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S 134 113th Congress Senate

Violent Content Research Act of 2013

Official title: A bill to arrange for the National Academy of Sciences to study the impact of violent video games and violent video programming on children.

Introduced: January 24, 2013 See on congress.gov
Commerce Child healthCongressional oversightGames and hobbiesGovernment studies and investigations
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Internet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaMental healthViolent crime
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 17, 2013
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 262.
Dec 17, 2013
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-126.
Jul 30, 2013
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jan 24, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S288)
Jan 24, 2013
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S287-288)
Jan 24, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action December 17, 2013

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 262.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Violent Content Research Act of 2013 - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS), jointly, to undertake to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of whether exposure to violent video games and programming has a harmful effect on children that is distinguishable from any other factors.

Requires such study and investigation to consider whether: (1) such exposure causes children to act aggressively or causes other measurable harm to children, has a disproportionately harmful effect on the behavior of children already prone to aggression or on the behavior of other identifiable groups of children, and has a harmful effect that is distinguishable from other types of media; (2) any identified harm has a direct and long-lasting impact on a child's well-being; and (3) current or emerging characteristics of violent video games have a uniquely harmful effect on the behavior of children, considering video games' concretely interactive nature.

Requires an identification of gaps in current research which, if closed, could provide information regarding any causal connection between such exposure and children's behavior.

Requires such agencies, in entering into any such arrangements, to request the NAS to report the results to Congress, FTC, FCC, and HSS.

 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 134: Violent Content Research Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-134/
MLA
"S. 134: Violent Content Research Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-134/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 134, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-134/.
Markdown link
[S. 134: Violent Content Research Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-134/)
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