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HR 1607 99th Congress House

Ethnic and Minority Affairs Broadcasting Clearinghouse Act of 1985

Official title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish an Office of Ethnic and Minority Affairs within the Federal Communications Commission.

Introduced: October 29, 1985 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Communications and BroadcastingFederal Communications CommissionGovernment records, documents, and informationIndependent regulatory commissions
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Information servicesMinoritiesMinorities in mass mediaRadio broadcastingRadio programsTelevisionTelevision broadcastingTelevision programs
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This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 21, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.
Mar 20, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 20, 1985
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 21, 1985

Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ethnic and Minority Affairs Broadcasting Clearinghouse Act of 1985 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish the Ethnic and Minority Affairs Clearinghouse within the Federal Communications Commission.

Directs the Clearinghouse to: (1) establish a clearinghouse for complaints about the portrayal of ethnic and minority groups in radio and television broadcast programming; (2) collect and disseminate information about such portrayal; (3) conduct an annual conference to draw public attention to such portrayal; (4) submit to the Congress an annual report on its activities, including a compilation of all complaints received; and (5) provide information to the Commission.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Oct 29, 1985
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Apr 15, 1985
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Apr 3, 1985
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1607: Ethnic and Minority Affairs Broadcasting Clearinghouse Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1607/
MLA
"H.R. 1607: Ethnic and Minority Affairs Broadcasting Clearinghouse Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1607/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1607, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1607/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1607: Ethnic and Minority Affairs Broadcasting Clearinghouse Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1607/)
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