,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #dggb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,septemb] #cj          
7legislative day1 ,septemb] #bi71       
#bjbj,mr4 ,s*atz 7= himself1 ,mr4       
,b5net1 & ,ms4 ,klobu*>7 introduc$ !    
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & 
,transportation  ,a ,,bill  ,to e/abli% 
! ,future ( ,local ,news ,commission to 
exam9e & report on ! role ( local news  
ga!r+ 9 su/a9+ democracy 9 ! ,unit$     
,/ates & ! factors contribut+ to !      
demise ( local j\rnalism1 & to propose  
policies & me*anisms t c\ld re9vigorate 
local news to meet ! critical in=mation 
ne$s ( ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 ! #ba/   
c5tury4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may  
be cit$ z ! ,future ( ,local ,news      
,commission ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,f9d+s & 
purpose ,congress f9ds & decl>es !      
foll[+3 7#a7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates ( ,am]ica 
0 f\nd$ on ! press fre$om pr9ciple      
en%r9$ 9 ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to !          
,con/itution1 decl>+ t ,congress %all   

make no law ''' abridg+ ! fre$om (      
spee*1 or ( ! press ''' 44  7#b7        
,democracy dem&s wisdom & vision 9 its  
citiz5s1 & an in=m$ citiz5ry dep5ds on  
accurate & unbias$ news report+ to in=m 
! p's judgm5ts4  7#c7 ,?omas ,jeff]son  
fam\sly & wisely wrote1 ,were x left to 
me to decide :e!r we %\ld h a gov]nm5t  
)\t newspap]s or newspap]s )\t a        
gov]nm5t1 ,i %\ld n hesitate a mom5t to 
pref] ! latt]44  7#d7 7,a7 ,accord+ to  
rese>* by ! ,univ]sity ( ,nor? ,c>ol9a  
,s*ool ( ,m$ia & ,j\rnalism1 ,c5t] =    
,innovation & ,su/a9ability 9 ,local    
,m$ia3 7i7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates has lo/ m   
?an #b1ajj local pr9t outlets s9ce      
#bjjd4  7ii7 ,m ?an #bjj c\nties 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates h no newspap] at all1     
creat+ a news %ortage = ! #c1bjj1jjj    
resid5ts ( ^? c\nties4  7iii7 ,( !      
rema9+ c\nties1 m ?an half1 or #a1ebh1 h
 only "o newspap]1 (t5 a weekly         
newspap]1 to cov] populations rang+ f "u
 #a1jjj to m ?an #a1jjj1jjj resid5ts4   
7iv7 ,m ?an half ( all ,unit$ ,/ates    

newspap]s h *ang$ own]s 9 ! pa/ decade1 
& 9 #bjah j #be companies own$ two-?irds
 ( all daily newspap]s4  7v7 ,( !       
surviv+ #f1gjj newspap]s 9 ! ,unit$     
,/ates1 at lea/ #a1jjj qualify z gho/   
newspap]s1 or newspap]s ^: report+ /affs
 are s significantly r$uc$ t !y c no    
long] provide mu* ( ! break+ news or    
public s]vice j\rnalism t once in=m$    
read]s ab\t vital issues 9 _!           
communities4  7vi7 ,rural c\nties are   
among ! c\nties mo/ deeply impact$4 ,m  
?an #ejj ( ! #b1ajj newspap]s t h clos$ 
or m]g$ s9ce #bjjd h be5 9 rural        
c\nties4  7,b7 ,accord+ to ! ,pew       
,rese>* ,c5t]1 total newsroom employm5t 
7mean+ 9 newspap]s1 television1 radio1 &
 digital7 dropp$ by r\ghly #be p]c5t f  
#bjjh to #bjah1 :ile ! plunge 9 newspap]
 newsrooms alone 0 mu* worse1 at #dg    
p]c5t4  7,c7 ,accord+ to ! program ,on !
 ,m$ia ( ,,wnyc ,/udios1 beat report+1  
mean+ ! day-to-day cov]age ( a p>ticul> 
field t all[s a j\rnali/ to develop     
exp]tise & cultivate s\rces1 has be5    

gutt$4  7,d7 ,fre$om ( ,in=mation ,act  
reque/s submitt$ by local newspap]s to  
local1 ,/ate1 & ,f$]al ag5cies fell by  
ne>ly #ej p]c5t betwe5 #bjje & #bjaj1   
demon/rat+ a significant drop 9 ! ext5t 
to :i* report]s reque/ gov]nm5t records4
  7,e7 ,accord+ to ! ,pew ,rese>* ,c5t]1
 newspap]s alone lo/ m ?an              
#ce1jjj1jjj1jjj 9 adv]tis+ rev5ue betwe5
 #bjjd & #bjah4  7,f7 ,a #bjah /udy by  
,am]ican ,indian ,m$ia ,today f\nd t !  
numb] ( ,am]ican ,indian pr9t m$ia      
s\rces has %runk dramatically 9 rec5t   
ye>s1 f #gjj m$ia outlets 9 #aiih to    
only #bjj 9 #bjah4  7#e7 ,accord+ to !  
,native ,am]ican ,j\rnali/s             
,association1 ,tribal news outlets are  
(t5 dep5d5t on ,tribal gov]nm5ts =      
fund+1 b mo/ ,tribal news outlets lack !
 policy /ructure necess>y to fully      
protect j\rnali/ic indep5d5ce4  7#f7 ,z 
a result1 fre$oms ( spee* & press among 
,tribal nations are inconsi/5t1 z       
,tribal m$ia j\rnali/s report exp]i5c+  
punitive budget>y re/rictions1 c5sor%ip1

 requir$ prior approval ( cont5t1 &     
workplace h>assm5t 9 pursuit ( ,tribal  
report+4  7#g7 ,9 its #bjai             
call-to-action report1 ,los+ ! ,news3 ,!
 ,decimation ( ,local ,j\rnalism & !    
,se>* = ,solutions1 ,,p5 ,am]ica propos$
 a major reimag9+ ( ! local news space1 
9 :i* local report+ is re-conceptualiz$ 
z a public good1 call+ on society &     
gov]nm5t to urg5tly address ! al>m+     
demise ( local j\rnalism4  7#h7 ,half a 
c5tury ago1 ,congress p]ceiv$ t !       
comm]cial television indu/ry w\ld n on  
its own provide ! educational & public  
int]e/ broadca/+ t 0 appropriate &      
necess>y = ! c\ntry1 &1 in=m$ by an     
indep5d5t report prep>$ by ! ,c>negie   
,commission on ,educational ,television1
 saw fit to create ! ,corporation =     
,public ,broadca/+1 :i* has s9ce ensur$ 
t radio & television include public     
int]e/ educational & report+ programs1  
us+ annually appropriat$ funds4  7#i7 ,9
 ord] to det]m9e an appropriate c\rse ( 
action to pres]ve & su/a9 local news    

across ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ 9 all   
,/ates1 t]ritories1 insul> communities1 
& ,tribal areas1 x is desirable to      
e/abli% a ,f$]al advisory commission on 
! future ( local news to prep>e a report
 t w\ld make recomm5dations to          
,congress4  #c4 ,future ( ,local ,news  
,commission  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!re is    
e/abli%$ a commission to be kn[n z !    
,future ( ,local ,news ,commission 79   
?is section ref]r$ to z ! ,commission74 
7b7 ,purpose ,! purpose ( ! ,commission 
is to-- 7#a7 exam9e ! /ate ( local news 
& ! ability ( local news to su/a9       
democracy by meet+ ! critical in=mation 
ne$s ( ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7#b7   
provide recomm5dations on me*anisms t ! 
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t c create & effectively 
implem5t to support production (        
pr(essional1 indep5d5t1 & high-quality  
local news to meet ! ne$s ( ! public1   
:i* recomm5dations1 9 addition to any   
o!r proposals deem$ appropriate1 may    
explore ! possible creation ( a new     
national end[m5t = local j\rnalism1 or !

 re=m & expansion ( ! ,corporation =    
,public ,broadca/+ or ano!r appropriate 
in/itution1 to make public funds a "p ( 
a multi-facet$ approa* to su/a9+ local  
news4  7c7 ,memb]%ip  7#a7 ,composition 
,! ,commission %all be compos$ ( #ac    
memb]s1 ( :om-- 7,a7 #b %all be appo9t$ 
by ! majority lead] ( ! ,s5ate2  7,b7 #b
 %all be appo9t$ by ! m9ority lead] ( ! 
,s5ate2  7,c7 #b %all be appo9t$ by !   
,speak] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2    
7,d7 #b %all be appo9t$ by ! m9ority    
lead] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2  7,e7
 #b %all be appo9t$ by ! ,*airman ( !   
,bo>d ( ,directors ( ! ,corporation =   
,public ,broadca/+2  7,f7 #b %all be    
appo9t$ by ! ,*airp]son ( ! ,national   
,end[m5t = ! ,humanities2 &  7,g7 #a    
%all be appo9t$ by ! ,*ief ,executive   
,(fic] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy =       
,global ,m$ia4  7#b7 ,crit]ia = s]vice  
on ! ,commission ,to ! ext5t practical1 
! ,commission %all include memb]s )     
relevant exp]tise1 su* z individuals 9 !
 foll[+ positions3 7,a7 ,pr9t m$ia news 

editor4  7,b7 ,digital-native or        
digital-fir/ news editor4  7,c7         
,broadca/ news editor4  7,d7 ,local     
c\nty editor or j\rnali/ ( a news outlet
 ) circulation or read]%ip ( n m ?an    
#ge1jjj4  7,e7 ,pr9t m$ia j\rnali/ or   
editor = a news outlet t s]ves national 
read]%ip4  7,f7 ,nonpr(it news outlet   
j\rnali/ or editor4  7,g7 ,broadca/ news
 report] :o works = a local broadca/    
outlet s]v+ a s+le community or         
geographic area4  7,h7 ,a rese>* exp]t  
on ! /ate ( local news & ! ph5om5on ( ! 
indu/ry's rev5ue loss & ov]all          
contraction dur+ ! la/ #aj or m ye>s4   
7,i7 ,bus9ess lead] 9 ! m$ia indu/ry4   
7,j7 ,labor union lead] 9 ! m$ia        
indu/ry4  7,k7 ,dean or pr(essor at a   
univ]sity s*ool ( j\rnalism4  7,l7      
,civil society repres5tative f a        
nonp>tisan organization t exam9es !     
nature ( ! local news crisis4  7,m7     
,editor or o!r s5ior pr(essional ( a    
regional e?nic m$ia outlet s]v+         
communities 9 :i* ,engli% is a second   

language4  7,n7 ,editor or o!r s5ior    
pr(essional ( a ,tribal news outlet or a
 news outlet s]v+ ,am]ican ,indian1     
,alaska ,native1 or ,native ,hawaiian   
communities4  7#c7 ,div]sity ,to ! ext5t
 practical1 ! ,commission %all-- 7,a7   
include memb]s f div]se regions ( !     
c\ntry & reflect ! exp]i5ce ( rural1    
urban1 suburban1 insul>1 & ,tribal      
communities2 &  7,b7 reflect ! g5d] &   
racial div]sity ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7#d7
 ,designation ( alt]nates ,if a memb] ( 
! ,commission is unable to s]ve on !    
,commission = ! duration ( !            
,commission1 ! (ficial :o _h appo9t$ !  
resign+ commission] %all appo9t an      
alt]nate n lat] ?an #cj days aft] !     
memb] )draws or becomes unable to s]ve4 
7#e7 ,*airp]son ,! *airp]son ( !        
,commission %all be elect$ by !         
,commission f among ! memb]s by a       
majority vote at ! initial meet+4  7#f7 
,t]m ( memb]%ip ,memb]s ( ! ,commission 
%all s]ve until ! date on :i* !         
,commission t]m9ates "u subsection 7h74 

7#g7 ,comp5sation ,memb]s ( !           
,commission %all n be comp5sat$ =       
memb]%ip on ! ,commission b may be all[$
 reimbursem5t = travel & incid5tal      
exp5ses1 includ+ p] diem 9 lieu (       
subsi/5ce1 9 ! same mann] z p]sons      
employ$ int]mitt5tly 9 ! ,gov]nm5t      
s]vice are all[$ exp5ses "u section     
#egjc7;b7 ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code4  7d7 ,duties ,! duties ( !       
,commission are z foll[s3 7#a7 ,to      
exam9e ! implications = ! democracy ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates ( ! disappe>ance ( s _m   
local newspap]s1 digital news outlets1 &
 broadca/+ outlets-- 7,a7 9 e ,/ate &   
t]ritory2  7,b7 9 rural1 urban1         
suburban1 insul>1 & ,tribal communities1
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7,c7 t s]ve      
,black communities & non-,engli%-speak+ 
communities4  7#b7 ,to assess-- 7,a7 !  
impact ! coronavirus p&emic has _h on ! 
demise ( ! news indu/ry2 &  7,b7 :e!r ! 
,pay*eck ,protection ,program set =? 9  
section #g7;a77#cf7 ( ! ,small ,bus9ess 
,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcf7;a77#cf77 has  

_h b5eficial effects on local news      
organizations4  7#c7 ,to assess !       
effectiv5ess ( exi/+ ,f$]al /atutes     
7includ+ ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code (     
#aihf & ! antitru/ laws71 regulations1  
in/itutions 7includ+ ! ,corporation =   
,public ,broadca/+71 & programs 9       
support+ ! production ( local news4     
7#d7 ,to exam9e pot5tial new me*anisms =
 public fund+ = ! production ( local    
news to meet ! critical in=mation ne$s (
 ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & address sy/emic
 inequities 9 m$ia cov]age &            
repres5tation ?r\gh\t ! c\ntry4  7#e7   
,to consid] issues ( transp>5cy & o!r   
gu>drails1 su* z editorial indep5d5ce f 
gov]nm5t actors & a di/9ct1 indep5d5t   
legal & f9ancial /ructure = ! fund+     
in/itution1 :i* mu/ be address$ if      
public fund+ is view$ 9 pr9ciple z "o   
pa? =w>d to support production ( local  
news4  7e7 ,p[]s ( ! ,commission  7#a7  
,he>+s ,! ,commission may1 = ! purpose (
 c>ry+ out ?is section1 hold he>+s1 sit 
& act at times & places1 take te/imony1 

& receive evid5ce z ! ,commission       
consid]s appropriate4  7#b7 ,p[]s (     
memb]s & ag5ts ,any memb] ( !           
,commission may1 ^u au?orization by !   
,commission1 take any action t !        
,commission is au?oriz$ to take "u ?is  
section4  7#c7 ,obta9+ (ficial data     
,subject to applicable privacy laws &   
relevant regulations1 ! ,commission may 
secure directly f any dep>tm5t or ag5cy 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates in=mation & data      
necess>y to enable x to c>ry out ?is    
section4 ,^u writt5 reque/ ( ! *airp]son
 ( ! ,commission1 ! head or act+        
repres5tative ( t dep>tm5t or ag5cy %all
 furni% ! reque/$ in=mation to !        
,commission n lat] ?an #cj days aft]    
receipt ( ! reque/4  7f7 ,op]at+ rules &
 proc$ure  7#a7 ,initial meet+ ,!       
,commission %all meet n lat] ?an #cj    
days aft] ! date on :i* a majority ( !  
memb]s ( ! ,commission h be5 appo9t$4   
7#b7 ,meet+s ,! ,commission %all conv5e 
"s ( its public meet+s 9 v>i\s regions (
 ! c\ntry4  7#c7 ,vot+ ,ea* memb] ( !   

,commission %all h #a vote4  7#d7       
,recomm5dations ,! ,commission %all     
adopt recomm5dations only ^u a majority 
vote4  7#e7 ,quorum ,a majority ( !     
memb]s ( ! ,commission %all con/itute a 
quorum1 b a less] numb] ( memb]s may    
hold meet+s1 ga!r in=mation & evid5ce1 &
 review draft reports f /aff4  7g7 ,/aff
  7#a7 ,p]sonnel ,! *airp]son ( !       
,commission may appo9t /aff to in=m1    
support1 & enable commission]s 9 !      
fulfillm5t ( _! responsibilities4 ,a    
/aff memb] may n be a local1 ,/ate1 or  
,f$]al elect$ (ficial or be affiliat$ ) 
or employ$ by su* an elect$ (ficial dur+
 ! duration ( ! ,commission4  7#b7      
,exp]t consultants ,z ne$$1 !           
,commission may commission int]mitt5t   
rese>* or o!r in=mation f exp]ts &      
provide /ip5ds = engagem5t consi/5t )   
relevant /atutes & regulations4  7h7    
,duration ,! ,commission %all t]m9ate   
#fj days aft] ! date on :i* !           
,commission pres5ts ! f9d+s1            
conclusions1 & recomm5dations ( !       

,commission at ! public he>+ describ$ 9 
subsection 7i77#c74  7i7 ,report  7#a7  
,submittal ( report ,n lat] ?an #a ye>  
aft] ! date ( ! initial meet+ ( !       
,commission1 ! *airp]son ( ! ,commission
 %all submit to ,congress a compreh5sive
 report on ! f9d+s1 conclusions1 &      
recomm5dations ( ! ,commission 9        
fur!rance ( ! purpose ( ! ,commission "u
 subsection 7b74  7#b7 ,public access to
 report ,! report submitt$ to ,congress 
"u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be publicly       
available onl9e = free4  7#c7 ,he>+ &   
implem5tation ,aft] ! ,commission       
submits ! report "u p>agraph 7#a71 !    
appropriate committees ( ,congress may  
hold he>+s at :i* ! ,commission may     
pres5t ! f9d+s1 conclusions1 &          
recomm5dations ( ! ,commission z laid   
out 9 ! report4  7j7 ,applicability (   
,,faca ,except z provid$ 9 subsection   
7h71 ! ,f$]al ,advisory ,committee ,act 
7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 %all apply to !    
,commission4  7k7 ,au?orization (       
appropriations ,!re are au?oriz$ to be  

appropriat$ to ! ,commission #a1jjj1jjj 
to c>ry out ?is section4