PRINTER'S NO. 2757

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 446 Session of 2003

        INTRODUCED BY LEDERER, HARHAI, KENNEY, SOLOBAY, MAITLAND, BAKER,
           ARMSTRONG, BALDWIN, BENNINGHOFF, CAPPELLI, CAWLEY, CORRIGAN,
           COSTA, CRAHALLA, DALEY, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, FLEAGLE, GABIG,
           GEORGE, GINGRICH, GORDNER, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS,
           JAMES, KELLER, LAUGHLIN, LEH, McILHATTAN, PALLONE, PETRARCA,
           PISTELLA, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SAMUELSON, SATHER, SCAVELLO,
           SCHRODER, SHANER, STERN, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR, J. TAYLOR,
           TIGUE, TRUE, WALKO, WASHINGTON, WATSON, WILT, WOJNAROSKI,
           YOUNGBLOOD, HORSEY, GEIST, BROWNE AND DeLUCA,
           OCTOBER 14, 2003

        INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
           OCTOBER 14, 2003

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Urging the Federal Communications Commission and major
     2     television networks to curb or eliminate the growing amount
     3     of profanity on television, especially during the "family
     4     hour."

     5     WHEREAS, A recent study by the Parents Television Council
     6  indicated a jump in profanity in virtually every network and
     7  every time slot, finding that foul language increased during the
     8  8 to 9 p.m. "family hour," by 94.8% between 1998 and 2002 and
     9  during the 9 to 10 p.m. hour by 109% in the same period; and
    10     WHEREAS, The Parents Television Council said the television
    11  industry needs to get serious about reducing the flood of
    12  vulgarity coming into homes via television; and
    13     WHEREAS, According to Syracuse University Professor Robert
    14  Thompson:

     1         Once prime-time television decides to absorb something,
     2         it becomes a stamp of normalcy. It's no longer
     3         controversial. It's no longer a big deal. It makes it a
     4         casual, accepted sort of thing;
     5  and
     6     WHEREAS, According to P.M. Forni, cofounder of the Civility
     7  Project at Johns Hopkins University:
     8         Very often, rudeness and cursing are the beginning of an
     9         escalation toward violence. Words, our words, are like
    10         our hands. They can soothe and heal, but they can also
    11         strike, which means they can hurt;
    12  therefore be it
    13     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
    14  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Federal Communications
    15  Commission and major television networks to curb or eliminate
    16  the growing amount of profanity on television, especially during
    17  the "family hour"; and be it further
    18     RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
    19  the Federal Communications Commission and to the major
    20  television networks.







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