[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H1890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          FIGHTING TO REINSTATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION

  (Ms. ELFRETH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I stand here on the House floor as an 
American proudly and profoundly shaped by the wonder and joy of public 
television.
  Mister Rogers taught us how to be a good neighbor. Bill Nye inspired 
us to ask questions and never give up on the search for discovery. 
``Sesame Street'' taught us how to read and count while instilling 
values of sharing and empathy.
  Mr. Speaker, I would be hard-pressed to find an American in this 
Nation whose childhood wasn't profoundly shaped by the magic of public 
television. For over 50 years, PBS has brought our kids educational, 
inspiring, and commercial-free media, but last week, the Trump 
administration issued an executive order slashing Federal funding to 
NPR and PBS, meaning that smaller stations would lose nearly half of 
their funding, posing an existential threat to the future of this 
media.
  I contend that the values that PBS taught us all are exactly the 
values we need in this moment and the values we could use right here in 
this Chamber: how to think critically, how to care for the Earth and 
one another with respect and dignity, how to count votes, how to 
resolve our differences with manners and empathy, all of which is why I 
continue to push for the reinstatement of these funds so that future 
generations can benefit as I did. I will be fighting for viewers like 
you.

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