These are the final hours of a truly unprecedented moment.
A final vote in the U.S. House is expected today on a White House request to cancel previously approved funding for public media and foreign aid.
The vote could come as early as 1 p.m. HST today, or it could extend to the deadline of tomorrow, Friday, July 18.
There is a slim, fighting chance that this rescission act gets voted DOWN in the House today or tomorrow, preserving this funding for public media.
You know how essential, helpful and inspirational HPR can be as a free public service for all of Hawai’i.
We are fortunate that our elected officials in the US House and Senate are also supportive of HPR.
Here’s what we are asking of you in these final hours:
- Please urge US Representatives Case and Tokuda to not just show up for the vote but to do all they can to convince their colleagues in the House to oppose rescission and protect HPR and all of public media.
- Rep. Ed Case
D.C. Office: (202) 225-2726
Hawaii Office: (808) 650-6688 - Rep. Jill Tokuda
D.C.: (202) 225-4906
Hawaii: (808) 746-6220
- Rep. Ed Case
Sample language:
Hi, my name is _____. I’m from _____. I’m calling to urge Representative _____ to remove the proposal to defund public media from the rescissions package and to oppose any effort to cut public media funding. Rescinding this funding would devastate local stations – especially in rural, indigenous and under-served communities, where some could be forced off the air entirely, cutting off access to trusted information and emergency alerts. Others may have to reduce educational services for families and workers, along with local journalism and programming. Please protect our stations and the communities that depend on them. Thank you.
- And, for the many fans of HPR who live outside of Hawai’i, visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.Org to find your local representatives' contact information.
We will be covering this throughout the day on-air and online. You can tune in to The Conversation at 11 a.m. HST today and hear updates from Bill Dorman and Catherine Cruz. And we will be carrying NPR programming and updates on this and much more, as always.
