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House Proceeding 12-15-09 on Dec 15th, 2009 :: 0:24:40 to 0:44:40
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Rick Boucher

0:20:25 to 0:24:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Rick Boucher

Rick Boucher

0:24:37 to 0:24:41( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Boucher: achieve the broad consensus that it enjoys today.

Cliff Stearns

0:24:42 to 0:25:06( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: it is my pliverage to encourage a-- privilege to encourage approval of the house of the calm act, and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from florida. >> mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. stearns: this bill, h.r. 1804, the commercial advertisement loudness

Cliff Stearns

0:24:45 to 0:29:15( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Cliff Stearns

Cliff Stearns

0:25:10 to 0:25:31( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: act, is a bill its time has come. this is a perfect opportunity for industry to this. but they did not take care of this for some 60 years. the bill would require the federal communications commission to issue regulations based on industry standards for loud commercial adversements within one year of enactment. the regulation would take effect one year after adopted

Cliff Stearns

0:25:32 to 0:25:52( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: by the f.c.c. now, according to testimony at a june energy and commerce hearing, consumer complaints about loud commercials have been streaming, streaming into the f.c. as far back to 1960. and among the most common

Cliff Stearns

0:25:53 to 0:26:13( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: complaints. complaints continue to come into the f.c.c. today. in fact, in the 25 quarterly reports in consumer complaints that have been released since 2002, 21 have listed complaints about the, quote, abrupt changes in volume during transition from regular programming to commercials, end quote.

Cliff Stearns

0:26:14 to 0:26:34( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: as among the top -- the top consumer grievances regarding radio and television broadcasting. as we can tell, this issue is a top issue for our consumers. now, this issue is a little bit more complex than it appears. many different enties are responsible for producing and

Cliff Stearns

0:26:35 to 0:26:55( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: distributing the content that consumers he and see in their living rooms. each element may be recorded provided a different respective volume level. moreover, shows and movies have a dynamic sound range to cover to a huge explosion. commercials, meanwhile, tend to

Cliff Stearns

0:26:56 to 0:27:17( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: have a narrosound range. volume levels are typically set for the programming which can simply throw off the volume levels for the commercial. but as i pointed out earlier, now we have a solution in place because the transition to digital has made that possle. two years ago, the advanced television systems committee

Cliff Stearns

0:27:18 to 0:27:38( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: established a subgroup on digital television loudness. now, as this subgroup, consisting of leaders on auto and technology who participated together from all the major production companies and postproduction, manufacturing and education, all these very

Cliff Stearns

0:27:39 to 0:28:00( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: brig, talented, highly technical people got together into this subgroup. they established a way to solve the problem. and since it was established, these audio-technology experts have fought this consensus on a recommended pract should be employed across the tv industry to deal with the

Cliff Stearns

0:28:01 to 0:28:21( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: complaints that the consumers have made for almost 50 y i trust the collective rizz dom of these technical -- wisdom of these technical experts and craft a solution to thtv loudness issue. about this. there are going to be some small cable companies,

Cliff Stearns

0:28:22 to 0:28:42( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: broadcasters are going to have difficult time complying with this. rember now, after one year the f.c. is goi to take this directive that the advanced television system established and is going to make it industrywide. now, some are going to complain

Cliff Stearns

0:28:43 to 0:29:03( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: that they can't afford to implement it. there i for some of those small companies. and if they can't make it there is another extension. so, now we have the majority of the indu but we have set aside within the bill a safety hardship in which they just demonstrate they can't do it for financial

Cliff Stearns

0:29:04 to 0:29:16( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: reasons. and they'll be left to have another year to meet the standards. so in a sense, mr. chairman, i think we have a solution t problem that has been one of

Anna G. Eshoo

0:29:17 to 0:29:37( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: the biggest complaints of the with that in mind, i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 1804, and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from virginia. mr. boucher: mr. speaker, i yield such time as she may consume, the sponsor of the bill, the gentlelady from

Anna G. Eshoo

0:29:20 to 0:36:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Anna G. Eshoo

Anna G. Eshoo

0:29:38 to 0:29:58( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: california, ms. eshoo. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from california is recognized. ms. eshoo: thank you, mr. speaker. i'd like to begin by thanking the chairman of my subcommittee, mr. boucher, for his consistent support and cooperation to help bring the bill to the committee. i doubt we would be here today were it not for that.

Anna G. Eshoo

0:29:59 to 0:30:20( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: and i want to recognize and thank the ranking member of our subcommittee for the work that he has put into in as well and the suggestions that he made in order to bolster the bill and to make it imminently workable. i also want to thank, of course, the chairman of the full committee, mr. waxman, for his support. mr. speaker, i rise today to

Anna G. Eshoo

0:30:21 to 0:30:41( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: ask my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill, which is designed to eliminate the ear splitting levels of television advertisements and return control of television sound modulation to the american consumer. i first introduced the commercial advertisement loudness mitigation act called

Anna G. Eshoo

0:30:42 to 0:31:03( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: calm ago. this is something that many of our constituents now refer to in their shorthand, the loud commercial law. i have heard loud and clear from people across the country, so we have consumers across the country that are with us and would like to see this accomplished.

Anna G. Eshoo

0:31:04 to 0:31:24( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: the premise of the bill then as now was really simple. and in an era of 1,000 or 1,800-page bills, this is a two-page bill and it is to make the volume of commercials and programming unifo consumers control the sound. the problem has existed for

Anna G. Eshoo

0:31:25 to 0:31:46( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: more than 50 years, 5-0, 50 years when television advertisers first realized that consumers often left the room when commercials were playing. they used the loud commercials as a gimmick to grab the attention of consumers even as they moved to other parts of but for anyone who can't get to the mute button fast enough, we

Anna G. Eshoo

0:31:47 to 0:32:10( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: know that we are all subjected to blasting ads. for those with sensory difficulties, the loud commercials are more than just an annoyans. it can harm hearing and sometimes they are painfully loud. this issue, as my colleagues have referenced, is also one of the top complaints consistently one of the top mplaints from

Anna G. Eshoo

0:32:11 to 0:32:31( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: consumers across the country to the federal communications commission. this bill is going to bring a measure of relief to the american consumer. it's also, i think, an important step in identifying the knee to make broadcasters and individual -- the need to make broadcasters and video

Anna G. Eshoo

0:32:32 to 0:32:54( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: people accountable. it economic health of licensees and the importance of smaller providers. the atfc, a body that sets technical standards for digital television, has developed the solution to the problem of the very volume between commercials and programming with one stream

Anna G. Eshoo

0:32:55 to 0:33:16( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: that keeps the volume uniform. the bill directs the f.c. to adopt these engineering standards as mandatory rules within one year. these standards were not in the works until we introduced this legislation in the last congress so i'm pleased to have encouraged the industry to find

Anna G. Eshoo

0:33:17 to 0:33:38( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: we don't have to wait another 50 years for a solution. i look forward to voluntary and immediate adoption of the standards by broadcasters, cable, satellite and all multichannel program providers. but the bill exists because we know that voluntary compliance or adherence to consumer needs

Anna G. Eshoo

0:33:39 to 0:33:59( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: and we need to assure enforcement to protect the the bill also requires cable and satellite operators to install the engineering fix necessary to ensure that the sound is modulated. the bill is not inflexible. it heeds the call by industry for compliance

Anna G. Eshoo

0:34:00 to 0:34:20( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: those affected. and i think it's very reasonable. will have one year after the f.c. adopts the rule for purchase and installation of the atsc standard equipment and they may grant up to two successive extensions.

Anna G. Eshoo

0:34:21 to 0:34:42( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: they should be able to comply in three years, plus the of the time it takes the f.c. to enforce the rules. i read the minority comments that have been filed relative to the bill. an the concern of some of my colleagues abt the necessity ofhe bill. so i want to reiterate the following.

Anna G. Eshoo

0:34:43 to 0:35:03( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: first, i think the bill is and i stated that earlier. volunteerism hasn't worked for 50 years. second, the bill makes the atsc standards applicable to all f.c.c. licenseesand that includes satellite and cable

Anna G. Eshoo

0:35:04 to 0:35:24( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: providers as well as broadcasters. the voluntary sysms is only applied to broadcasters. thirdly, the bill matters to our constituents. and i think that that's what really matters the most. and it stands as proof that congress can listen to their concerns.

Anna G. Eshoo

0:35:25 to 0:35:47( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: fourthly, it's been said that congress has better this to do. i have never suggested that this solves the great challenges that face our country today. as i said, it's a two-page bill. but it is something that's been ft unattended to for half a century. and i think the time has come that we end the practice of consumers being blaed out of

Anna G. Eshoo

0:35:48 to 0:36:00( Edit History Discussion )

Anna G. Eshoo: their seats when they're listening to their favorite programming. so the technical fix is long overdue, and under the calm act, as amended, consumers will be in the driver seat.

Cliff Stearns

0:36:01 to 0:36:21( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: i look forward to the passage of importantly, so do millions o our constituents across the country. thank you, mr. speaker. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. the gentleman fromlorida. mr. stearns: mr. speaker, i yield such time as i may consume.

Cliff Stearns

0:36:05 to 0:38:15( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Cliff Stearns

Cliff Stearns

0:36:22 to 0:36:42( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: the speaker pro tempore: th gentleman is recognized. mr. stearns: let me just perhaps move a little forward. the gentlelady from california well, why does congress need to that has been brought before me before. and i would say -- and this is the compliment to the gentlelady from california, what she did with her bill, a bill originally directed the f.c. to write its own rules.

Cliff Stearns

0:36:43 to 0:37:04( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: but she reached out to industry and engaged them, which is a commendation for her, and asked them, well, how can we solve this? for those people that says, why can't industry solve this? she was an impetus to do this. now industry developed a subgroup. the subgroup came up with the technology to be able to solve the problem.

Cliff Stearns

0:37:05 to 0:37:27( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: and now she's saying basically, let industry solve the problem and let the f.c.c. adopt what they've come up with. another thing that i think came through the process, which is also, i think, a compliment to her that she was willing to realize that some of the industry, some of the smaller companies might have a financial problem with this. so she was willing to change the bill to allow this -- i'll

Cliff Stearns

0:37:28 to 0:37:49( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: call it a safety valve -- for those small companies that petition the f.c.c. to get a delay so that they have one year and possibly another year. so i think what this bill shows to those people that say why can't you let industry solve it, i think the simple fact that she engaged and developed a subgroup working with industry as she did, works it

Cliff Stearns

0:37:50 to 0:38:10( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: in a way that solving their own problem but they also realize after all these years, going back to the 1960's, these complaints, something's got to be done. and i think many of us nth last weekend -- last weekend watching football games can remember that time where we have to get up and turn it off. that's fine. turn it off.

Cliff Stearns

0:38:11 to 0:38:15( Edit History Discussion )

Cliff Stearns: but it's constantly an irritant when you do it. we have all these bowl games coming up.

Rick Boucher

0:38:16 to 0:38:36( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Boucher: i think the aspect about this we should realize that ms. eshoo is willing to change the bill and reach out and work with industry to get this done and also provide the safety valve. so i think that's an important aspect to bring to the attent this bill works, i think, in a way to help industry. .

Rick Boucher

0:38:25 to 0:39:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Rick Boucher

Rick Boucher

0:38:37 to 0:38:57( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Boucher: i have no more speakers. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from virginia. mr. boucher: i yield 30 conds. mr. speaker, i simply want to take this time to thank the gentleman from florida, mr. stearns, for the bipartisan way in which we have processed this measure through our committee and for his strong support of the measure that we bring to

Rick Boucher

0:38:58 to 0:39:19( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Boucher: the floor this afternoon. the work on this bill is reflective of the best traditions of our committee. where we work out problems. we resolve concerns within the confines of the committee process. and we do so in a collaborative way, with p of the aisle participating in that effort.

Rick Boucher

0:39:20 to 0:39:41( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Boucher: in no matter has that spirit of cooperation been better reflected than in the way we have processed and handled this bill today. i want to thank mr. stearns and his colleagues on the republican side for that outstanding bipartisan cooperation. mr. speaker, we also have no further requests for time. time.

Rick Boucher

0:39:42 to 0:39:57( Edit History Discussion )

Rick Boucher: anurge passage of the bill. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. all time has expired. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 1084 . as amended. so many as are in favor say aye.

0:39:58 to 0:40:10( Edit History Discussion )

those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed. without obj reconsider is laid upon the

0:41:06 to 0:41:26( Edit History Discussion )

table. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from california rise? mrs. capps: i move that the house suspend the rules and agree to hoogs -- house resolution 971 expressing the sense of the house of representatives regardin guidelines for breast cancer the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the resolution. the clerk: house resolution

Lois Capps

0:41:27 to 0:41:48( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: 971, resolution expressing the sense of the house of representatives regarding guidelines for breast cancer 49. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to t rule, the gentlewoman from california, mrs. capps, and from tennessee, mrs. blackburn, will each control 20 minutes. the chair gentlewoman from california.

Lois Capps

0:41:30 to 0:45:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Lois Capps

Lois Capps

0:41:49 to 0:42:09( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: mrs. capps: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized. mrs. capps: mr. speaker, i re today in support of house resolution 971.

Lois Capps

0:42:10 to 0:42:31( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: in resolution expresses the sense of the house of representatives that the u.s. preventive services task force guidelines would not prohibit an insurer from pro coverage for mammography services beyond those recommended by the task force. it further states these guidelines should not be used by insurers to deny coverage for these services.

Lois Capps

0:42:32 to 0:42:53( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: it also expresses the sense of the house that the national cancernstitute should continue to invest and provide leadership regarding research to develop more effective screening tools and strategies for improving the detection of breast on november 16, 2009, the u.s. preventive services task force

Lois Capps

0:42:54 to 0:43:14( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: issued a series of six recommendations regarding breast cancer screening. three of which pertain to mammography screening among women of various age groups. at a recent hearing in our energy and commerce committee's health subcommittee, the task force representative acknowledged that they should have done a better job communicating their findings to

Lois Capps

0:43:15 to 0:43:36( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: the public. unfortunately, the failure in communication has led to much concern and confusion about what their findings and recommendations are and what the implications would be. mr. speaker, this task force is not suggesting that women in their 40's forgo mammography. the task force is recommending

Lois Capps

0:43:37 to 0:43:58( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: that women in their 40's determine which when to begin screening and base this decision on a conversation with their doctors or health providers. we can all agree that women in their 40's should have to mammography if these women and their physicians decide it's right for them. i think we can also agree that while mammography is still the best tool that we have to detect brea cancer in i

Lois Capps

0:43:59 to 0:44:19( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: earliest stages, it is by every means an imperfect we need continued research into more effective screening tools and strategies to improve the detection of breast cancer. breast cancer is the second most common states women and it is the leadin for women between the ages of

Lois Capps

0:44:20 to 0:44:41( Edit History Discussion )

Lois Capps: 29 and 59. this year new cases of breast cancer among ameran women will reach an estimated 192,370. an over 40,000 from breast cancer this year. the american cancer society estimates that one in eight women will have invasive breast cancer at some point in her

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