Statement of Rep. Mike Oxley (R-OH) in the House of Representatives. Re: FCC decision restricting religious broadcasting. Date: January 27, 2000. Source: Congressional Record, January 27, page H10.

Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, it is a cold day in Washington, but the chill is on religious broadcasters. A word to the Members: If one has a religious broadcaster or people who listen to religious broadcasters in one's district, their rights have been compromised. The rights are less than they were in 1999 because of an FCC decision on the Cornerstone license swap in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Since this order, traditional religious programming can no longer be counted toward the 50 percent educational programming requirement that must be met by those who would hold noncommercial television licenses.

Basically, the FCC wants less religion and more of what it considers educational on the noncommercial airways. The majority of commissioners apparently want religious broadcasters to look more like PBS.

My office has received hundreds of e-mails and telephone calls from people who want to protest this decision. I know many other Members have been contacted, and I want to invite all the Members to cosponsor the bill, the Religious Broadcasting Freedom Act. Join me and over 50 cosponsors already to protest the FCC's efforts to limit religious programming.