Congressman Cohen Will Vote Against Damaging Rescissions Bill

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) will vote against a damaging bill rescinding nearly $8 billion in federal funding for a host of life-saving foreign aid programs and that will slash $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that supports NPR and PBS.

The vote is expected late tonight.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“This rescission bill is a disaster and will result in death while also diminishing the proud cultural heritage of PBS and NPR. The cuts to foreign aid programs will result in more malaria, Ebola and other dread diseases and a reduction in immunizations while suspending support for democracy-building projects, and immigration and refugee assistance programs. These programs are part of the United States’ soft power that prevents wars.

“I have long been an avid watcher of Ben Burns documentaries on PBS, important American stories about civil rights, baseball, and the Civil War, much of it told by Memphis historian the late Shelby Foote, and so many more. The PBS NewsHour is a trusted source of reliable, accurate information provided over the years by the likes of Robert McNeill, Jim Lehrer, Judy Woodruff, Gwen Ifill, and the current team of Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett. PBS children’s programing, like Sesame Street with Big Bird and Elmo and “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” has taught generations of youngsters to read, count and be nice to each other. In Memphis, WKNO radio and television provide local coverage as well as national and international news.

“These funding rescissions can’t be justified, so I will vote against them and continue to condemn the mentality that inspired them.”

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