Providing for Consideration of H.R. 1076, Prohibiting Federal Funding of National Public Radio

Floor Speech

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Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition today to this bill.

Today, Republicans are trying to modify the funding structure of National Public Radio, one of the most widely used, universally supported, and efficient journalistic institutions in the country. The problem, Mr. Speaker, is that no one can figure out what my Republican colleagues are trying to accomplish and what they are trying to do with this trivial and misguided legislation. Why are we wasting our time on this? Instead of creating jobs, instead of cutting spending, here we are changing the funding structure for something that fundamentally works.

Mr. Speaker, America is $14.2 trillion in debt. Yet instead of working with Democrats to come to an agreement on reducing our expenditures and getting the economy going, Republicans have decided to use their taxpayer-funded time on symbolic legislation that doesn't address America's fiscal situation, doesn't save money, and, most importantly, won't create a single job.

Mr. Speaker, this is very transparent what is happening here. This bill is a response to a far right agenda based on a manipulative ``got you'' video propagated by conservative activists.

Don't the American people know where this Republican policy agenda comes from? I believe they do.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is a distraction, not a serious piece of legislation. The Republican Caucus can't get themselves to agree on anything substantial, so instead they're bringing this frivolous measure that doesn't save any money or create jobs before us.

I urge a ``no'' vote.

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