co-hosting this reception, at which 
Ms. Williamson will premiere her new series, ``Promised Land,'' also on 
CBS this fall, and I would encourage Members to attend.
  Mr. President, by calling attention to these positive signs I do not 
mean to suggest that television's problems have disappeared practically 
overnight, or that the viewing public is suddenly satisfied. The 
reality is that there is still too much gratuitous and gruesome 
violence not only available to but targeted at our children; there are 
still too many shows that seek to shock and titillate, that add to the 
degradation of our culture and fuel the ``anything-goes'' mentality 
that I believe is at the root of the moral decline America is 
experiencing today.
  A survey released by the American Medical Association this week left 
little doubt that the public remains highly concerned, showing that 75 
percent of parents are ``disgusted with media violence.'' In response, 
the AMA took the significant step of sending out guidelines to 60,000 
doctors nationwide to help educate them and the parents they serve 
about the negative effects of media violence on children.
  But I firmly believe that television is making progress. I also 
believe that many of the people who run the television industry want us 
to know that they're not walking away from the responsibility that goes 
along with their enormous power and influence. So as we continue to 
give voice to the public's discontent, it is also important to 
encourage the responsiveness industry leaders have already shown, 
albeit sometimes grudgingly, and to encourage them to keep moving 
forward.
  That is why I am joining with 10 of my colleagues today to submit 
what we see as a very positive sense-of-the-Senate resolution, one that 
expresses our support for the direction the television industry seems 
to be moving in. Quite simply, this resolution asks the major broadcast 
networks to help parents do their jobs by bringing back what was once 
known as the ``Family Hour''. It urges the networks to once again set 
aside the first hour of prime-time for programs that I can watch 
together with my wife and our 8-year-old daughter without fearing that 
I will be embarrassed or my values will be assaulted.

  In recent years, that is something that most parents have been 
legitimately fearful of. One of the most common complaints we hear 
about television concerns the proliferation of lewd jokes and 
gratuitous sex scenes in the early hours of prime-time, when many young 
children are watching. Many parents feel that this kind of content goes 
far beyond being inappropriate and offensive. They believe, as do we, 
that these messages are harmful to their children's development and 
undercut the fundamental values that parents are trying to instill in 
their families.
  Our resolution asks the networks to recognize the difficulties 
parents face in shielding their children from this kind of content, and 
to help meet them halfway. In effect, it asks them to do no more than 
to return to a practice they once adhered to willingly. This is a case 
where the networks for long

[[Page S10430]]

time acted quite responsibly and did a public service by creating a 
safe haven for parents with young children. That is one rerun that most 
American families want desperately to see again.
  We do not want to pass any law or dictate what programs can or can't 
be shown during the 8 o'clock hour. We just want to reiterate to the 
people who run the networks that this an issue of grave concern to 
American families, and that the family hour is a reasonable, 
commonsense concept that has overwhelming support. A companion 
resolution in the House has attracted 97 cosponsors, and 20 Senators 
have already endorsed the family hour movement, having signed a 
petition we sent to the network presidents in April.
  Mr. President, the resonance of this issue was confirmed to me by a 
conversation I had with a leading network executive last year. He 
confided in me that he regrets not being able to sit down with his 
children and watch television together as a family, much as he did with 
his parents years ago, much as I did with my parents when I was young. 
This is one of the great joys of the medium, and it is disappointing to 
many parents today that they cannot share in it with their children.
  It doesn't have to be that way, as CBS Entertainment has made clear 
this fall, when its president pledged publicly that CBS would only air 
programs at 8 o'clock that the whole family could watch together. 
Congress can help by adopting this resolution and encouraging--
encouraging, not forcing--the television industry to follow CBS's lead 
and help restore the peace of mind that so many families are seeking. 
Along with my original cosponsors, Senators Hutchison, Nunn, and 
DeWine, I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support it, to make a strong statement on behalf of America's families, 
and I look forward to its adoption.

                          ____________________