Goodlander Votes Against Cuts to Public Broadcasting

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander voted against House Republicans' rescission package, legislation that claws back more than $9.4 billion in federal funding already appropriated by Congress for public media, PEPFAR, and more.

"For more than sixty years, Congress has, on a bipartisan basis, supported public broadcasting by investing in the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations across America," said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. "In New Hampshire, NHPR and NH PBS are critical pillars of our democracy and way of life. Their journalists deliver local news independently without fear or favor. Their programming helps ensure our kids are successful in school and keeps our most rural communities engaged and informed, including in times of emergency. That's why I voted against this cruel and senseless bill and will never stop fighting to protect public media."

"The people of New Hampshire rely on NHPR for in-depth, independent local news and information. Our journalists report in the public interest, holding the powerful to account without fear or favor, whatever their politics. It's why 500,000 people in the Granite State - people who mirror the political makeup of New Hampshire, from right to center to left - turn to NHPR every month for vital news and information," said Jim Schachter, President & Chief Executive Officer, New Hampshire Public Radio. "All this is at risk if Congress goes along with the Administration's plan to claw back already approved funding for public media. All in, that vote would cost New Hampshire Public Radio just under $2 million - about 10 percent of our annual budget. But the impact is greater than the direct hit on NHPR. The loss nationally of $260 million would destroy public radio as we know it. Stations in rural areas will go off the air, and the emergency alert systems that even commercial broadcasters depend on could go dark. What I hope people will understand is that this is an attack not only on public media but on press freedom, one of many ways that the Administration is seeking to quash honest, truth-seeking journalism. The First Amendment isn't part of our Bill of Rights to protect people who own broadcast towers or printing presses. It's there for each of us, to ensure that we're informed and empowered members of our communities."

Specifically, this legislation would codify some of DOGE's most senseless cuts, including:

• $1.07 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funds NPR and PBS and more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations across America.
  
  • Including nearly $2 million for NHPR, about 10% of its annual budget.
    
• $9 million cut from PEPFAR, global health funding to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has saved 26 million lives since it was created by President George W. Bush in 2003.

Congresswoman Goodlander has dedicated her life to serving our state and our country, and fighting to ensure Granite Staters get a fair deal. She voted against the Republican budget bill that would make the biggest cuts to nutrition assistance and health care in American history, all to pave the way for trillions in tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.

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