Pallone Slams Republicans for Defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Gutting Local News and Emergency Preparedness

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today slamming President Trump and Congressional Republicans for rescinding funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides direct funding to more than 1,500 local television and radio stations across the country, including to National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member stations:

“Once again, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are recklessly taking a sledgehammer to an important American institution in a way that will make their own constituents less safe and less informed. 

“Federal funding through CPB supports not only local news, but also emergency alerts and information across the country. In rural and Tribal communities, these stations are often the only providers left that cover local government and provide critical public safety information during disasters. Let’s be clear: without this federal funding, many of these stations will disappear.

“Republicans know the pain it will cause back home when the only local radio station in town shutters its doors. They know exactly what it will mean if a natural disaster hits their state and their constituents don’t receive an emergency alert because there is no one left to operate the radio tower or control room. But they don’t care, because blindly following President Trump’s whims is a bigger priority than serving the people they represent.

“It took the United States 60 years to build the public broadcasting system. It took President Trump and Congressional Republicans 45 days to destroy it. I commit to doing everything I can to restore this funding.”

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