I'm writing to inform you all of an important Congressional bill regarding the "integrity" of films. There will be a hearing next week and a vote thereafter. You may wish to lobby your Congress persons to express your views. Senator Alan Simpson (R-Wyoming) and Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio) are co-sponsors of the "Film Disclosure Act of 1992 (S.B. 2256). A similar bill was introduced in the House last year by Rep. Bob Mrazek (D-NY). According to the Artists Rights Foundation (Los Angeles), "the purpose of the Act is to inform the public when a motion picture has been materially altered. At its core, the Act is a 'truth-in- labeling' bill. The public can then make up its mind if it wants to watch this version of the film. The Act requires that any film that was originally shown in movie theaters carry a label that describes how the film has been changed by the person distributing or exhibiting the film (edited, colorized, panned and scanned, etc.). The label would also carry a brief message if the director, screenwriter and/or cinematographer . . . and why they object." Address your comments to members of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary (below), the House Committee on the Judiciary (below) and your Congress person and Senators. Detailed letters are most effective (especially if you can include any relevant incidents of film defacement that you have witnessed in viewing videotaped films). This is an important issue for all of us who teach and write about film. Sincerely, Stuart McDougal, University of Michigan Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Joseph R. Biden (D-Del); Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz); Howell Heflin (D-Alabama); Edward M. Kennedy (D- Mass); Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin); Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont); Howard M. Metzenbaum (D-Ohio); Paul Simon (D-Illinois): Hank Brown (R-Colo); Charles E. Grassley (R-Ohio); Orrin Hatch (R-Utah); Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyoming); Arlen Specter (R-Pa); Strom Thurmond (R-SC) House Committee on the Judiciary: Rick Boucher (D-Virginia); Howard Berman (D-Calif); Jack Brooks (D-Texas); John Bryant (D-Texas); John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI); Don Edwards (D-Calif); Edward F. Feighan (D-Ohio); Barney Frank (D-Mass); Dan Glickman (D-Kansas); Peter Hoagland (D-Nebraska); William J. Hughes (D-Texas); Michael J. Kopetski (D-Oregon); Mel Levine (D-Calif); Romano L. Mazzoli (D- Kentucky); Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island); George E. Sangmeister (D- Illinois); Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo); Charles E. Schumer (D-New York); Harley O. Staggers, Jr. (D-WV); Mike Synar (D-Oklahoma); Craig Washington (D-Texas); Tom J. Cambell (R-Calif); Howard Coble (R-NC); Hamilton Fish, Jr. (R-New York); George W. Gekas (R-Pa); Henry J. Hyce (R-Illinois); Craig T. James (R-Florida); Bill McCollum (R-Florida); Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Calif); Jim Ramstad (R-Minn); Steven H. Schiff (R-New Mexico); F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin); D. French Slaughter, Jr. (R-Va); Samar Smith (R-Texas)