Political Quotes

“Over the past decade, the Internet has grown, as we know, from relative obscurity to what is today, both an essential commercial tool and increasingly an essential educational tool. With that expansion, we have had some remarkable gains. We have also seen new dangers for our children. Congress has reacted. We struggle with legislation that will protect the free flow of information, as required by the first amendment, while at the same time we shield our children from some of the inappropriate material that can be found on the Internet. I commend the Senator from Arizona for his good-faith effort to find a solution, but I cannot support the proposal he has urged. This amendment, his proposal, would require schools and libraries to certify, install, and enforce an Internet filtering program under the supervision of the Federal Communications Commission, and also under threat both of losing their e-rate discounts in the future and the financial liability of reimbursing discounted funds they have already spent. In my view, as well intentioned as it might be, the amendment would substantially harm and not help the children of this Nation.”