[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 22, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            SUPPORT THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

  (Mr. TORKILDSEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, when the subcommittee marks up its 
rescission package this evening, the Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting's fate will hang in the balance. I rise in opposition to 
zeroing out funding for this important component of our public 
education system.
  The debate is primarily philosophical, not fiscal. Governmemt spends 
money on its priorities, and quality educational programming should 
remain a priority. Consider that public television's greatest reach is 
consistently among preschoolers. In 1993, 83 percent of America's 
preschoolers, our children and grandchildren, watched PBS. Almost half 
of all Massachusetts residents young and old watch a local PBS 
affiliate every week.
  Cable is not a substitute, as many cannot afford cable. PBS reaches 
99 percent of the country. Broadcast television is not the answer 
either, as the free market will not always support educational 
television. All line-items may have to take a reduction, but let's not 
eliminate a key part of our public education system.
  In the first 50 days, we Republicans have shown that we keep our 
promises. Let us promise to keep the Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting.

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