Elfreth Pushes Back on Cuts to PBS

"I will be fighting for viewers like you"

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) paid tribute to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on the House floor and pushed back on the Trump Administration's Executive Order to cut funding to public media.

"Mr. Speaker, you would be hard pressed to find a person in America whose childhood wasn't profoundly shaped by the magic of public television. Because for over 50 years, PBS has brought our kids educational, inspiring, and commercial-free media," said Congresswoman Elfreth. "I would contend that the values that PBS taught us all are exactly the values we need in this moment and values we could use right here in this chamber: How to think critically, how to care for the Earth and one another with respect and dignity, how to count votes, how to resolve our differences with manners and empathy."

The cuts to NPR and PBS fall under last week's Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased MediaExecutive Order from the White House, which claimsthat the educational platforms are ideologically biased. Cuts to national broadcasting will disproportionately impact local media and reporting in rural communities. As a strong advocate for public education, Congresswoman Elfreth will continue to push for funding for educational public media and the public school system in Maryland's Third District and across the country.

CLICK HERE or the image below to view Elfreth's full remarks.

Elfreth has consistently used her time on the House Floor to speak out against cuts to federal programs, including previous remarks on FEMA's BRIC grantsand NIOSH's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Program and the National Cancer Firefighter Registry.

Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth

Remarks as Delivered

Floor Speech in Support of PBS

May 7th, 2025

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand here on the House floor as an American, proudly and profoundly shaped by the wonder and joy of public television.

Mister Rogers taught us how to be a good neighbor.

Bill Nye inspired us to ask questions and never give up on the search for discovery.

Sesame Street taught us how to read and count while instilling the values of sharing and empathy.

Mr. Speaker, you would be hard pressed to find a person in America whose childhood wasn't profoundly shaped by the magic of public television. Because for over 50 years, PBS has brought our kids educational, inspiring, and commercial-free media.

But last week, President Trump issued an executive order slashing federal funding to NPR and PBS.

Meaning that smaller stations would lose nearly half of their funding, posing an existential threat to the future of this media.

I would contend that the values that PBS taught us all are exactly the values we need in this moment and values we could use right here in this chamber: How to think critically, how to care for the Earth and one another with respect and dignity, how to count votes, how to resolve our differences with manners and empathy.

All of which is why I will continue to push for the reinstatement of these funds so that future generations can benefit as I did.

I will be fighting for viewers like you.

And with that, I yield back.

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