Senate
Dems Take House, Senate Too Close to Call in Midterms
With high voter turnout on the heels of a hotly contested midterm election, the U.S. electorate chiseled away at the Republican hold on the federal government, returning control of the House to the Democrats for the first time in 12 years and equalizing the balance of power in the Senate — two races remain too close to call.
Senate Proposes Patent Overhaul
Adult webmasters who develop, use and license the technology that drives porn online may soon find themselves operating under a different set of rules, if a recently introduced bill that overhauls the U.S. patent system becomes law.
Senate Panel Rejects Net Neutrality
In a narrow vote, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee failed to enforce strict net neutrality regulations. The panel, in an 11-11 vote, rejected the Democrat-backed bill. A majority was needed for the bill to pass.
Senate Approves Web Labeling; Bill Faces House Battle
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, with the backing of the Bush administration, approved an amendment to a wide-ranging telecommunications bill that would require mandatory website labeling on pages that contain explicit sexual images.
Senate Proposes Prison for Those Failing to Label Adult Sites
Taking their cue from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, nine U.S. senators proposed a new law that would require adult website operators to post warning labels on each offending page.
Senate Committee Revisits Net Neutrality Issue
With six pieces of legislation circulating in Congress attempting to enforce the idea of net neutrality, numerous federal legislators are seeking to gain control of the issue.
Senate Votes to Increase Indecency Fines
In a vote that could reshape the 1st Amendment landscape for broadcasters, the Senate voted to dramatically increase fines for indecency.
Senate Committee Passes on Net Neutrality
The Senate Commerce Committee released draft legislation Monday that addresses a range of issues facing the telecom industry, but omits any mention of Net neutrality.
Ohio Senate Passes Anti-Adult Bill
The state Senate has approved legislation that would give local authorities throughout the state more firepower to go after adult entertainment businesses.
FSC Calls on Senate to Remove Provision of HR 4472
In response to the U.S. House of Representatives passing a bill that would significantly strengthen the existing 2257 record-keeping law, the Free Speech Coalition has called on the U.S. Senate to reject the offensive portion of the bill.
Senate Once Again Ponders Internet Tax
The Senate Commerce Community met yesterday to talk about the possibility of extending the Universal Service Fund (USF), the 1996 tax on telephone services, to Internet services.
Senate Orders Sex Site Restored
MONTPELIER, Vt. — A website devoted to helping young men avoid high-risk sex that could lead to HIV and AIDS must be switched back on by March 1, the state Senate ordered the Douglas administration Friday.
Cambria Speaks at Senate Hearing, Supports Rating System
For the first time, a representative for the adult entertainment industry was present during a senate hearing on Internet pornography. Paul Cambria, general counsel to the Adult Freedom Foundation, spoke before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology.
Live Webcast: AFF’s Paul Cambria Testifies Before Senate
WASHINGTON — Paul Cambria, general counsel for the Adult Freedom Foundation, will testify today before a U.S. Senate hearing on “Internet Pornography.”
Witness List Set for Senate Decency Hearing
WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce Committee’s first day of hearings this year on broadcast and Internet-related issues will be held on Thursday, Jan. 19. The agenda will include issues of decency and pornography.
Senate Panel Votes to Expand FBI Investigative Powers
The Bush Administration appears to have succeeded in getting its “wish list” concerning the 2001 Patriot Act, including provisions allowing the FBI to conduct secret investigations and punishing disclosure of such investigations.
Senate Deal Paves Way for Right-Wing Judges
The U.S. Senate has confirmed the first federal judge appointed in the wake of a compromise between Democrats and Republicans that paves the way for votes on more Bush nominees widely seen as being in the extreme right wing.
Senate Proposes Study of Sex in the Media
A group of U.S. senators from both sides of the political aisle are pushing legislation to study how sex and violence in the media effects young Americans.
Missouri Senate Approves Anti-Porn Bill
A bill aimed at regulating sexually-oriented businesses received approval from the Missouri senate and now faces one more round of voting before it reaches the House. Bill SB 32 seeks to curtail the freedoms currently afforded to strip clubs and adult video retail outlets.
Senate to Vote on Banning Gay Marriage
The controversy over gay and lesbian marriages might meet with an unpopular resolution in the Senate in mid-July as lawmakers consider a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The proposed amendment states that marriage in the U.S. will only be recognized as involving a man and a woman.