[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              50 YEARS OF KENTUCKY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
celebrate one of the great public educational resources in my home 
State of Kentucky. This month, we mark the 50th anniversary of Kentucky 
Educational Television, KET, which has provided a vital service to the 
Commonwealth. It is my privilege to take a look back at the 
distinguished history of this organization and its impact on Kentucky 
families.
  When KET officially signed on the air in 1968 under the leadership of 
its founding director, University of Kentucky professor O. Leonard 
Press, it did so during school hours on the second largest land-based 
network in the world. Its first instructional program was ``Kentucky is 
My Land,'' which directly addressed KET's mission to deliver quality 
educational programming for all levels and to explore the beauty and 
heritage of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. That original goal has 
animated the remarkable educational and public affairs programming of 
this network for half a century.
  During its first decade on the air, KET continued to expand and 
provide important services to its viewers, which included the debut of 
consequential Kentucky journalists such as Al Smith and KET's first 
nationally distributed instructional series, ``Universe & I.'' In 
addition, the network began its televised coverage of the proceedings 
of the Kentucky General Assembly, providing unprecedented access and 
public transparency to our State's legislature and a valuable civic 
education to our citizens.
  As an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service, PBS, KET also 
brings nationally treasured programs into the homes of thousands of 
Kentuckians. Programs such as Julia Child's ``The French Chef,'' 
``Masterpiece Theatre,'' and many of Ken Burns's historical documentary 
series have made an indelible impact on our country. As KET has grown, 
it has expanded its programming around the clock to provide educational 
opportunities to Kentuckians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  Throughout the years, KET has also grown its public affairs content, 
delivering news of the day and critical information to viewers. Staffed 
with top-notch journalists and featuring interviews with well-known 
Kentuckians, these programs are an important part of the network's 
overall mission. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed both viewing and 
periodically joining these programs to discuss vital issues to the 
future of Kentucky.
  Keeping faith with its educational goals, the network has developed 
important partnerships with educational institutions and universities 
in Kentucky. In fact, Morehead State University began offering KET 
distance learning courses for dual credit, and the KET Fast Forward 
program has excelled as a learning system for GED test preparation.
  I commend KET's 50 years of award-winning service to my home State. 
It is my privilege to congratulate the network on its success, and I 
look forward to many more years of quality programming in our 
Commonwealth. I urge my Senate colleagues to join me in celebrating 
KET's exemplary work.

                          ____________________