WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 19, 2019 – Today the Senate formally approved a $20 million increase in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting - the first increase in 10 years - as part of a package of bills to fund the federal government in fiscal year 2020. The President is expected to sign the legislation later this week.
“America’s Public Television Stations are pleased that the Republican majority in the Senate has joined the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives in approving a $20 million increase in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting," said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of America's Public Television Stations.
“This bipartisan support reflects the broad support public television has earned among Americans of every political persuasion through our public service missions of education, public safety and civic leadership in communities across the country.
“We still have a long way to go to make up for the nearly $100 million in purchasing power lost during a decade of level funding, but this is an important vote of confidence in our work, and we’re grateful to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), Subcommittee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO), Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) for their leadership in securing this much-needed investment in the future of public television.”
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About APTS
America's Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org