Children's Television Act of 1990
Public Law 101-437 · H.R. 1677 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 17, 1990 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. John Bryant (D-TX-5)
Cosponsors (43): Rep. Matthew Rinaldo, Rep. Terry Bruce,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Children's Television Act of 1990 - Title I: Regulation of Children's Television - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe standards for commercial television broadcast licensees that limit the duration of advertising in programs for children to a specified number of minutes per hour. Instructs the FCC to initiate appropriate rulemaking proceedings within 30 days of this Act's enactment and to promulgate the final standards within 180 days of enactment. Authorizes modifications of the limitations after January 1, 1993, in accordance with the public interest.
Directs the FCC, when reviewing any application for a television broadcast license renewal, to consider compliance with these advertising standards, as well as the licensee's programming in connection with the educational and information needs of children. Permits the FCC to consider additional efforts by the licensee to support or enhance educational and informational programming.
Directs the FCC, within 180 days of this Act's enactment, to complete the proceeding known as "Revision of Programming and Commercialization Policies, Ascertainment Requirements and Program Log Requirements for Commercial Television Stations." Title II: Endowment for Children's Educational Television - National Endowment for Children's Educational Television Act of 1990 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish, under the direction of the Secretary of Education, a National Endowment for Children's Educational Television for the purpose of creating and producing television programming specifically directed toward the development in children of fundamental intellectual skills. Directs the Secretary, in administering the Endowment, to: (1) contract with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for producing educational television programming for children; and (2) make grants to persons creating and producing such programming. Requires the Secretary to consult with the Advisory Council on Children's Educational Television in making such contracts or grants. Authorizes the Secretary to make contracts with, or grants to, persons using other forms of media and to apply conditions to such contracts or grants pertaining to the availability of such programming to commercial television licensees and cable system operators. Authorizes the Secretary to waive grant conditions in certain circumstances.
Directs the Secretary to establish the criteria for making such contracts or grants. Outlines grant application requirements. Limits amounts authorized for such grants.
Directs the Secretary to establish an Advisory Council on Children's Educational Television. Requires members appointed to have expertise in the fields of education, psychology, child development, television programming, or related disciplines.
Requires each grant recipient to maintain such records as are reasonably necessary to enable the Secretary to carry out functions under this Act. Gives the Secretary and the Comptroller General access to all documents of grant recipients for auditing and examination purposes. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 and 1992 to carry out this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 19 actions.
- Oct 17, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-437.
- PresidentPresident · Sent to Archivist of the United States unsigned.
- Oct 5, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 1, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Rinaldo demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules. Without objection a second was ordered.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Markey moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
- Sep 24, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 2713 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Jul 23, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Rinaldo demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Markey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Nov 21, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Apr 11, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Apr 5, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.