Cuts to Public Broadcasting

Floor Speech

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Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the proposed Republican cuts to public broadcasting.

Next week, our Republican colleagues are planning to bring a bill to the floor that would mean a devastating cut of funding to shows like ``Sesame Street'' and ``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,'' all in their endless quest to find more money for tax cuts for their billionaire donors.

It is important for people to understand that television is changing. More and more content is being put behind paywalls, and PBS is one of the only sources of children's educational television that is still accessible to every child for free.

Studies show that kids who grow up watching PBS get better grades, read more, are better at expressing their feelings, and have better educational outcomes. Educational television, when it is high quality, works.

I have two young kids myself, Max and Lucy. I cannot tell you enough about how important it is to have access to affordable, high-quality educational content for children.

Public television has always been about the simple idea that every child deserves access to learning or inspiration, even if their families don't have a lot of money. That is why it is so important that we continue to support PBS and public broadcasting in general.

I am asking my colleagues to evoke one of my son's favorite programs, ``Mister Rogers,'' and be a good neighbor. Vote ``no'' on the cuts to public broadcasting. restore funding for lifesaving food aid

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Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the 16th time to beg the Trump administration to honor its word and restore funding for lifesaving food aid for starving children.

This is Plumpy'Nut, an emergency paste that is used to treat malnourished children. Until recently, the United States shipped this product all across the world, saving lives, saving the lives of children suffering from malnutrition.

This is important because it is the right thing to do, but it is also the smart thing to do for the United States. I want to read a quote from someone who I think understands that. ``It is going to be a lot harder to recruit someone to anti-Americanism, anti-American terrorism, if the United States of America was the reason why they are even alive today.'' This quote, Mr. Speaker, is from our own Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, before he started working for President Trump.

A couple of weeks ago, Secretary Rubio was in front of Congress. Under questioning from our colleagues Representative DeLauro, my colleague from Rhode Island, Gabe Amo, Senator Booker, and others, Secretary Rubio said again that he understood the importance of continuing to fund emergency food aid.

Why isn't it being done? Why are there boxes and boxes of this product sitting in warehouses in the United States, waiting for funding to be restored when the Trump administration has said that they intend to do so?

When we do not deliver on our promises as a country, it erodes trust, makes it harder for the United States to build relationships around the world, and gives an open opportunity for our adversaries, particularly China, to swoop in and save the day.

We cannot allow this to happen, not only because of the moral imperative of saving the lives of starving children around the world but out of our own self-interest. It is in our interest to build good will. We can do it if the Trump administration will just do what it says it is going to do and restore funding for emergency food aid.

Secretary Rubio said that it is going to happen. Elon Musk said that it is going to happen. It has been 4 months now, and we are still waiting.

What is the delay? Let's get this food aid moving again now. I will continue to speak on the House floor every day until we do.

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