Jerry Nadler: “I rise today to express my vigorous support for continued Federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting…”

“I rise today to express my vigorous support for continued Federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and my opposition to the Hefley amendment. The CPB provides countless hours of joy, education and entertainment to over one hundred million Americans each week. Through stations and projects that range from public television, to radio programming, to the World Wide Web, the CPB reaches virtually every household in America with a television, radio, or computer. The average American child will watch more than 4,000 hours of television by kindergarten. The CPB helps parents to use the television as an educational tool. Few American children have not explored the depth of their imagination as they watched the Land of Make Believe with Mr. Rogers. And as Americans continue the life-long learning process, the CPB provides such classics as Masterpiece Theater, Great Performances and a plethora of documentaries exploring diverse subjects in a depth rarely found elsewhere. In short, CPB programs have become an integral part of American life. CPB programs extend to the Internet as well. In 15 projects across the country, students consult experts online, publishing their writings and receiving educational assistance on the World Wide Web. In areas of our Nation where the local newspaper is published just once a week, public radio is one of the few sources of daily local news and live events, functioning as a lifeline for many.”