[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 107 (Friday, September 10, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              JACK VALENTI

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased and honored to salute 
my good friend Jack Valenti, who retired last week after 38 years as 
president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, MPAA, 
and its international counterpart, the Motion Picture Association, MPA.
  Jack came to MPAA in 1966 directly from the White House, where he had 
served with distinction as special assistant to President Lyndon 
Johnson. His Government background prepared him to become an effective 
ambassador for the motion picture industry both at home and abroad. 
During his long and productive tenure at MPAA, he worked with eight 
Presidents of the United States and established an international 
``diplomatic corps'' with offices around the world to promote the movie 
industry and protect its intellectual property rights.
  When Jack Valenti took the helm at MPAA, its member companies were 
focused on domestic production and distribution, with little thought 
about international markets. Today American films, TV programs, and 
home entertainment are shown in more than 150 countries worldwide, with 
international revenues of more than $16.5 billion a year.
  Along with his work in the global arena, Jack will be remembered as 
the pioneer of the film industry's voluntary movie rating system. In 
developing the system, Jack reached out to film studios, independent 
producers, writers, directors, theater owners, the religious community, 
and children's advocacy groups. The resulting system helps families to 
make informed decisions about the movies they see.
  Under Jack Valenti's leadership, the U.S. film industry has thrived 
and remained a vibrant source of entertainment, creativity, jobs, and 
economic growth. Along with moviegoers across America and round the 
world, I thank him for his brilliant work and wish him all the best in 
the years to come.

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