Federal Funding Update

Act now to preserve public broadcasting.

The fight to preserve public broadcasting has now moved to the Senate, where a continuing resolution is expected to come up for a vote very soon. Please contact your Senators, and voice your thoughts on the importance of public broadcasting.

A message to friends and supporters of WXXI

If you called Congress to urge continued funding for public broadcasting, I want to thank you for your support and let you know where we stand.

The first phase of the federal funding fight ended with a vote by the House of Representatives to approve a resolution that would eliminate all funding for public broadcasting starting in FY 2013. The Senate is expected to take up the issue within the next two weeks.

This decision was imbedded in a continuing resolution that funds the federal government for the current fiscal year. Public Broadcasting is "forward funded" by two years, so the FY 2013 appropriation for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) was included in the current continuing resolution.

Despite the disappointing result, you have already had a powerful impact in Washington. The phone calls and emails to Members of Congress were very effective in conveying how important public broadcasting is among constituents. You joined hundreds of thousands of people across the country who made the effort to help preserve funding. Thank you!

Meanwhile, there was some encouraging news in the President's proposed budget for FY 2012, which included funding for public broadcasting.  It was a timely sign of support from the White House, but it by no means ends the battle. 

The belief is that efforts to defund public broadcasting will continue over the next several months and each bill or resolution presented will have to be effectively addressed.

What can you do to help? Please contact your Senators to let them know how you feel about public television and public radio and the elimination of federal funding support. (Their phone numbers and e-mail contacts are listed below.)

Also, if you haven't already, please sign up to receive email updates from 170millionamericans.org. I encourage you to join now and be alerted to new developments in this ongoing effort.

Your continued support helps WXXI provide the many vital programs and services that our community depends on. 

Norm Silverstein
WXXI President & CEO

In a recent online Letter from President, Norm talks about the impact of HR 1076, a bill that would prevent federal funds from going to NPR and would prevent stations from using federal dollars to acquire NPR or other radio programming.  Click here to read it.

NEW YORK SENATORS

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Washington, DC Office: 202-224-4451

State Office: 212-688-6262

Web e-mail form: gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Charles Schumer

Washington, DC Office: 202-224-6542

State Office: 212-486-4430

Web e-mail form: schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm