CONGRESSMAN BISHOP OPPOSES BILL THAT THREATENS PUBLIC BROADCASTING CRUCIAL TO RURAL COMMUNITIES, AMERICA’S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted against a bill that would take back $9.4 billion in funds that were already Congressionally approved and signed into law. These funds were approved by Congress and signed into law earlier this year.

"Since the beginning of this year, the Administration has been illegally impounding funds that they are obligated to distribute, and this bill would rubber-stamp these actions all while Republicans in Congress devise a way to redistribute this money as tax cuts to billionaires," said Congressman Bishop. "It takes an axe to public broadcasting which jeopardizes coverage of local news, emergency information like severe weather alerts, and access to PBS KIDS children's programming, like Sesame Street, for rural communities across America. It forces America to retreat from the world stage by gutting life-saving programs that help prevent pandemics, provide clean water, and gives American agricultural producers the opportunity to help prevent hunger around the world."

The Recissions Act of 2025 (H.R. 4) would:

• Eliminate $1.1 billion from public broadcasting, cutting off local PBS and NPR stations that provide children's programming like Sesame Streetand emergency alerts to rural communities.
• Cancel $8.3 billion in foreign aid, including:
  • $2.5 billion in development assistance abroad, including clean water, agricultural support, and food aid.
  • $900 million in global health programs such as HIV/AIDS treatment, maternal health, and infectious disease control.
  • $800 million in refugee assistance, cutting support for displaced families worldwide.
  • $496 million in disaster aid.

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