Warning: Hate Speech Legislation Introduced

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Air Date: April 30, 2014

Host: Vic Eliason

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Democratic legislators headed by Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts have introduced S.2219, the ‘Hate Crimes Reporting Act of 2014’. If passed, this legislation will direct the creation of a report on the role of telecommunications in hate crimes. Organizations helping to compile this report will include the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Justice Department, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and others. It would analyze information on the use of telecommunications including the Internet, broadcast television and radio, cable television, public access television, commercial mobile services and other electronic media to advocate and encourage violent acts and the commission of crimes of hate as described in the Hate Crimes Statistics Act.

This legislation would have a major impact on what can and cannot be presented on Christian radio and television. To present your views on this piece of legislation, you can contact the appropriate committees and individuals listed in the information below.

More Information

S.2219 was introduced April 8, 2014. It is currently in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology.

The Chair of the Committee is Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia. He can be contacted at 202-224-6472.

The ranking member is Senator John Thune of South Dakota. He can be reached at 202-224-2321.

The Main Committee Office can be reached at the following numbers:
Majority Office—202-224-0411
Minority Office—202-224-1251

You can contact your two senators by calling 202-224-3121.

House Committee on Energy & Commerce—202-225-2927
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology chaired by Representative Greg Walden–202-225-6730

Similar legislation (H.R. 3878) was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 15th of this year and has sat in a subcommittee since that time.

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