[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 934 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 934
Amending the broadcasting and recording procedures of the Senate.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mrs. Fischer) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Amending the broadcasting and recording procedures of the Senate.
Resolved,
SECTION 1. BROADCASTING AND RECORDING PROCEDURES OF THE SENATE.
(a) In General.--Senate Resolution 28 (99th Congress), agreed to
February 27, 1986, is amended by striking all after the resolving
clause and inserting the following:
``SECTION 1. BROADCASTING AND RECORDING PROCEDURES OF THE SENATE.
``(a) In General.--The Senate hereby authorizes and directs that
there be broadcast coverage of proceedings in the Senate Chamber and
recordings of such proceedings.
``(b) Type of Coverage.--The broadcast coverage described in
subsection (a) shall be provided--
``(1) in accordance with provisions of this resolution;
``(2) continuously, except for any time when the Senate is
conducting a quorum call, or when a meeting with closed doors
is ordered; and
``(3) subject to the provisions pertaining to the Senate
gallery contained in the following rules of the Standing Rules
of the Senate:
``(A) Paragraphs 6 and 7 of rule XIX.
``(B) Paragraph 1(n) of rule XXV.
``(C) Paragraph (2) of rule XXXIII.
``SEC. 2. SUPERVISION OF BROADCAST COVERAGE.
``The broadcast coverage of Senate proceedings shall be supervised
and operated by the Senate.
``SEC. 3. VIDEO BROADCAST COVERAGE.
``The video broadcast coverage of Senate proceedings shall follow
the Presiding Officer and Senators who are speaking, clerks, and the
Chaplain of the Senate except during rollcall votes, when the cameras
shall show the entire Chamber.
``SEC. 4. BROADCASTING AND RECORDING IMPLEMENTATION.
``(a) In General.--The broadcast coverage and recording of Senate
proceedings shall be implemented as provided in this section.
``(b) Architect of the Capitol Duties.--
``(1) In general.--The Architect of the Capitol, in
consultation with the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the
Senate, shall--
``(A) construct necessary facilities for broadcast
coverage (including a control room and the modification
of Senate sound and lighting fixtures);
``(B) employ necessary expert consultants; and
``(C) acquire and install all necessary equipment
and facilities to--
``(i) produce a broadcast-quality `live'
audio and color video signal of Senate
proceedings; and
``(ii) provide an archive-quality audio and
color video recording of Senate proceedings.
``(2) Approval required.--In carrying out the duties
specified in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1),
the Architect of the Capitol shall not enter into any contract
for the purchase or installation of equipment, for employment
of any consultant, or for the provision of training to any
person, unless the same shall first have been approved by the
Committee on Rules and Administration.
``(c) Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate Duties.--
``(1) In general.--The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of
the Senate shall--
``(A) employ such staff as may be necessary,
working in conjunction with the Senate Recording
Studio, to operate and maintain all broadcast equipment
installed pursuant to this resolution; and
``(B)(i) make recordings of Senate proceedings; and
``(ii) make copies of recordings as requested by the
Secretary of the Senate under paragraph (3) and, as soon
thereafter as possible, transmit the copies of recordings to
the Secretary.
``(2) Compliance with senate rules and procedures.--The
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, in carrying out
the duties specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph
(1), shall comply with appropriate Senate procurement and other
regulations.
``(3) Authority of the secretary of the senate.--The
Secretary of the Senate is authorized to obtain from the
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate recordings of
Senate proceedings and, as soon thereafter as possible,
transmit such recordings to the Librarian of Congress and to
the Archivist of the United States.
``SEC. 5. LIMITATIONS ON USE OF RECORDINGS.
``(a) Prohibition on Use for Political Campaign Purposes.--The use
of any recording of Senate proceedings for political campaign purposes
is strictly prohibited.
``(b) Agreement Required.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any
recording of Senate proceedings furnished to any person or
organization shall be made on the condition, agreed to in
writing, that the recording shall not be used for political
campaign purposes.
``(2) Exception.--Any public or commercial news
organization furnished a recording described in paragraph (1)
shall be subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) but shall
not be required to enter into a written agreement.
``SEC. 6. AVAILABILITY OF BROADCAST COVERAGE.
``Broadcast coverage of Senate proceedings shall be made available
on a `live' basis and free of charge to--
``(1) any accredited member of the Senate Radio and
Television Correspondents Gallery;
``(2) the cable system of the Architect of the Capitol; and
``(3) such other news gathering, educational, or
information distributing entity as may be authorized by the
Committee on Rules and Administration.
``SEC. 7. BROADCASTING PROHIBITION.
``Official noting of a Senator's absence from committees while the
Senate is broadcasting is prohibited.
``SEC. 8. CLOSED CAPTIONING.
``Closed captioning for broadcast coverage of Senate proceedings
shall be provided as directed by the Committee on Rules and
Administration.
``SEC. 9. BROADCASTING AND REPORTING PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS.
``(a) In General.--Any changes in the regulations made by this
resolution shall be made only by Senate resolution.
``(b) Committee on Rules and Administration.--The Committee on
Rules and Administration may adopt such procedures and such
regulations, which do not contravene the regulations made by this
resolution, as the Committee deems necessary to assure the proper
implementation of the purposes of this resolution.
``SEC. 10. FUNDING.
``Such funds as may be necessary (but not in excess of $3,500,000)
to carry out this resolution shall be expended from the contingent fund
of the Senate.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Senate Resolution 444 (99th Congress),
agreed to July 15, 1986, is repealed.
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