[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 13016-13017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         THE DEFICIT REDUCTION TECHNICAL CORRECTION ACT OF 2005

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 774, S. 2607.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2607) to make a technical correction to section 
     3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. DODD. I ask unanimous consent that an Inouye substitute amendment 
which is at the desk be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third 
time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with 
no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 5014) was agreed to, as follows:


                           amendment no. 5014

  (Purpose: To provide for additional consumer outreach and education 
 concerning the digital television transition, and for other purposes.)

       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``DTV Transition Assistance 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DTV TRANSITION.

       (a) In General.--Section 3008(a) of the Digital Television 
     Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1) In General.--'' before ``The 
     Assistant Secretary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end thereof the following:
       ``(2) Use of funds.--As soon as practicable after the date 
     of enactment of the DTV Transition Assistance Act, the 
     Assistant Secretary shall make a determination, which the 
     Assistant Secretary may adjust from time to time, with 
     respect to whether the full amount provided under paragraph 
     (1) will be needed for payments under that paragraph. If the 
     Assistant Secretary determines that the full amount will not 
     be needed for payments authorized by paragraph (1), the 
     Assistant Secretary may use the remaining amount for consumer 
     education and technical assistance regarding the digital 
     television transition and the availability of the digital-to-
     analog converter box program (in addition to any amounts 
     expended for such purpose under 3005(c)(2)(A) of this title), 
     including partnering with, providing grants to, and 
     contracting with non-profit organizations or public interest 
     groups in achieving these efforts. If the Assistant Secretary 
     initiates such an education program, the Assistant Secretary 
     shall develop a plan to address the educational and technical 
     assistance needs of vulnerable populations, such as senior 
     citizens, individuals residing in rural and remote areas, and 
     minorities, including, where appropriate, education plans 
     focusing on the need for analog pass-through digital 
     converter boxes in areas served by low power or translator 
     stations, and shall consider the speed with which these 
     objectives can be accomplished to the greatest public 
     benefit.''.
       (b) Fiscal Years to Which Applicable.--Section 3009(a) of 
     the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting ``fiscal 
     years 2009 through 2012''; and
       (2) by striking ``no earlier than October 1, 2010'' and 
     inserting ``on or after February 18, 2009''.

  The bill (S. 2607), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

[[Page 13017]]



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