Larson Votes Against Trump Bill to Defund PBS, NPR and AIDS Prevention

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted against President Trump's bill to eliminate funding for PBS and NPR, and drastically reduce the budget for PEPFAR, an AIDS relief program that has saved an estimated 26 million lives.

"House Republicans just killed Big Bird and shut down Sesame Street," said Larson. "President Trump and House Republicans' efforts to defund PBS and NPR don't promote 'government efficiency.' Instead, they will be ending educational programming millions of children enjoy and shuttering local affiliates, hurting rural areas across our nation the most, at the same time that they are passing tax breaks for the wealthy. After some arm twisting, this bill passed by only two votes because Republicans wouldn't dare go against President Trump's wishes. We should not be defunding Sesame Street to pad the pockets of the ultra-wealthy. Republicans in Congress must search their conscience, and if that doesn't suffice, I recommend watching Rick Steves' documentary about the story of fascism on PBS. They can then determine whether or not it could happen here.

"On top of their petty attack on public broadcasting, this bill shamefully reneges on America's commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS crisis," Larson continued. "Since we launched PEPFAR more than two decades ago on a bipartisan basis, this program has saved 26 million lives and ensured 8 million babies were born free of HIV. These senseless cuts to global health could result in millions of preventable infections and take away contraceptive care from 48 million people. They must be defeated in the Senate."

The Rescissions Act would cancel billions in federal funding previously approved by Congress, including:

• $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, cutting off funds for PBS, NPR, and more than 1,500 locally owned public television and radio stations

• $900 million for global health, eliminating family planning programs that support nearly 48 million women and coupleswith contraceptive care and slashing the budget for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that has saved an estimated 26 million lives