System/Policy
Senate Appropriations Committee recommends continued CPB funding in FY26
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The recommendation follows a House subcommittee’s proposal earlier this month to zero out public media funding.
Current (https://current.org/tag/federal-funding/)
The recommendation follows a House subcommittee’s proposal earlier this month to zero out public media funding.
The subcommittee bill for Labor-HHS-Education spending also provides no funding for interconnection and infrastructure.
CPB President Pat Harrison said she’s “grateful” for the proposed increase to the corporation’s appropriation.
CPB will receive an additional $10 million in its base appropriation, and public media’s FEMA grant program gets a $16 million boost.
The administration endorsed a CPB proposal that could free up system support funds for other uses.
The legislation also provides $41 million for the Next Generation Warning System grant program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
APTS President Pat Butler called the proposal “a good first step.”
“The ways we embrace change and respond to the unknown will define us,” writes Patricia “Patty” Cahill, former CPB director and retired GM of KCUR.
CPB estimates that total losses to the public media system due to the pandemic could approach $400 million.
The corporation, which had sought $50 million in increased appropriations, got a $10 million bump.
“With a larger subsidy, public media could play a bigger role in addressing the structural problems with the U.S. media system.”
Increased funding could support remote-learning services amid the pandemic, argued APTS CEO Pat Butler.
If CPB receives the funds, it would bring its emergency support from the government to $250 million.
The legislation would provide funds to stations for workforce development through the Department of Education.
CPB has asked the Department of Homeland Security to set aside funds for public broadcasting emergency communications.
When racist radio host Rush Limbaugh gets a Presidential Medal of Freedom and a standing ovation in Congress, Current’s executive director is worried that this year’s lobbying effort may not be enough to save federal funding for public broadcasting.
The proposed budget also seeks to zero out Ready To Learn.
The appropriation for the Ready To Learn grant program also increased.
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) has once again proposed legislation to defund CPB and NPR.
Lawmakers also voted for a $2 million increase in Ready To Learn funds and level support for interconnection.