Vote No on HR 4 to Defend Public Broadcasting, PEPFAR and U.S. Global Leadership

I urge you to vote NO on H.R. 4, the rescissions package recently passed by the House. This proposal would cancel $9.4 billion in funding already approved by Congress—a clear overreach that undermines the constitutional authority of the legislative branch. The budget process exists to reflect deliberation, transparency, and accountability. Rescinding previously allocated funds through an expedited, executive-driven procedure bypasses this responsibility and sets a dangerous precedent for future budget manipulation. Fiscal Responsibility Requires Smart Investment, Not Sweeping Cuts True fiscal stewardship means distinguishing between wasteful spending and strategic investment. H.R. 4 indiscriminately cuts effective, evidence-based programs such as PEPFAR, which has saved over 25 million lives by preventing and treating HIV/AIDS globally. The program enjoys longstanding bipartisan support and exemplifies how U.S. leadership in public health also protects our national security and global standing. Zeroing out these funds would jeopardize progress in fighting preventable disease, increase human suffering, and weaken the very outcomes that reduce future costs. Support Rural Communities with Vital Public Media H.R. 4 would also eliminate $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps sustain local PBS and NPR affiliates. These services are especially critical in rural areas, where public media often provides the only free, accessible source of reliable news, educational children’s programming, and emergency communication during natural disasters. Defunding them would disproportionately hurt the very communities that depend on these services most. Strategic Global Engagement Strengthens America This bill would also cancel funds for clean energy development abroad and withdraw support from disaster relief, refugee assistance, international peacekeeping, and economic development. These initiatives are not charity—they are tools of global stability that prevent conflict, reduce forced migration, and limit the influence of adversarial powers. Such investments are a fraction of the federal budget, but their return—in both strategic value and human lives—is immense. Conclusion: Preserve Values of Accountability and Leadership We need budgets grounded in sound judgment, not ideology. Cutting programs that are cost-effective, bipartisan, and globally respected does not reflect fiscal discipline—it reflects retreat. I respectfully urge you to reject H.R. 4 and stand for responsible governance, public trust, and America’s role as a global leader.