Heinrich Votes Against Republicans’ Legislation to Defund Public Broadcasting, Harm New Mexicans’ Safety

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) stood firm for New Mexico families by voting against Senate Republicans' rescissions package that cuts funding to local public radio and TV stations, which rural communities and Tribes rely on as their primary source of information during life-or-death emergencies like wildfires, flash floods, and other catastrophic natural disasters.

"First, Republicans pushed through the largest Medicaid cut in American history. Now, they've slashed the only lifeline rural communities and Tribes rely on during life-or-death emergencies like wildfires and flash floods. Republicans' cuts to local public radio and TV stations are reckless, dangerous, and put New Mexicans directly in harm's way. All of this to bankroll massive tax giveaways for Trump's billionaire donors," said Heinrich, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Below are the New Mexico radio and TV stations whose federal funding is now at risk thanks to Republicans' rescissions bill:

Radio

• KSHI-FM, Zuni
• KGLP-FM, Gallup
• KABR-FM, Alamo
• KSJE-FM, Farmington
• KENW-FM, Portales
• KCIE-FM, Dulce
• KTDB, Pine Hill
• KSFR-FM, Santa Fe
• KANW-FM, Albuquerque
• KHFM-FM (Albuquerque)
• KUNM-FM (Albuquerque)
• KRWG-FM, Las Cruces

TV

• KENW-TV, Portales
• New Mexico PBS KNME-TV (Albuquerque)
• KRWG-TV (Las Cruces)

During the Reconciliation votes, Senate Republicans blocked Heinrich's efforts to:

Protect Public Radio and TV

• Prohibit defunding public radio and television stations that primarily serve rural and Tribal communities.
• Prohibit defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
• Protect public radio and television stations that are partners in the Emergency Alert System.
• Protect access to children's education programming through public television.

Promote American Values and Counter the People's Republica of China (PRC) and Russia Influence Globally

• Prevent cuts to funding that counters malign-PRC and Russian influence globally, including to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine.
• Ensure the United States can maintain our long tradition of providing life-saving aid, including food and medicine.
• Maintain the United States's position as a global leader in humanitarian assistance.
• Combat child marriages and feed children around the world.
• Protect funding for child health, global health security, and to treat and prevent tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases
• Protect funding for international organizations and life-saving programs, including UNICEF other large-scale humanitarian and hunger prevention programs.

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