Senate Commerce Committee to Consider VNR, EAS Bills

The SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE will vote on OCTOBER 19 on bills that would restrict government "video news releases" and would expand the Emergency Alert System. 

The former bill, backed by Sens. FRANK LAUTENBERG (D-NJ), JOHN KERRY (D-MA), and HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), would require labels identifying the material as being "Produced by the U.S. Government," and would require that label on video pieces throughout the duration of the video. An earlier rider sponsored by Sen. ROBERT BYRD (D-WV) that required "clear notification" of the origin of such material was attached to an appropriations bill that passed the Senate, but the rider expired SEPTEMBER 30. 

The other bill, the "Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act," was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and is intended to codify a national alert system.

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