[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 4 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FCC VIOLATES FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, it turns out that during the Christmas 
holiday season, when not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse, the 
Federal Communications Commission violated America's freedom of 
religious expression.
  You see, the FCC on December 29, last year, concluded that in order 
for noncommercial educational television stations to retain their 
licenses, stations must devote 50 percent of their programming hours to 
shows that are educational and cultural. However, the FCC decided that 
``statements of personally held religious views and beliefs'' could not 
qualify as educational or cultural.
  Thus, broadcasts of religious sermons, simply the sermon, and church 
services, according to the FCC, would have no educational or cultural 
significance and would not count towards the 50 percent obligation.
  As a result, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the 
``Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act,'' which reverses this decision.

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