CPB Statement on the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 21, 2019) -- Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), made the following statement regarding the Further Consolidates Appropriations Act of 2020 being signed into law:

“We greatly appreciate Congress' bipartisan support in providing $465 million -- a $20 million increase -- for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's FY2022 advance appropriation, which provides funding support for America’s public media system.

“This cornerstone investment in public media is distributed to more than 1,500 locally owned and operated public media stations across the country, championing community efforts to promote lifelong learning and strengthen our civil society. Every day, stations educate young learners by providing trusted content proven to improve critical math and literacy skills. Through CPB’s American Graduate initiative, they partner with community organizations to identify pathways to graduation, job readiness and career success. Further, local stations produce news and public affairs programming, while convening community conversations focused on workforce development, veterans’ issues, health and wellness, and local and national history. 

“CPB is also appreciative of Congress’ continued support for the Department of Education’s Ready to Learn program, an innovative public media initiative that improves the science, math and literacy skills of our nation's youngest learners, especially those from low-income backgrounds. The increased appropriation will support public media's work to serve underserved communities through research-driven content and on-the-ground, educational activities and experiences that improve the learning potential of preschool and elementary school children.

“We are grateful for Congress' ongoing support of public broadcasting interconnection and other infrastructure systems that ensure seamless delivery of public media content to the American people, wherever and however they choose to consume it.”

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 owned 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.