Following Deadly Flooding, Luján Sounds Alarm on Dangerous Republican Plan to Gut Public Broadcasting

In Every Corner of New Mexico, New Mexicans Rely on Public Broadcasting to Stay Safe During Natural Disasters and Connect with Trusted News

WATCH Senator Luján’s Floor Speech HERE

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, took to the Senate floor to deliver a floor speech calling out the Trump administration’s plan to strip $1.1 billion of previously allocated federal funding for public radio and television stations nationwide. Public broadcasting is critical to stay informed and safe during natural disasters and to connect with trusted news. Senator Luján’s floor speech comes amid deadly flooding in New Mexico and Texas.

An excerpt of Senator Luján’s floor speech is available below:

New Mexico is far too familiar with the devastation and destruction that come with fires, flooding, and other natural disasters.

Three years ago, we experienced one of the worst fires in our state’s history with the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire.

A critical part of that response was our local radio stations and public broadcasters disseminating information in real-time about evacuations, shelter information, food drives, and state and federal resources.

As a matter of fact, at a time when mobile phones weren’t working, most communications were down, it was only these local radio stations who were also benefiting from the transmitters from public broadcasting that they were able to communicate with so many constituents.

These communications are now under attack by Congressional Republicans and the White House.

Senate Democrats are sounding the alarm and leading the charge to stop this dangerous rescission package before it harms families, communities, and the public broadcasting that they rely on.

From the moment we wake up to the time we turn in for the night, New Mexicans rely on radio and public broadcasting to stay safe during natural disasters and to connect with trusted news, educational programming, and our favorite New Mexico musicians. Sometimes even a basketball game or two.

Over the past several weeks, I have received texts, calls, and people coming to my office, pleading with us in the United States Senate to save public radio and public broadcasting.

New Mexicans who work at radio stations are calling in to say they’re worried about losing their jobs.

From every corner of our state, New Mexicans are speaking out with one clear message: do not mess with public broadcasting.

Radio is one of the most dependable ways to get information out when disaster strikes a community.

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