The U.S. Senate has taken its first significant step towards advancing a controversial bill aimed at defunding public broadcasting by around $1 billion and reclaiming over $8 billion in foreign aid.
On Tuesday evening, a procedural motion to consider the bill garnered the support of fifty Republican senators.
With the tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance, the measure is now set to be debated on the Senate floor.
Sen. Dan Sullivan was among those who voted in favor of moving the bill forward, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of three Republicans to oppose the preliminary measure.
Murkowski argued that public broadcasting serves a crucial role, particularly in rural areas.
“It’s not just your news,” she stated before the vote.
She highlighted the importance of public broadcasting in issuing alerts for natural disasters such as tsunamis, landslides, and volcanoes, as well as providing vital weather information and educational programming.
Murkowski expressed her commitment to advocating for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, stating that the federal government’s role in funding should be determined by Congress and criticized the administration for not specifying which programs would be affected by the cuts.
Following this stage of the process, the Senate is preparing for a series of amendments in a lengthy procedure known as “vote-a-rama,” which could extend into subsequent days.
A final vote on the bill is anticipated as early as Wednesday or Thursday.
In an effort to secure the votes of several skeptical Republicans, Senate leaders have made revisions to the bill.
Notably, they abandoned an initial plan to cut funding for an international AIDS program called PEPFAR and reinstated funding for other key overseas health and nutrition programs.
Currently, the bill still aims to rescind approximately $1 billion, equating to two years of funding for public broadcasting.
To gain the approval of Republican Sen. Mike Rounds from South Dakota, the administration committed to using alternate funds to support 28 tribal stations across nine states, though it remains uncertain if any are in Alaska.
In Bethel, about 4,000 miles away from the Capitol, Kristin Hall, the interim general manager of KYUK, a non-tribally owned radio and TV station, closely monitored the unfolding developments.
Hall expressed her concerns, stating, “Truly, we’re all kind of on pins and needles.
It feels almost surreal.”
KYUK serves a vast area in the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta, with funding approximately 70% reliant on federal contributions through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Hall warned that the proposed cuts could severely cripple the station’s operations.
“We would have to cut a majority of our staff,” she remarked.
“Our services would be just really stripped down to the bare minimum.”
Beyond the immediate budgetary implications, the bill aligns with the long-standing ideological goals of conservative Republicans who aim to reduce international aid and believe public broadcasting does not reflect their views.
The House of Representatives passed this bill last month with a narrow margin, aided by support from Alaska Congressman Nick Begich.
If any adjustments are made by the Senate, the legislation will require another vote in the House.
The measure must be enacted by Friday; otherwise, the provisions for rescission will lapse.
image source from：alaskapublic
