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Senate Panel Sets Hearing on Video News Release Bill

May 5, 2005  •  Post A Comment

The Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing May 12 on Senate Bill 967, which would require government-produced video news releases to disclose the government’s role in creating the releases.

Earlier this week, House and Senate negotiators agreed to include similar legislation backed by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., as an amendment to a major appropriations bill. Because it was included in an appropriations measure, Sen. Byrd’s provision would be effective for only one year.

SB 967, sponsored by Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and John Kerry, D-Mass., would make a disclosure requirement–“conspicuous display of the statement ‘Produced by the U.S. Government'”–permanent. Also sponsoring S. 967 are Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.; Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.; Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.; Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; and Mark Dayton, D-Minn.