[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 1608-1609]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1220
              H.R. 3572, THE CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM ACT

  (Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia asked and was given permission to address

[[Page 1609]]

the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, there's nothing more 
important to democracy than sunshine. This March among the most 
historic and momentous cases ever to come before the Supreme Court will 
be health care.
  Many Americans supported health care reform, many opposed it. It was 
the product of hundreds of hours of debate on this very floor and in 
committees over many months. While there are a limited number of seats 
for the public here in the House, thanks to C-SPAN millions of 
Americans had the opportunity to view those proceedings.
  Unfortunately, when the case comes before the Supreme Court, just 50 
Americans will be able to witness it. Shouldn't transparency require 
that the average citizen have an opportunity to view those proceedings? 
There is an easy and non-intrusive way: allowing cameras in the Supreme 
Court.
  Along with my Republican colleague, Judge Poe, I introduced H.R. 
3572, the Cameras in the Courtroom Act, to require televising open 
Supreme Court proceedings. Sunshine remains the best disinfectant 
against those who might feel that the black robe of life tenure grants 
an entire branch of government permanent immunity from accountability.
  I urge my colleagues to support this thoughtful act.

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