Congressman Fred Upton is one of four seasoned federal legislators named to Co-Chair the Public Broadcasting Caucus in the 116th Congress. The news was released this morning by the team at America’s Public Television Stations in Washington, D.C.
Upton becomes part of a bi-partisan team of two Republicans and two Democrats who will co-chair the Public Broadcasting Caucus in the new Congress. His colleagues in the venture are Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), John Yarmuth (D-KY) and Mark Amodei (R-NV).
Rep. Blumenauer is a member of the House Ways & Means Committee and chairs its subcommittee on trade. Rep. Upton chaired the House Energy & Commerce Committee for six years. Rep. Yarmuth chairs the House Budget Committee. Rep. Amodei is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
Upton says, “I majored in journalism and I understand the importance of supporting public broadcasting for communities around the country. It is simply good public policy.” Fred adds, “I’m proud to offer my steadfast support so public broadcasting can continue to provide valuable services in education and public safety to families in Michigan and across the nation.”
Blumenauer says he founded the Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus more than 20 years ago, “To bring my colleagues together in support of public media and the important services they provide.” He adds, “I am eager to work together with the new co-chairs of the Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus to expand understanding in Congress of the vital role of public broadcasting in communities large and small.”
For his part, Congressman Yarmuth says, “I’m incredibly proud to serve as Co-Chair of the Public Broadcasting Caucus for the 116th Congress,” adding, “Public Broadcasting plays a vital role in communities across America and provides an irreplaceable service to all citizens. From children’s educational content, to promotion of the arts and humanities, to providing job training and public safety information — Congress should be working to increase federal investment and expand the important services public broadcasting provides. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help lead that charge in the 116th Congress.”
Congressman Amodei says, “Public radio and television stations play a vital role in delivering quality educational and informational programs to communities across the country,” and points out, “Without federal support for public broadcasting, many localities would struggle to survive – particularly those in rural communities like mine. I’m pleased to be a Co-Chair of the Public Broadcasting Caucus for the 116th Congress, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure Americans continue to have access to important public broadcasting programs and services.”
Pat Butler is President & CEO of America’s Public Television Stations. He says, “America’s Public Television Stations are honored that these four veteran members of the House have agreed to combine their formidable talents and experience to advance the cause of public broadcasting and ensure that the federal investment in our work will continue to support our essential public service missions of education, public safety and civic leadership in communities across America.”
Butler is pleased with the across the aisle nature of the four Co-Chairs, saying, “The bipartisan nature of this leadership team reflects the bipartisan nature of public support for federal funding of public broadcasting,” adding, “and we look forward to working with these distinguished Members to increase this funding for the first time in 10 years and enable us to teach more children, protect more lives and property, and create more well-informed citizens to guide the world’s most important democracy.”
Butler concluded, “We are particularly grateful to Congressman Blumenauer for his tireless advocacy of our cause, beginning with the creation of this caucus in 1999, and we are confident that he and Congressmen Upton, Yarmuth and Amodei will lead a successful effort to secure the federal investment that makes it possible for us to serve everyone, everywhere, every day, for free.”
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, you can visit online at: www.apts.org.
