[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 172 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H9244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MUSIC INDUSTRY NOT HELPING PARENTS

  (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, recently the Federal Trade Commission 
released a study on the marketing practices of different sectors of the 
entertainment industry. The report finds movie and video game companies 
have made ``commendable'' progress since last year, placing limits on 
ads for violent games and movies in popular teen media and disclosing 
those ratings in its ads.
  Regrettably, however, the commission found that only the music 
industry continues to place no restrictions on what materials it can 
market to underaged children in magazines, on TV, radio and over the 
Internet.
  While the music industry labels its products, one of the FTC 
commissioners stated it correctly: ``I think it is hypocritical for the 
music industry to claim it is helping parents by placing a parental 
label on CDs, while at the same time undermining parents by 
aggressively marketing the same CD to children.''
  When industry fails to institute meaningful self-regulation and act 
responsibly, I, both as a parent and a member of the community, believe 
government has an obligation.

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