CPB Statement on Congress’ Approval of Funding for Public Media

March 11, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 11, 2022) — Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), made the following statement regarding the House and Senate passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which includes funding for public media: 

“We are grateful that bipartisan negotiations have resulted in increased funding support for CPB, providing $525 million — a $50 million increase— for CPB’s fiscal year 2024 advance appropriation. The omnibus spending package also includes: $20 million for public broadcasting interconnection and infrastructure; $30.5 million for the Department of Education's Ready To Learn program, which supports educational public media content for our nation's youngest learners; and $41 million to establish a Next Generation Warning System grant program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support public broadcasting’s infrastructure in support of our nation’s public safety. 

“Public media is a valued resource providing information and lifelong learning for millions of Americans in rural and urban communities through broadcasts and on the platforms of their choosing. Public television remains a trusted, safe, educational media space for young children to learn and grow. As students progress to high school, CPB’s American Graduate initiative helps connect young people to workforce skills and career opportunities. And through initiatives like StoryCorps’ One Small Step, public media is facilitating respectful conversations between neighbors and families in efforts to strengthen our civil society. 

“Americans listen to public radio’s local reporting and NPR’s national and international news and watch public television’s local public affairs shows and PBS’ nightly national news programs to get the trusted information they need to navigate our modern world. This funding allows the public media system to continue to provide fact-based journalism that informs and educates Americans. 

“We thank Members of Congress for making these critical investments in our nation's public media system.”

About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created 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 www.cpb.org and follow us on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook, LinkedIn, and subscribe for other updates.