Johnson Votes Against Cuts to NPR and PBS
WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) released the following statement after she voted against the Republican bill to cut $1.1 billion in funding to NPR and PBS, including funding that is allocated directly to more than 1,500 locally-owned public television and public radio stations.
“Republicans aren’t just cutting a budget, they’re launching an all-out culture war to silence independent voices and control what Americans see, hear, and learn,” said Johnson. “Taking away funding for NPR means killing off local news for rural communities that corporate media ignores. Eliminating funding for PBS means taking Sesame Street and educational programming away from kids who rely on it to learn and grow. This isn’t about saving money, it’s about replacing trusted journalism and children’s education with partisan propaganda. Public broadcasting belongs to the American people, not to any politician. In Congress, I’ll keep fighting to protect these life-saving resources for all Americans.”
Before this bill came before the House, Johnson submitted an amendment to restore funding for both NPR and PBS. Republicans blocked her amendment from being considered by the full House.
In the original bill, Republicans also included cuts to the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which is a U.S. initiative to combat the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. After Johnson submitted an amendment to the House Rules Committee to restore PEPFAR funding, Republicans removed cuts to PEPFAR from this bill.
In May, Johnson took to the House floor to speak out against these cuts. To view her remarks, click here.
Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas’ 32nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.
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