The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“OBSCENITY LAW ENFORCEMENT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H3057 on May 16, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
OBSCENITY LAW ENFORCEMENT
(Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, 80 percent of the American people say they want obscenity laws vigorously enforced. That same 80 percent do not believe the Government is doing its job, and they are right. Between 1992 and 1998, prosecutions for violations of Federal obscenity laws dropped 86 percent. A leading distributor of pornographic videos told TV Guide that the President was, and I quote, on our team. He said,
``It's not that Clinton has been outwardly supportive of the adult industry but rather that he hasn't tried to quash it the way Republicans did back in the 1980s.''
Even the public airwaves are not safe anymore. Sexual material on TV was more than three times as frequent in 1999 as it was in 1989. Foul language was more than five times as high. But the FCC has not collected a single fine or forfeiture or refused to renew a license due to broadcast indecency in 15 years.
Our children deserve better protection. The Justice Department and the President need to start enforcing the law on obscenity.
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