Senate Reviews Bill Impacting Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, the US Senate began deliberating modifications to a proposed bill that aims to cut $9 billion in previously allocated funds for public broadcasting and foreign aid. Meanwhile, grant agreements have been signed to several Native American radio stations to help mitigate these cuts in public media.
The current voting situation offers Democrats a chance to challenge GOP senators on these proposed rescues. While significant bipartisan changes to the bill seem unlikely, the primary vote could provide material for campaign ads in the lead-up to next year’s midterm elections.
The Trump administration previously submitted a request to Congress in early June, initiating a legal hold on funding for a proposed program lasting 45 days. Although the House largely aligned with party lines when voting, Republican leaders have recently taken their colleagues’ concerns into account as they worked to send rescue bills to the Senate.
Central to ongoing debates is the fear that reducing foreign aid for various programs—including those focusing on global health and democracy—might damage America’s impact internationally.
Some GOP senators expressed concerns about how cutting corporate funding for public broadcasting could harm rural communities and emergency alert systems.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting plays a vital role, funding national public radio and hundreds of local stations across the country.
On Tuesday, South Dakota Republican Senator Minecround announced an agreement with the White House budget director to allocate $9.4 million from internal accounts to at least 20 Native American radio stations across several states, including Alaska, California, Colorado, and others.
Additionally, Republican leaders agreed to preserve funding for AIDS relief under the president’s emergency plan by removing those cuts from the bill. This plan, initiated by former President George W. Bush, aims to combat HIV/AIDS globally.
Even with these revisions, not all Republican senators supported the bill, as Susan Collins from Maine, Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, and Lisa Markowski from Alaska voted against advancing the debate.
International Disaster Relief
The amendment debate kicked off with Delaware Democrat Senator Chris Coons suggesting the removal of $496 million earmarked for international disaster relief funding. Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmidt argued for maintaining full funding, citing the historical reliance of foreign governments and UN agencies on US emergency funds.
Ultimately, proposals for changes were rejected after a narrow vote. Collins, McConnell, and Markovsky sided with Democrats to cut the funding.
Nevada Democratic Senator Katherine Cortez Masto raised objections to the cuts, highlighting how public broadcasting has played a critical role in informing Americans during emergencies. She illustrated this with an example from her hometown, where local public broadcasting helped disseminate vital information during a wildfire.
Schmidt opposed the notion that an emergency warning system wasn’t necessary, and attempts to return the bill to committee also failed to gain traction.
Parliament and the Constitution
Before the vote commenced, New Jersey Democrat Corey Booker stated that the retirement package undermines the intention of a bipartisan budget and appropriation process. He voiced concerns over Congress relinquishing its constitutional authority on spending decisions.
“This, to me, signifies an attack because the Constitution fundamentally empowers the legislative branch regarding budgeting, and we should work collaboratively. Undermining previously agreed-upon funding disrupts that spirit,” Booker stated.
North Carolina Republican Senator Tom Tillis expressed plans to support the bill while also critiquing the process. He indicated that he aims to view the withdrawal positively, despite it not being as systematic as preferred, and acknowledged that missteps could influence his view on future budgets.
