[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E551-E552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PROHIBITING FEDERAL FUNDING OF NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 
1076.
  Without so much as a single hearing, the legislation being debated 
today would dismantle a public radio system depended upon by 34 million 
Americans weekly, many of whom are from rural America.
  In fact, in many rural areas of our country like the one I represent, 
public broadcasters are among the few journalists still around who 
actually deliver local news to residents.
  One needs to look no further than last week's massive earthquake in 
Japan and the resulting tsunami that devastated communities on the west 
coast to understand how important public broadcasting is in these rural 
areas.
  A small community in my district, Crescent City, California was hit 
the hardest. Eight foot waves of water destroyed the city's harbor, 
caused over $36 million dollars in damage, and took the life of an 
individual who was swept into the sea.
  When the tsunami warnings were first issued, KHSU public radio, the 
most-listened-to station on the North Coast of California, broadcast 
essential information to the people of Crescent City and the 
surrounding areas.
  KHSU was on the air with tsunami warnings by 6 a.m. local time--
telling residents to evacuate the low coastal areas, announcing school 
closings, and letting people know where emergency shelters were located 
in both Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
  KHSU kept up with this information until the warning was lifted later 
in the afternoon.
  This critically important local coverage was coupled with breaking 
news from NPR about the earthquake in Japan, the tsunami warning for 
the entire west coast, and the science and analysis behind this event 
and how it can affect us--immediately and in the long run.
  If H.R. 1076 is passed into law, KHSU would be prohibited from using 
CPB funds to acquire this necessary programming in the future, even 
though it was critically important during this local emergency.
  There is no doubt that public radio's ability to effectively serve 
rural America will be permanently impaired if this legislation is 
signed into law.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to protect this critically 
important resource and vote against H.R. 1076.

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