By an unrecorded voice vote, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment June 17 requiring schools and libraries that receive federal e-rate subsidies for Internet connections to install Internet filtering software. The measure, which contains the language of the Safe Schools Internet Act (H.R. 368), was attached to a juvenile-justice bill (H.R. 1501) that is expected to be voted on this week.
Although the version of the juvenile-justice bill passed by the Senate May 20 doesn’t include the filtering measure, the CNet online news service reports that a similar proposal by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is expected to be added when the Senate Commerce Committee marks up the bill.
“For generations, schools and libraries have routinely decided what books are appropriate for children to read,” said Rep. Bob Franks (R-N.J.), who offered the amendment with Rep. Charles Pickering (R-Miss.). “My amendment would require these institutions to exercise the same standard of care when it comes to the Internet.”
Posted June 21, 1999.