[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12747]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                        BROADCASTER FREEDOM ACT

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, the American people cherish freedom. That's 
why President Reagan repealed the so-called Fairness Doctrine back in 
1987 that actually regulated the content of radio airwaves for more 
than four decades.
  Today, while some of the most powerful Democrats in Congress make 
plans to restore this Depression-era regulation, Republicans have taken 
action. We introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act that would take the 
power to restore the Fairness Doctrine away from this or any future 
President, and we filed a discharge petition to force an up or down 
vote. But in 245 days, not one single House Democrat has signed the 
discharge petition for broadcast freedom.
  I offer my Democrat colleagues this respectful challenge. If you 
cherish freedom, you cherish the freedom of the press. If you cherish 
the airwaves of America, left, right and center, let's make this Fourth 
of July Radio Independence Day.
  Sign the discharge petition for broadcast freedom by Independence 
Day.

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