CONGRESS ACTS TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS SPEECH

 

For immediate release

June 21, 2000

 

Manassas, VA - Yesterday, by a vote of 264 to 159, the House of Representatives voted to pass HR 4201, the Noncommercial Broadcasting Freedom of Expression Act, which prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from restricting religious speech on noncommercial educational channels.

 

NRB fully supported the bill sponsored by Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS) who said, “This is a victory for religious freedom. Government agencies should never attempt to determine what is acceptable or unacceptable religious speech because religious freedom and freedom of speech are both protected by the Constitution. My bill makes sure that the FCC will never again try to regulate religious speech.”

 

The vote was largely along party lines; however, 56 Democrats voted for the measure while six Republicans opposed it. The six Republicans are Reps. Connie Morella (R-MD), Steve Horn (R-CA), Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), John Porter (R-IL) and Benjamin Gilman (R-NY).

 

NRB president Brandt Gustavson rejoiced over the decision: “At the end of the day, we’re one step closer to being sure that the government, in this case the FCC, will not be permitted to chip away at our basic liberty of religious expression. We are grateful to the Lord for Reps. Tauzin, Pickering, Oxley, Stearns, Largent and every member of Congress who voted to protect religious broadcasters from further government intrusion.”

 

During the debate, the bill’s chief opponent Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) said, “We are not getting away from the FCC making content decisions. We are simply letting the FCC into judging religious programming and whether it is sufficiently religious. We should not allow the FCC to become the Faith Content Commission.” An amendment offered by Markey was soundly defeated.

 

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) and other opponents resorted to scare tactics saying, “This is a raid on the educational broadcasting system, the educational broadcasting networks and upon public broadcasting. I would point out that if this legislation is passed you are going to find any imaginable form of religious crank or crackpot to come forward to claim priority in terms of religious broadcasting licenses. Reverend Koresh, Jim Jones, any one of many, can come in and then force your government, your agency, the FCC and this Congress to address who is entitled to a broadcasting license.”

 

National Religious Broadcasters is an association of Christian communicators representing more than 1250 members. NRB fosters electronic media access for the Gospel; promotes standards of excellence, integrity and accountability; and provides networking and fellowshipping opportunities for its members. For more information, see the NRB Web site, www.nrb.org.

 

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