Ed Markey: “Mr. Speaker, just so we can once again clarify, under existing law, the way we have operated for the last 50 years in…”

“Mr. Speaker, just so we can once again clarify, under existing law, the way we have operated for the last 50 years in this country, Christmas mass can be on a public television station. Handel's Messiah can be on a public television station, as long as the operators of that public television station are serving primarily the educational needs of the community. However, under this amendment, Christmas mass can be on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, if that religion decides that that is the only thing that they want to put on. They do not have to any longer serve any of the educational needs of the community at all. Under existing law, Christmas mass is on; Handel's Messiah is on. The educational needs are served. Under their amendment, their bill, all day long, religion 24 hours a day, one particular religion operating the public broadcasting station in town with no requirement to serve the educational needs of the community in any other way, shape or form.”