Rep. Adams Blasts Republicans for Reckless Cuts to Public Broadcasting

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Senior Member of the House Agriculture and Education & Workforce Committees, released a statement blasting Republicans for their reckless, partisan vote to cut $1.1 billion in federal public broadcasting funding through the rescissions bill.

“Local public broadcasting was a lifeline to my state during Hurricane Helene. When power, internet, and cell service failed, thousands of North Carolinians received lifesaving updates from public radio including emergency resource information, road closures, and live briefings from county officials,” Congresswoman Adams said. “Without their work, more people would have needlessly lost their lives from this disaster. Republicans’ decision to defund public broadcasting today only serves to abandon communities facing natural disasters in the future, especially rural Americans, and they should be ashamed.”

On Tuesday, Rep. Adams led a letter with Representatives Deobrah Ross (NC-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Don Davis (NC-01) discussing the importance of public broadcasting for emergency communications, especially in context of the Hurricane Helene disaster in Western North Carolina.