HR0626 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0626 LRB093 16250 HSS 41884 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A recent study by the Parents Television Council indicated a jump in profanity in virtually every network and every time slot, finding that foul language increased during the 8 to 9 p.m. "family hour" by 94.8% between 1998 and 2002 and during the 9 to 10 p.m. hour by 109% in the same period; and

WHEREAS, The Parents Television Council said the television industry needs to get serious about reducing the flood of vulgarity coming into homes via television; and

WHEREAS, According to Syracuse University Professor Robert Thompson:

Once prime-time television decides to absorb something, it becomes a stamp of normalcy. It's no longer controversial. It's no longer a big deal. It makes it a casual, accepted sort of thing;

and

WHEREAS, According to P.M. Forni, cofounder of the Civility Project at Johns Hopkins University:

Very often, rudeness and cursing are the beginning of an escalation toward violence. Words, our words, are like our hands. They can soothe and heal, but they can also strike, which means they can hurt; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Federal Communications Commission and major television networks to curb or eliminate the growing amount of profanity on television, especially during the "family hour"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Federal Communications Commission, to the major television networks, and to each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.