DeLauro Offers Anti-Propaganda Amendment To Agriculture Appropriations Bill

DeLauro Offers Anti-Propaganda Amendment To Agriculture Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3), ranking member of the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, today offered an amendment to the FY 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill to prohibit government use of propaganda. DeLauro's amendment bars funding under the bill from being used to produce prepackaged news stories without including a clear notification that the story was prepared or funded by a federal agency. The amendment is identical to one which passed the Senate unanimously, and which passed the House as a part of the Supplemental Appropriations bill two weeks ago. It was unanimously agreed to in subcommittee.

"Public education is a very important role for our government, and we want to make sure that continues," said DeLauro. "But taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent, and the source of the messages they receive through the media. Then they can make an informed decision based on the information before them."

Last week, The Washington Post reported that the Agriculture Department paid a freelance writer at least $7,500 to write articles touting federal conservation programs and place them in outdoor magazines. According to the paper, none of the articles disclosed that the author was under federal contract to write these stories.

DeLauro introduced H.R. 373, the Federal Propaganda Prohibition Act of 2005, in January to require the disclosure of the source on prepackaged news stories

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/May/agapprops_propaganda_05_16_05.html