The U.S. Senate is debating proposed cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid in a rescissions package Wednesday. Both of Arizona’s Democratic senators are urging their colleagues to block the package and preserve public broadcasting.
Sen. Mark Kelly said federal investment in NPR and PBS — which makes up less than a tenth of a percent of the federal budget — goes a long way toward public education, information and emergency notification services, which are especially critical in rural areas.
In a Senate floor speech, Kelly says this is the kind of legislation that will take the country backwards:
“We should be building a country where no matter where you live, what you earn or how connected your ZIP code is, you can get the information and support you need to stay healthy and informed,” Kelly said.
The proposed rescissions package would cut more than $1 billion for public broadcasting. In Arizona, Kelly and fellow Sen. Ruben Gallego highlighted that the stations set to lose the biggest percentage of their funding are all on tribal land.
- KNNB in Whiteriver is on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
- KGHR in Tuba City is on the Navajo Nation.
- KUYI in Keams Canyon is on the Hopi Nation.
“This is not a serious plan for deficit reduction. What it really says is this, ‘If you live in a rural area, your access to public safety information doesn't matter. If you're a child whose family can't afford streaming services or reliable internet, your education doesn’t matter, and if you’re someone who wants a safer, more stable world, you're out of luck.’ I don't accept that,” Kelly told his colleagues.
Kelly said he grew up watching Sesame Street on PBS and now his granddaughter watches Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood on PBS. He doesn’t want kids to lose out on those programs.
Kelly said Daniel Tiger “teaches kids everything from treating others with kindness, to brushing their teeth with Daniel's friend Jodi Platypus. These are lessons every child should grow up learning, no matter where they live or how much money their parents make.”
As for whether he believes the cuts are politically motivated, Kelly referenced a Republican senator’s comments condemning the CEO of NPR for criticism of President Donald Trump.
“I imagine he has a better understanding of the views of the president than I do, so I've gotta take him at his word that there is a connection here and this is somewhat political,” Kelly said.
Sen. Eric Schmidt (R-MO) said taxpayers would be “mortified” to fund NPR as the CEO made negative comments about Trump.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher made those comments years before she joined NPR in 2024 and she said earlier this year in a House hearing that she regretted them.
Former NPR Product Manager Alex Curley said in a webinar with Kelly that the Western United States would bear the “biggest brunt of losing federal funding” by far.
EDITOR'S NOTE: KJZZ receives community grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
