The House soundly rejected a proposal by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) on June 16 that would have barred anyone from distributing sexually explicit or violent materials in any format to minors. Offered as an amendment to juvenile-justice legislation, the bill was defeated in a 282–146 vote in which 92 Republicans joined 189 Democrats and one independent in opposition.
A broad spectrum of business and nonprofit organizations lobbied against the Hyde amendment, including ALA, the entertainment industry, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the American Civil Liberties Union. “The question is, who is going to determine what is the level that is appropriate or inappropriate for a certain age range of children?” said ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom Director Judith Krug. “I just don’t think Henry Hyde can do it.”
Although the bill addressed interstate commerce, ALA Washington Office legislative analyst Leslie Harris told American Libraries that it “could have been read broadly to cover libraries,” since the Hyde amendment also “applied to things that are loaned or exhibited.”
Posted June 21, 1999.