A resolution amending the broadcasting and recording procedures of the Senate.

Bill: 118-sres-934
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2024-12-18
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies

Congressional officers and employees

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Legislative rules and procedure

Political advertising

Senate
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-18
text: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7171; text: CR S7182-7183)

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-12-18
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This resolution amends the Senate floor broadcasting and recording procedures.</p><p>Specifically, the resolution applies the existing television and radio procedures more broadly to broadcasting and recording. The resolution also removes references to the original broadcast pilot program.</p><p>Among other things, the resolution generally maintains the requirements that</p><ul><li>broadcast coverage and recordings provide&nbsp;continuous, gavel-to-gavel coverage of Senate floor proceedings;</li><li>video broadcast coverage&nbsp;follows the individuals who are speaking, except during roll call votes, when the cameras must show the entire chamber;</li><li>the Committee on Rules and Administration provide oversight for broadcast coverage and recordings of Senate proceedings;</li><li>the Senate Recording Studio administers the recording of coverage, under the direction of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate;</li><li>broadcast coverage be available on a live basis and free of charge for news-gathering,&nbsp;educational, or information&nbsp;distribution entities; and</li><li>the use of recorded footage for political campaign purposes is prohibited.</li></ul>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 934 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mrs. Fischer ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Amending the broadcasting and recording procedures of the Senate.

1. Broadcasting and recording procedures of the Senate (a) In general Senate Resolution 28 (99th Congress), agreed to February 27, 1986, is amended by striking all after the resolving clause and inserting the following: 1. Broadcasting and recording procedures of the Senate (a) In general The Senate hereby authorizes and directs that there be broadcast coverage of proceedings in the Senate Chamber and recordings of such proceedings. (b) Type of coverage The broadcast coverage described in subsection (a) shall be provided— (1) in accordance with provisions of this resolution; (2) continuously, except for any time when the Senate is conducting a quorum call, or when a meeting with closed doors is ordered; and (3) subject to the provisions pertaining to the Senate gallery contained in the following rules of the Standing Rules of the Senate: (A) Paragraphs 6 and 7 of rule XIX. (B) Paragraph 1(n) of rule XXV. (C) Paragraph (2) of rule XXXIII. 2. Supervision of broadcast coverage The broadcast coverage of Senate proceedings shall be supervised and operated by the Senate. 3. Video broadcast coverage The video broadcast coverage of Senate proceedings shall follow the Presiding Officer and Senators who are speaking, clerks, and the Chaplain of the Senate except during rollcall votes, when the cameras shall show the entire Chamber. 4. Broadcasting and recording implementation (a) In general The broadcast coverage and recording of Senate proceedings shall be implemented as provided in this section. (b) Architect of the Capitol duties (1) In general The Architect of the Capitol, in consultation with the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, shall— (A) construct necessary facilities for broadcast coverage (including a control room and the modification of Senate sound and lighting fixtures); (B) employ necessary expert consultants; and (C) acquire and install all necessary equipment and facilities to— (i) produce a broadcast-quality live audio and color video signal of Senate proceedings; and (ii) provide an archive-quality audio and color video recording of Senate proceedings. (2) Approval required In carrying out the duties specified in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), the Architect of the Capitol shall not enter into any contract for the purchase or installation of equipment, for employment of any consultant, or for the provision of training to any person, unless the same shall first have been approved by the Committee on Rules and Administration. (c) Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate duties (1) In general The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate shall— (A) employ such staff as may be necessary, working in conjunction with the Senate Recording Studio, to operate and maintain all broadcast equipment installed pursuant to this resolution; and (B) (i) make recordings of Senate proceedings; and (ii) make copies of recordings as requested by the Secretary of the Senate under paragraph (3) and, as soon thereafter as possible, transmit the copies of recordings to the Secretary. (2) Compliance with Senate rules and procedures The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, in carrying out the duties specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), shall comply with appropriate Senate procurement and other regulations. (3) Authority of the Secretary of the Senate The Secretary of the Senate is authorized to obtain from the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate recordings of Senate proceedings and, as soon thereafter as possible, transmit such recordings to the Librarian of Congress and to the Archivist of the United States. 5. Limitations on use of recordings (a) Prohibition on use for political campaign purposes The use of any recording of Senate proceedings for political campaign purposes is strictly prohibited. (b) Agreement required (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), any recording of Senate proceedings furnished to any person or organization shall be made on the condition, agreed to in writing, that the recording shall not be used for political campaign purposes. (2) Exception Any public or commercial news organization furnished a recording described in paragraph (1) shall be subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) but shall not be required to enter into a written agreement. 6. Availability of broadcast coverage Broadcast coverage of Senate proceedings shall be made available on a live basis and free of charge to— (1) any accredited member of the Senate Radio and Television Correspondents Gallery; (2) the cable system of the Architect of the Capitol; and (3) such other news gathering, educational, or information distributing entity as may be authorized by the Committee on Rules and Administration. 7. Broadcasting prohibition Official noting of a Senator’s absence from committees while the Senate is broadcasting is prohibited. 8. Closed captioning Closed captioning for broadcast coverage of Senate proceedings shall be provided as directed by the Committee on Rules and Administration. 9. Broadcasting and reporting procedures and regulations (a) In general Any changes in the regulations made by this resolution shall be made only by Senate resolution. (b) Committee on Rules and Administration The Committee on Rules and Administration may adopt such procedures and such regulations, which do not contravene the regulations made by this resolution, as the Committee deems necessary to assure the proper implementation of the purposes of this resolution. 10. Funding Such funds as may be necessary (but not in excess of $3,500,000) to carry out this resolution shall be expended from the contingent fund of the Senate. . (b) Technical amendment Senate Resolution 444 (99th Congress), agreed to July 15, 1986, is repealed.