Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) on Tuesday congratulated C-SPAN on 40 years of gavel-to-gavel coverage of the U.S. Senate, which began June 2, 1986.
“Mr. President, as we begin our proceedings this morning, I want to take a moment to recognize a milestone here in the Senate.
“On this day 40 years ago, C-SPAN broadcast the United States Senate for the very first time.
“On June 2, 1986, the American people were able to turn on their televisions and see the Senate come to order and their senators engage in debate until the gavel dropped later that day.
“Gavel-to-gavel coverage, Mr. President.
“That’s the C-SPAN way.
“And over the last 40 years, C-SPAN hasn’t missed a beat.
“It’s captured 43,830 hours of Senate proceedings.
“Broadcast 169,000 speeches by hundreds of United States senators who have served in these halls.
“And captured the moments large and small — historic and human — that make up the United States Senate.
“Mr. President, on that day, that first day 40 years ago, the Senate was considering an education bill.
“And what a fitting topic of discussion for C-SPAN’s first day covering this chamber.
“Education is C-SPAN’s entire mission.
“C-SPAN urges its viewers to ‘Make Up Your Own Mind.’
“And for 40 years, C-SPAN has enabled the American people to make up their own minds about what we do here in the Senate.
“It’s helped countless American students see the legislative process in action.
“And it’s ensured that what happens here is lost neither to the day’s news cycle nor to history.
“And I trust that C-SPAN will continue to offer the American people a front-row seat to the Senate for many decades to come.”
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Thune marks 40 years of C-SPAN’s Senate coverage
C-SPAN
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