[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SUPPORTING THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

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                               speech of

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 7, 1997

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice to the already 
loud chorus of Members supporting the $300 million funding level 
included in this year's Labor, Health and Human Services and Education 
appropriation bill for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting [CPB] 
for fiscal year 2000. This sum represents a $50 million increase over 
last year, but unfortunately an amount that only partially offsets the 
consecutive 3-year reduction in recent years.
  However, while I am elated that the Congress has once again come to 
recognize the important role public broadcasting plays in our American 
life, we have neglected to properly and adequately fund programming 
dedicated to celebrating our multicultural country. In 1994, CPB 
committed to creating a formal partnership between the National 
Minority Public Broadcasting Consortia, television stations and other 
public broadcasting organizations to achieve this end, included in this 
effort is CPB's initiative Diversity 2000. Unfortunately, our goal has 
not yet been realized.
  My sincerest hope is that this year's additional funding will enable 
CPB to endeavor toward creating the type of multicultural partnerships 
envisioned in the 1994 agreement. As our Nation changes, grows, and 
develops, public broadcasters, above all others, have a responsibility 
to mirror back to us our progress, our achievements, and our 
shortcomings. This effort can only be successful if broadcasters allow 
us to view the full panorama of our Nation and its cultures.

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