LAWMAKER CONSIDERING AMENDMENT TO LIMIT VIDEOGAME SALES
The House at our deadline Thurs. was in a position to debate blockage of videogame sales to minors -- if the amendment’s sponsor chose to introduce it. Rep. Baca (D-Cal.) has written an amendment to the House Commerce, State, Justice appropriations bill (HR-4754) based on his own videogame bill, HR-669. That bill would prohibit the rental or sale of a videogame to a minor that depicts nudity, sexual conduct, or other content harmful to minors.
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Baca “hasn’t decided yet whether to introduce the amendment,” his spokeswoman told us Thurs. The House was pushing to wrap up the bill by 5 p.m. Thurs., its 2nd day of consideration. The House debated the bill until midnight Wed. Baca’s amendment was one of about 25 expected to be considered. Many aim to change particular funding levels in the $39.8-billion bill. Baca’s amendment, however, is basically HR-669, his spokeswoman said, and doesn’t involve any specific funding.
Videogame content has become a top issue for Baca. An FTC report last year prompted him to launch a congressional caucus on sex and violence in the media with Rep. Osborne (R-Neb.). The FTC survey of 39 states found 69% of minors were able to buy M- rated video games. “The videogame industry has repeatedly said they would stop children from purchasing games when they don’t have a parent present,” Baca said of the FTC report: “As we can see, self regulation doesn’t work and children all over this nation are being harmed.”
The CJS Appropriations bill’s $39.8-billion funding for FY 2005 exceeds slightly the Bush administration’s request of $39.6 billion, and tops last year’s funding of $37.6 billion. The FCC would see a $6-million increase to $280 million for FY 2005, while the FTC would receive an $18-million increase to $203 million. The House Appropriations Committee said that amount includes “full funding for the Do-Not-Call program.” No amendment proposed Thurs. specifically addressed FCC funding.
The Commerce Dept would get $186 million less than last year in the CJS bill with a mark of $5.8 billion, $301 million less than the Administration’s request. However, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, which is part of Commerce, would see a $300 million increase from last year to $1.523 billion. The House Appropriations CJS Subcommittee described that boost as building “on the subcommittee’s long record of providing generous funding levels to the PTO.” The House has passed a bill that would end the diversion of PTO fees to the U.S. Treasury and allow the agency to use those funds for its budget; that bill is pending in the Senate.