IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 184
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the importance of ‘‘family
friendly’’ programming on television.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 9, 1999
Mr. PORTMAN (for himself, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. DUNN, Mr. TURNER, Mrs.
BONO, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. LAZIO, Mr. WOLF, Mr. MCCRERY,
Mr. ROEMER, and Mr. BONILLA) submitted the following concurrent res-
olution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the importance
of ‘‘family friendly’’ programming on television.
Whereas American children and adolescents spend between
22 and 28 hours per week viewing television;
Whereas American homes have an average of 2.75 television
sets, and 87 percent of homes with children have more
than one television set;
Whereas there is a need to increase the availability programs
suitable for the entire family during prime time viewing
hours;
Whereas surveys of television content demonstrate that many
programs contain substantial sexual or violent content;
• HCON 184 IH
Whereas although parents are ultimately responsible for ap-
propriately supervising their children’s television viewing,
it is also important to provide positive, ‘‘family friendly’’
programming that is suitable for parents and children to
watch together;
Whereas efforts should be made by television networks, stu-
dios, and the production community to produce more
quality family friendly programs and to air them during
times when parents and children are likely to be viewing
together;
Whereas members of the Family Friendly Programming
Forum are concerned about the availability of family
friendly television programs during prime time viewing
hours; and
Whereas Congress encourages activities by the Forum and
other entities designed to promote family friendly pro-
gramming, including—
(1) participating in meetings with leadership of
major television networks, studios, and production com-
panies to express concerns;
(2) expressing the importance of family friendly pro-
gramming at industry conferences, meetings, and forums;
(3) honoring outstanding family friendly television
programs with a new tribute, the Family Program
Awards, to be held annually in Los Angeles, California;
(4) establishing a development fund to finance fam-
ily friendly scripts; and
(5) underwriting scholarships at television studies
departments at institutions of higher education to en-
courage student interest in family friendly programming:
Now, therefore, be it
• HCON 184 IH
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress—
(1) recognizes and honors the efforts of the
Family Friendly Programming Forum and other en-
tities supporting family friendly programming;
(2) supports efforts to encourage television net-
works, studios, and the production community to
produce more quality family friendly programs;
(3) supports the proposed Family Friendly Pro-
gramming Awards, development fund, and scholar-
ships, all of which are designed to encourage, recog-
nize, and celebrate creative excellence in, and com-
mitment to, family friendly programming; and
(4) encourages the media and American adver-
tisers to further a family friendly television environ-
ment within which appropriate advertisements can
accompany the programming.
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