The House of Representatives has just voted to pass a bill that would strip away already-approved funding for public media — funding that was signed into law for the more than 1,500 stations across the country, including Kansas City PBS and 90.9 The Bridge. The bill now heads to the Senate, which could vote in the coming days. If passed, it will be signed into law by the President, essentially eliminating this crucial funding source for good.
So much is at stake for Kansas City PBS, it would be impossible to detail every initiative, every program, every service that would be devastated by these cuts.
Last weekend, Kansas City PBS welcomed over 800 children and their families to the Cleaver Family YMCA for Be My Neighbor Day. Earlier this week, we partnered with the Kansas City Public Library to host an impactful town hall about the state of aging and caregiving in Kansas City. Our mission is not only to deliver content and programming you value, but to be where you are. We strive to be part of the fabric of our amazing, vibrant community, but if the Senate chooses to claw back these funds, that fabric will begin to fray.
We are clear-eyed about the challenge ahead. Losing this funding would cause irreparable harm to the resources and programming we provide. But what is also clear is that any power we have — to improve outcomes in our neighborhoods, to make meaningful change for children and families in the region, to deliver this trusted and essential public service — comes directly from you.
Please urge your lawmakers now to protect funding for public media. Visit Protect My Public Media for simple advocacy tools and updated information.
Kansas City PBS is not giving up, and we hope you will continue to stand with us. There is still work to be done.
