[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2166-S2167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 489--DESIGNATING APRIL 2008 AS PUBLIC RADIO 
                           RECOGNITION MONTH

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Specter, Mr. Cardin, and 
Mr. Leahy) submitted the following resolution:

                              S. Res. 489

       Whereas the mission of public radio is to create a more 
     informed public--one that is challenged and invigorated by a 
     deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and 
     cultures;
       Whereas the programming and content created and distributed 
     by public radio is based upon three core values--qualities of 
     mind, qualities of heart and qualities of craft--and 
     exemplifies the inherent meaning of localism by placing value 
     and financial investment in local and regional assets to 
     gather and distribute a collection of programming that 
     informs and improves community;
       Whereas public radio is known for distinctive, award-
     winning programming including Morning Edition, All Things 
     Considered, A Prairie Home Companion, Marketplace, Speaking 
     of Faith, and This American Life;
       Whereas the United States' more than 800 public radio 
     stations serve every State and every congressional district 
     with news, information, cultural, and music programming that 
     is unique to free radio;
       Whereas some 33 million Americans listen each week to 
     public radio programming;
       Whereas the public radio audience has doubled in the past 
     15 years and increased by some 70 percent in the past decade;
       Whereas public radio stations are licensed by community 
     foundations, colleges, universities, school boards, 
     libraries, and other local non-profit entities;
       Whereas public radio stations are locally licensed, locally 
     staffed, and locally programmed, and tailor their programming 
     to meet the needs of local audiences;
       Whereas public radio stations receive, on average, more 
     than 85 percent of their annual funding from local sources;
       Whereas public radio's public service also finds expression 
     through a deep, rich music discovery, education and 
     enrichment experience--both for its audience and for 
     performers, singer-songwriters, musicians, lyricists, and 
     composers--which places the highest emphasis on a value 
     partnership with performers to bring all facets of music into 
     the lives of its audience in a way that is found nowhere 
     else;
       Whereas public radio has preserved and enhanced the 
     archetypal musical formats of American music history--jazz, 
     classical, folk, blue grass, the blues, Celtic--and regards 
     these formats as the priceless family treasures of public 
     radio's musical foundations;
       Whereas public radio is responding to its commitment to 
     community and fact-based journalism with several initiatives 
     including the Local News Initiative, a national effort to 
     increase public radio's service to communities through 
     investments in station capacity to provide in-depth, serious, 
     and balanced news and Public Insight Journalism, a pioneering 
     concept that uses citizens to help cover the news by sharing 
     their observations, knowledge, and expertise;
       Whereas public radio has embraced digital broadcasting 
     technology because of its inherently inclusive nature and 
     potential to expand public service programming; and
       Whereas public radio exists to serve the public interest: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the month of April 2008 shall be known as 
     Public Radio Recognition Month, during which time all of 
     America's public radio stations shall be celebrated for

[[Page S2167]]

     their contributions to our Nation's communities and enduring 
     civic spirit.

                          ____________________