Bill Summary
The "No Propaganda Act" is a proposed amendment to the Communications Act of 1934 aimed at prohibiting the use of federal funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Federal Funding Ban**: It explicitly states that no federal funds can be allocated to the CPB after the enactment of the act.
2. **Restrictions on Acceptance of Funds**: The CPB would be prohibited from accepting federal funds, reinforcing the ban on federal financial support.
3. **Rescission of Previous Allocations**: The bill rescinds any unobligated federal funds previously allocated to the CPB under specific appropriations acts from 2022, 2023, and 2024.
4. **Conforming Amendments**: The act also includes amendments to ensure consistency with the new restrictions regarding federal funding.
Overall, the legislation seeks to eliminate federal financial support for public broadcasting, which proponents may argue is necessary to prevent government influence over public media content.
Possible Impacts
The proposed "No Propaganda Act," which prohibits federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), could have several significant effects on different groups of people. Here are three examples:
1. **Impact on Public Broadcasting Services**: The CPB provides funding to public television and radio stations across the United States, which play a crucial role in offering educational content, local news, and cultural programming. By eliminating federal funding, many public broadcasters may face financial challenges, leading to reduced programming, layoffs, or even station closures. This could diminish access to diverse media and educational resources, particularly in underserved communities that rely on public broadcasting for information and cultural engagement.
2. **Effects on Local and National News Coverage**: Public broadcasters often fill gaps in local news coverage, providing critical information about local issues and events that may not be covered by commercial media. The loss of federal funding could lead to a decline in investigative journalism and a reduction in coverage of local stories, potentially resulting in less informed communities and a less engaged citizenry. This could also increase reliance on commercial media, which may prioritize profit over public interest.
3. **Cultural and Educational Programming Access**: Public broadcasting plays a vital role in providing educational programming for children and adults, including programs that promote literacy, science, arts, and history. With the potential loss of federal funding, these educational initiatives could be significantly impacted, leading to fewer resources for educational programming. This could hinder learning opportunities for children, especially in low-income areas where families may have limited access to educational resources, and could reduce the availability of cultural content that promotes understanding and appreciation of diverse perspectives.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 519 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 519
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit Federal funding for
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 11, 2025
Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit Federal funding for
the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Propaganda Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDS FOR CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.
(a) In General.--Section 396 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 396) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Prohibition on Federal Funds.--No Federal funds may be made
available to the Corporation on or after the date of enactment of the
No Propaganda Act.''.
(b) Corporation Prohibited From Accepting Federal Funds.--Section
396(g) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 396(g)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``subject to
paragraph (3)(C),'' before ``obtain''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) accepting funds from the Federal Government on or
after the date of enactment of the No Propaganda Act.''.
(c) Rescission.--Any unobligated balances of amounts made available
under the heading ``Corporation for Public Broadcasting'' in the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103; 136 Stat.
489), the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328;
136 Stat. 4901), or the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
(Public Law 118-47; 138 Stat. 696) are rescinded.
(d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 396(k)(3)(A)(iv)(II) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 396(k)(3)(A)(iv)(II)) is amended
by inserting ``before the date of enactment of the No Propaganda Act''
after ``amounts received''.
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