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February 26, 2009, 12:00 am ET - Amendment SA 591 proposed by Senator Durbin.
February 26, 2009, 2:04 pm ET - Durbin Amdt. No. 591

Full Text of this Amendment

SA 591. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 160, to provide the District of Columbia a voting seat and the State of Utah an additional seat in the House of Representatives; as follows:


At the end of the bill add the following:
SEC. 9. FCC AUTHORITIES.
(a) Clarification of General Powers.--Title III of the Communications Act of 1934 is amended by inserting after section 303 (47 U.S.C. 303) the following new section:
``SEC. 303B. CLARIFICATION OF GENERAL POWERS.
``(a) Certain Affirmative Actions Required.--The Commission shall take actions to encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership and to ensure that broadcast station licenses are used in the public interest.
``(b) Construction.--Nothing in section 303A shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission regarding matters unrelated to a requirement that broadcasters present or ascertain opposing viewpoints on issues of public importance.''.
(b) Severability.--Notwithstanding section 7(a), if any provision of section 2(a)(1), 2(b)(1), or 3 or any amendment made by those sections is declared or held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the amendment made by subsection (a) and the application of such amendment to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected by such holding.
(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Feb 26, 2009.)