***Audio/Video of Pence Speech Here***

Contact: Matt Lloyd, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, press office, 202-226-4379

WASHINGTON, June 25 /Standard Newswire/ -- U.S. Congressman Mike Pence gave the following speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today calling on Democrats to sign a discharge petition that would bring H.R. 2905, the Broadcaster Freedom Act, to the floor of the U.S. House.  The Broadcaster Freedom Act would ensure that no future president could bring back the 'Fairness Doctrine' without an act of Congress.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is quoted this morning saying she supports reviving the Fairness Doctrine.  Click here to read the story.

"One year ago, over 300 Democrats and Republicans stood together to oppose efforts to restore the so-called 'Fairness Doctrine' to the airwaves of this country for a single year – it was an encouraging vote.

"But following that vote, I introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act which would permanently ban the 'Fairness Doctrine' from ever coming back. And so far, not one single House Democrat has signed our petition for an up-or-down vote on broadcast freedom...and now we know why.

"Asked yesterday if she supported reviving the 'Fairness Doctrine,' Speaker Nancy Pelosi replied 'yes.'

"She told a meeting at the Christian Science Monitor that the Broadcaster Freedom Act would not receive a vote because 'the interest of my caucus is the reverse.'

"I say to Speaker Pelosi with respect:

"'Defending freedom is the paramount interest of every Member of the American Congress.'

"I urge my Democrat colleagues to take a stand for freedom. Oppose the Democrat leadership's plan to censor the airwaves of American talk radio and American Christian radio.

"Sign the discharge petition for Broadcast Freedom, and help us send the 'Fairness Doctrine' to the ash heap of broadcast history, where it belongs."