CPB Honors Congressman Earl Blumenauer with Lifetime Achievement Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 19, 2024) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) Board of Directors awarded Congressman Earl Blumenauer the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to public media. The award was presented today at a CPB Board meeting.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer accepts the CPB Lifetime Achievement Award from CPB Board Chair Ruby Calvert. Photo by Joyce Boghosian 

“During his nearly three decades in Congress, Congressman Blumenauer has been a vocal and steadfast advocate for our nation’s public media system,” said CPB Board Chair Ruby Calvert, who presented the award. “Year after year, he garnered strong bipartisan support to ensure public media had the resources necessary to continue a universal and valued educational and informational service to the American people. All of us in public media are so grateful to Congressman Blumenauer not only for his support, but for his vital public service to the nation.”

As the chair and founder of the Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus, Blumenauer played a key role in building bipartisan support for and recognition of public broadcasting's contributions to education, history and culture, local journalism, news and information, public safety, and civic leadership. Throughout his career, he spoke on the House floor to highlight the vital services that public media provides, advocated for increased funding, and protected its editorial independence. His advocacy was instrumental in garnering support among his colleagues and the public, ensuring that public broadcasting remains an integral and well-supported part of American society. 

In 2010, CPB honored Congressman Blumenauer with the Ralph Lowell Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements to public media.

“Congressman Blumenauer’s steadfast support is based on his firsthand knowledge of how local, rural, and urban public media, which are community based, contribute to the civic health of our nation,” said Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO. “We are grateful for his leadership and support.”

About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.org, follow us on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook and LinkedIn and subscribe for other updates.