[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                C-SPAN2

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, today we mark 40 years since C-SPAN 
began its coverage of the U.S. Senate, bringing the work of this body 
directly into people's living rooms. It doesn't seem very radical right 
now. We are all used to it. But back then, it was revolutionary.
  C-SPAN's commitment to providing a crucial connection between the 
U.S. Senate and the people we serve has remained strong ever since that 
day 40 years ago. That commitment can be seen in the incredible volume 
of coverage since June 2, 1986, when C-SPAN2 was born. And the 
presiding officer on that late spring day? Senator Chuck Grassley.
  Altogether, C-SPAN2 has recorded more than 43,000 hours of Senate 
sessions, capturing more than 169,000 Senate floor speeches--169,000. 
These recordings have preserved the voices of 359 different Senators, 
including 185 Republicans and 167 Democrats and 7 Independents.
  These hours include memorable moments like that of Senator Bob Dole 
on that first day of televised coverage, saying, ``No longer will the 
great debates in this Chamber be lost forever''; of then-Senator Tom 
Harkin, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, closing his 
farewell speech in American sign language; or of the Dalai Lama serving 
as the Senate guest Chaplain in 2014. All of those moments would have 
been lost to history, but they were captured by C-SPAN.
  As we celebrate these last four decades of coverage in the Senate, 
think back to 1986. Prince, whom we sadly lost 10 years ago, had 
recently released his eighth album, ``Parade''; the film ``Top Gun'' 
was released; and, yes, the Bemidji State Beavers of Bemidji, MN, won 
the Division III men's ice hockey national championship. But back then, 
Senators were hesitant to embrace C-SPAN2--the lighting wasn't great in 
those first few years--but they eventually came around to see this 
great asset to our democracy for what it is: a way to shine the light 
on the work in the Senate and a way for Americans, whether they agree 
with us or not, to stay up to date on what is happening.
  When there are big votes or big debates going on, people tune in or 
they see the clips and the coverage later. It is not just the people 
who are able to come to Washington--as exciting as that is--to sit in 
the Chamber, as some people are doing today, but what this does is 
extend it to everyone.
  Last year, on its 39th birthday, Senator Grassley and I passed a 
resolution celebrating all that C-SPAN2 had accomplished. In our 
resolution, we urged all television providers, including streamers, to 
carry C-SPAN because we need to make sure that access to C-SPAN keeps 
up with changing technologies so that every household in America can 
see their elected Representatives--the work they do, the positions they 
take, the votes they make. Since our resolution passed, YouTube TV and 
Hulu have begun carrying C-SPAN on their platforms. Now we need to 
extend that beyond.
  C-SPAN's live coverage across multiple platforms continues to keep 
the American people informed and keep them engaged with their 
democracy.
  Thank you again to Senator Grassley for working with me to highlight 
C-SPAN's critical role, and thanks to him for presiding over the Senate 
on that first day of coverage 40 years ago. I am sure he doesn't look 
one bit different today. And thanks to everyone who has had a hand in 
C-SPAN's continuing, important role in our democracy over the last 40 
years.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Curtis). The Senator from Louisiana.