Ahead of Final Passage, Peters Delivered Speech on Senate Floor to Voice His Opposition to the Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after Senate Republicans passed a bill to cut more than $9 billion in funding Congress previously approved on a bipartisan basis to support local public media and U.S. security interests around the globe:
“Republicans just gutted funding for local public TV and radio stations across our country that provide invaluable services to the American people, including emergency alerts that help keep folks safe and informed during disasters. When catastrophic ice storms swept through Northern Michigan earlier this year, local radio stations literally saved lives by broadcasting emergency warnings after commercial towers went down. Those services and more are now at risk.
“The bill Republicans just passed also guts funding for programs that play a key role in maintaining U.S. leadership and protecting our national security interests around the globe. These initiatives also help stimulate local businesses and economies here at home. Much of that support is now gone.
“But the real issue at hand is that Republicans just showed how quickly they will roll over for President Trump, and bypass the bipartisan funding laws that many of them voted for, even if it harms their constituents. I voted against these reckless cuts because Congress, not the President, passes the laws to determine where our federal resources go.”
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