[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 96 (Thursday, June 5, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H2480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CUTS TO PUBLIC BROADCASTING
(Mr. Magaziner of Rhode Island was recognized to address the House
for 5 minutes.)
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the
proposed Republican cuts to public broadcasting.
Next week, our Republican colleagues are planning to bring a bill to
the floor that would mean a devastating cut of funding to shows like
``Sesame Street'' and ``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,'' all in their
endless quest to find more money for tax cuts for their billionaire
donors.
It is important for people to understand that television is changing.
More and more content is being put behind paywalls, and PBS is one of
the only sources of children's educational television that is still
accessible to every child for free.
Studies show that kids who grow up watching PBS get better grades,
read more, are better at expressing their feelings, and have better
educational outcomes. Educational television, when it is high quality,
works.
I have two young kids myself, Max and Lucy. I cannot tell you enough
about how important it is to have access to affordable, high-quality
educational content for children.
Public television has always been about the simple idea that every
child deserves access to learning or inspiration, even if their
families don't have a lot of money. That is why it is so important that
we continue to support PBS and public broadcasting in general.
I am asking my colleagues to evoke one of my son's favorite programs,
``Mister Rogers,'' and be a good neighbor. Vote ``no'' on the cuts to
public broadcasting.
restore funding for lifesaving food aid
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the 16th time to beg the
Trump administration to honor its word and restore funding for
lifesaving food aid for starving children.
This is Plumpy'Nut, an emergency paste that is used to treat
malnourished children. Until recently, the United States shipped this
product all across the world, saving lives, saving the lives of
children suffering from malnutrition.
This is important because it is the right thing to do, but it is also
the smart thing to do for the United States. I want to read a quote
from someone who I think understands that. ``It is going to be a lot
harder to recruit someone to anti-Americanism, anti-American terrorism,
if the United States of America was the reason why they are even alive
today.'' This quote, Mr. Speaker, is from our own Secretary of State,
Marco Rubio, before he started working for President Trump.
A couple of weeks ago, Secretary Rubio was in front of Congress.
Under questioning from our colleagues Representative DeLauro, my
colleague from Rhode Island, Gabe Amo, Senator Booker, and others,
Secretary Rubio said again that he understood the importance of
continuing to fund emergency food aid.
Why isn't it being done? Why are there boxes and boxes of this
product sitting in warehouses in the United States, waiting for funding
to be restored when the Trump administration has said that they intend
to do so?
When we do not deliver on our promises as a country, it erodes trust,
makes it harder for the United States to build relationships around the
world, and gives an open opportunity for our adversaries, particularly
China, to swoop in and save the day.
We cannot allow this to happen, not only because of the moral
imperative of saving the lives of starving children around the world
but out of our own self-interest. It is in our interest to build good
will. We can do it if the Trump administration will just do what it
says it is going to do and restore funding for emergency food aid.
Secretary Rubio said that it is going to happen. Elon Musk said that
it is going to happen. It has been 4 months now, and we are still
waiting.
What is the delay? Let's get this food aid moving again now. I will
continue to speak on the House floor every day until we do.
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