1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Protecting funding for public broadcasting is crucial to maintaining a well-informed society and preserving access to educational and noncommercial programming. The proposed rescission of $1.1 billion would devastate NPR, PBS, and local member stations, undermining their ability to produce high-quality news, cultural content, and children's programming. While sponsorships and donations play a role, federal funding remains vital for sustaining operations and ensuring public media remains a trusted, independent voice. This attempt to defund public broadcasting is a direct attack on the free press and the public's right to access diverse perspectives and fact-based journalism. Public media holds immense value for our democracy, providing a counterweight to corporate media consolidation and safeguarding local journalism nationwide. Eliminating this funding would disproportionately harm rural and underserved communities that rely heavily on public broadcasters. Public investment in PBS and NPR has enriched American society for decades through educational children's programming, in-depth reporting, and cultural content celebrating our nation's diversity. Rescinding this funding would deprive citizens of these invaluable public resources. I urge you to reject any efforts to undermine public media and instead reaffirm Congress's bipartisan commitment to this essential civic institution.