1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I urge you to vote **against** the proposed rescission package that would eliminate $1.1 billion in previously authorized funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports PBS, NPR, and more than 1,400 local media outlets.   As support for the rescission effort, some critics have labeled CPB, NPR, and PBS as “liberal,” but facts themselves are not partisan—they are simply facts. They uphold high journalistic standards, delivering fact-based reporting that informs the public without distortion. The desire by some to recast facts as partisan spin does not make these outlets liberal; it simply reflects a discomfort with reality. We need more truth in public life, not less.   Public broadcasting provides trusted news, educational content, programming for children, and critical emergency alerts—especially in rural areas where it is often the only reliable source for disaster information. The need for such disaster information was highlighted in Texas this month, where budget cuts to the National Weather Service may have resulted in delayed coordination with communities about the pending flood. Cutting these funds undermines bipartisan budget efforts by removing a vital, cost-effective service for communities nationwide.   CPB receives less than 0.01 % of the federal budget and delivers high returns through innovation, local journalism, and educational services that benefit all Americans    Please stand with your constituents and protect public media by opposing this partisan funding cut when the Senate votes this week.   Thank you for your leadership and dedication to your constituents.