[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E498-E499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FAMILIES FOR ED ADVERTISING DECENCY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2005

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with 
Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. of Tennessee, to introduce the 
``Families for ED Advertising Decency Act,'' which would require the 
Federal Communications Commission to revise its indecency standard and 
treat, as indecent, any erectile dysfunction prescription advertisement 
broadcast between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. on radio or 
television. This standard is similar to what has been applied to 
tobacco products and what is currently followed by hard alcohol 
advertisements.
   Our offices have received numerous phone calls and electronic mail 
messages from angry parents that work hard at monitoring the television 
programs that their children watch. With the proliferation of ED 
commercials, many parents are forced to mute the television during

[[Page E499]]

commercials to avoid having to explain to their children the possible 
side effects of a life-enhancement drug. A parent should never have to 
be forced to confront these issues with their children during family 
viewing hours.
   These advertisements run frequently during all hours of the day and 
last year nearly $400 million dollars was spent on advertising for the 
three most popular erectile dysfunction drugs: Viagra, Cialis and 
Levitra. While the pharmaceutical companies will tell you that they run 
these advertisements during television programs that appeal to the 
population that they are trying to target, these are the same 
television programs that parents like to view with their children, 
including the Super Bowl and college basketball games.
   As you may know, the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug benefit 
will begin covering ED prescription drugs when it starts in 2006. This 
means that the cost of advertising these ED drugs is going to be passed 
on directly to American taxpayers.
   Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind all Members of Congress that it 
is time for us to do our job and address the concerns of millions of 
American families who do not want to see these ads during family 
viewing hours. Corporate profits should never trump family values.
   We urge all Members of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, to 
support the ``Families for ED Advertising Decency Act'' and restore 
decency standards to the American airwaves.

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