Tammy Baldwin: “the rescissions package before us reduces access to educational programming for children and locally produced public…”

“the rescissions package before us reduces access to educational programming for children and locally produced public radio and television programming. It diminishes America's global leadership while eliminating lifesaving aid from the world's most vulnerable populations. I want to spend a minute on the impact that this will have on public radio and television, including the disproportionate impact it will have on rural communities. One in four Wisconsinites lives in a rural community, and many rely on public broadcasting for local news, emergency alerts, and free educational programming, especially for children. Wisconsin Public Radio is the primary broadcast relay for Wisconsin's Emergency Alert System, including AMBER Alerts and lifesaving weather alerts like tornado and flash flood warnings. Look no further than the absolutely devastating news out of Texas. Access to high-quality information can truly be the difference between life and death. Access to local news from reporters and sources that community members trust is more important than ever. Stripping away this funding would also endanger local news that is already disappearing in so many Wisconsin communities. In 2024--just last year--almost 20 percent of our local newspapers shut down in Wisconsin, according to a study by Northwestern University.”