A spending bill approved by a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday would provide level funding for CPB in fiscal year 2021.
The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee also voted to provide $20 million in FY19 to support public broadcasting’s interconnection update.
(Update: The full Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill Thursday.)
The FY19 spending bill contains CPB’s $445 million outlay for FY21, which is forward-funded by two years.
Support for Ready To Learn, public TV’s early-childhood education program funded through the Department of Education, is not mentioned in the bill. CPB is requesting $30 million for it in FY19, up from $27.7 million it received in FY18.
The final legislation is expected to come before the full Appropriations panel for a vote Thursday.
The House draft FY19 spending bill also recommends level funding for CPB and $20 million for interconnection.
President Trump’s draft FY19 budget proposed that CPB lose all but $15 million in funding and eventually close down.