Palm Beach, FL, February 8, 1996...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed concern that a provision of the Telecommunications Reform Bill signed into law today could prohibit the dissemination of information about abortion on the Internet. David H. Strassler, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We believe the amendment added by Congressman Henry Hyde violates the Constitution and poses a significant threat to the continued flow of information about abortion on the electronic superhighway, and could seriously interfere with a woman's right to receive abortion material on-line.

While we appreciate efforts of pro-choice legislators to minimize the impact of Congressman Hyde's amendment through legislative history, we believe the provision is nonetheless unconstitutional on its face. Statements by legislators during the debate indicating that they did not intend the bill to interfere with the distribution of abortion information do not ensure that it will always be interpreted that way.

We understand that abortion supporters have initiated a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of this provision, and we support this legal challenge. It is inconceivable to us that any court would uphold such a blatant restriction on the freedom of speech.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.