[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          PUBLIC BROADCASTING

  (Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, like millions of Americans, I 
am a supporter of the Public Broadcasting System. And, like millions of 
Americans, I am also a supporter of reducing the size of government and 
balancing our budget. Preserving PBS and balancing the budget are 
worthy, and not totally inconsistent, goals. I have come to the 
conclusion that we can do both.
  At first glance, some might suggest that my conclusion is far 
fetched. After all, Federal dollars are becoming harder and harder to 
come by. The priorities are many and the dollars are few. But I believe 
we are overlooking a tremendous opportunity for both Congress and 
public broadcasting. It is called the free marketplace.
  In this age of exploding technology and the revolution in the 
telecommunications industry, the marketplace is where the action--and 
the future--is. Public broadcasting's greatest asset--its educational 
mission--is a marketing dream and provides an attractive incentive for 
investment.
  Interest remains high in the marketplace--and in living rooms across 
America--for quality programming. I believe innovative public-private 
partnerships hold the key, providing public broadcasting the 
opportunity to seek ways of lessening its dependence on Federal dollars 
while exploring a long-term funding strategy.
  It is time for a bold, imaginative, and decisive action plan to guide 
the future of public broadcasting. That course can best be determined 
by joining together the leadership of Congress, public broadcasting, 
and the business community. Acting together, we can secure long term 
viability. But we must act now. Time is running out.
  Rather than pointing fingers, Republicans and Democrats should join 
together in building a bridge between business and public broadcasting. 
Short of a private/public partnership, partisan politics will prevail. 
Lacking a truly bipartisan solution, Congress will lose more than Big 
Bird and the Civil War. We will lose the trust of the American people 
who look to us for leadership and creative solutions to guide the 
future of this treasured national resource.


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