I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2609

To establish a Presidential Commission to investigate and propose solutions

to reduce the broadcasting of violence on television.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 1, 1993

Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. ROUKEMA) introduced the following bill;

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To establish a Presidential Commission to investigate and

propose solutions to reduce the broadcasting of violence

on television.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Presidential Commis5 sion on TV Violence and Children Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds that—

8 (1) the United States is continuing to experi9 ence widespread increases in violence and violent

10 crime which threaten the well-being of our society;
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1 (2) graphic and gratuitous violence continue to

2 be a widespread and integral part of television pro3 gramming;

4 (3) an extensive, 20-year body of research exists

5 indicating a causal relationship between violence on

6 television and violence in society; and

7 (4) there is a need to find solutions that limit

8 the harmful influence of television violence and yet

9 maintain our freedom of expression.

10 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

11 There is established a commission to be known as the

12 ‘‘Presidential Commission on TV Violence and Children’’

13 (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).

14 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

15 The Commission shall—

16 (1) review and report on findings linking tele17 vision violence and violence in children and society;

18 (2) solicit opinions from children and their par19 ents on their views concerning television violence and

20 their suggestions for lessening its negative effects;

21 (3) solicit opinions from public health, crime,

22 and education experts; and broadcast, cable, film

23 and advertising industry of television violence and

24 their recommendations for lessening its negative ef25 fects; and
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1 (4) present a final report and recommendations

2 for comprehensive strategies and solutions to allevi3 ate harmful effects of television violence that con4 tinue to preserve our tradition of free expression.

5 SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

6 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission

7 shall be composed of—

8 (1) the Surgeon General;

9 (2) the Attorney General; and

10 (3) 26 members appointed by the President as

11 follows:

12 (A) 12 shall be individuals from the follow13 ing groups: broadcast television networks and

14 their local affiliates; independent television sta15 tions; cable industry; film studios; writers and

16 producers of television shows and film; and

17 major advertisers.

18 (B) 8 shall be individuals from the follow19 ing groups: parents and children; parents orga20 nizations; and leaders of community and reli21 gious groups.

22 (C) 6 shall be individuals from the follow23 ing groups: public health experts who study tel24 evision violence; crime prevention experts who
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1 study television violence; and education experts

2 who study television violence.

3 (b) TERMS.—

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap5 pointed for the life of the Commission.

6 (2) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to fill

7 a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the

8 term for which the member’s predecessor was ap9 pointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of

10 that term. A member may serve after the expiration

11 of that member’s term until a successor has taken

12 office. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled

13 in the manner in which the original appointment was

14 made.

15 (c) PAY PROHIBITED.—

16 (1) RATES OF PAY.—Except as provided in

17 paragraph (2), members of the Commission shall

18 serve without pay.

19 (2) PROHIBITION OF COMPENSATION OF FED20 ERAL EMPLOYEES.—Members of the Commission

21 who are full-time officers or employees of the United

22 States or Members of Congress may not receive ad23 ditional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of

24 their service on the Commission.
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1 (d) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive

2 travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,

3 in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5,

4 United States Code.

5 (e) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the

6 Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number

7 may hold hearings.

8 (f) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Sur9 geon General shall serve as chairperson and the Attorney

10 General shall serve as vice chairperson of the Commission.

11 (g) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the

12 call of the chairperson.

13 SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS

14 AND CONSULTANTS.

15 (a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall, without re16 gard to section 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code,

17 have a Director who shall be appointed by the Commis18 sion. The Director shall be paid at the maximum rate of

19 basic pay payable for GS–13 of the General Schedule.

20 (b) STAFF.—The Commission may appoint and fix

21 the pay of additional personnel as it considers appropriate.

22 (c) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE

23 LAWS.—The staff of the Commission shall be appointed

24 subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,

25 governing appointments in the competitive service, and
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1 shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter

2 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating

3 to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

4 (d) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request

5 of the Chairperson, the head of any Federal department

6 or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the

7 personnel of that department or agency to the Commission

8 to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.

9 SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

10 (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission

11 may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear12 ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and

13 receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.

14 (b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem15 ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the

16 Commission, take any action which the Commission is au17 thorized to take by this section.

18 (c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission

19 may secure directly from any department or agency of the

20 United States information necessary to enable it to carry

21 out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson or Vice

22 Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that depart23 ment or agency shall furnish that information to the Com24 mission.
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1 (d) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United

2 States mails in the same manner and under the same con3 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United

4 States.

5 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon

6 the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen7 eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim8 bursable basis, the administrative support services nec9 essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities

10 under this Act.

11 SEC. 8. REPORTS.

12 The Commission shall transmit a final report to the

13 President and the Congress not later than one year from

14 the date the Commission members are appointed. The

15 final report shall contain a detailed statement of the find16 ings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its

17 recommendations for such legislative, administrative, and

18 voluntary actions on the part of appropriate industry as

19 the Commission considers appropriate to alleviate the

20 harmful effects of television violence.

21 SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

22 The Commission shall terminate 6 months after sub23 mitting its final report pursuant to section 8.
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1 SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

2 There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to

3 carry out this Act.

4 SEC. 11. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.

5 Any spending authority (as defined in subparagraphs

6 (A) and (C) of section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional

7 Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 651(c)(2)(A) and (C))) au8 thorized by this Act shall be effective only to such extent

9 and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation

10 Acts.

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