Des Moines Sun

Today, the Senate unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar. The resolution marks the 39th anniversary of C-SPAN 2's initial Senate broadcast and calls for all television providers, including streaming services, to carry the network.

C-SPAN 2 has provided a direct connection between the public and the Senate for nearly four decades. It offers Americans an uninterrupted view of their elected representatives' work. Funded by cable and satellite operators as a public service, C-SPAN does not rely on taxpayer dollars.

Senator Grassley emphasized the importance of transparency: "Transparency brings accountability, and C-SPAN’s coverage has brought transparency to the people’s business. This public service strengthens our system of self-government by boosting civic engagement, and ought to be available on all television and streaming platforms. The Senate unanimously stands behind C-SPAN in its fight to be platformed by streaming giants."

Senator Klobuchar highlighted C-SPAN's role in connecting citizens with their government: "C-SPAN has connected the Senate with the American people for nearly 40 years—providing the public an opportunity to see their government at work on the Senate floor and in committee meetings. Access to this live coverage on all platforms is essential to keeping the American people informed and engaged in their democracy."

Over its history, C-SPAN 2 has recorded more than 43,830 hours of Senate proceedings, documenting over 169,000 speeches from various ideological perspectives. The network also serves as a record of over 23,493 roll call votes.