Reps. Hoogendyk, Proos, Nitz, Shaffer, Baxter, Brandenburg, Caul, Gosselin, Jones, Kooiman, Marleau, Meyer, Moolenaar, Mortimer, Palmer, Pearce, Sheen, Stahl, Taub and Vander Veen offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 263.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act.

            Whereas, Parents, educators, and policymakers across the country have expressed serious concerns over the material that is broadcast into American homes by television and radio each day. This concern continues even in the face of efforts of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enforce standards to prevent the presentation of obscene, indecent, and profane material over public airwaves; and

            Whereas, In spite of a number highly publicized incidents and considerable public discussion about the amount of objectionable material on television and radio, programming readily available for children to see or hear remains rife with graphic sexuality, profanity, and indecency. In the face of efforts to enforce standards, four major television networks recently filed suit against the FCC over its efforts to fine the networks for ignoring clear standards of decency in broadcasts; and

            Whereas, Congress has before it the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, H.R. 310. This legislation would increase penalties for violations by television and radio stations that broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane material. This measure would also authorize the FCC to require violators to broadcast public service announcements that serve the educational needs of children to audiences that are larger than those who saw the offensive material. The legislation also directs the FCC to treat subsequent offenses as serious violations when broadcast license renewals are considered and to pursue license revocation after 3 violations; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act to increase penalties for violations of broadcast decency standards and to require the Federal Communications Commission to take actions to increase accountability; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.