Prohibiting Federal Funding of National Public Radio

Floor Speech

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Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I simply cannot believe we are focusing on this right now. At a time when millions are out of work, people are looking for jobs, and trying to get back on their feet, why is this body focused on NPR, of all things? Is this really the best we can do?

For a minute, let's put aside the fact that national public radio is a part of our tradition as a country and provides quality programming to millions of listeners in urban, suburban and rural America. Let's put aside for a minute that funding for NPR is but a drop in the bucket compared to the giveaways and budget busting tax breaks Republicans support for Big Oil companies.

Here we are, eleven weeks into a new Congress--still putting politics over policy. Make no mistake about it, cuts to NPR will not solve our budget crisis and it will not create jobs.

Mr. Speaker, we can and we must do better. This body should be focusing on jobs. Plain and simple. Instead we are focused on defunding NPR. I urge a no vote.

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