Protect Your Public Media
A message from the Wisconsin Public Radio Association and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
We Need Your Voice – Contact Your U.S. Senators Today!
On June 3, the White House sent Congress a fast-moving rescissions package that would eliminate federal funding for public media, threatening the PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio programs and services you rely on.
On June 12, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, by a vote of 214 to 212. The bill to defund public broadcasting will now head to the U.S. Senate. You can still make a difference by contacting your senators today.
Don’t let public media get lost in the shuffle! This is the most serious threat PBS Wisconsin and WPR have faced in decades.
How You Can Help
Please call your U.S. Senators and tell them to protect public media now!
Even if you have previously contacted your legislators to voice your support for public media, we need you to contact them now by phone or email. Tell them to vote no on the elimination of public media federal funding!
It will only take a moment of your time and is the most powerful way to help protect public media. You can make a difference!
Phone calls are especially critical given how quickly this legislation could move.
What’s at Risk for Wisconsin
Without essential federal funding, life-saving emergency alerts, educational resources and PBS Kids programs for all Wisconsin families that prepare our children for school and provide valuable Wisconsin-focused learning materials for all learning environments, trusted local journalism and storytelling, and enriching cultural programs could be eliminated.
These proposed cuts are a direct threat to our ability to serve you — and the millions of people across Wisconsin — who rely on public media’s news, music, cultural and educational services.
Public Media: Working for Wisconsin
Did you know?
Public Media Keeps Wisconsin Safe
We are the primary broadcast relay for Wisconsin’s Emergency Alert System – including AMBER Alerts and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather alerts.
Our Programs Serve All of Wisconsin’s K-12 Students
Our free educational resources are created with Wisconsin educators and are available for everyone in public, private and home schools.
Public Media is Wisconsin’s Media
As the only locally managed statewide media services in Wisconsin, we have showcased the people and places that make Wisconsin great for more than 100 years.
Contact Your U.S. Senators
Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Washington DC Office
(202) 224-5653
Eau Claire Office
(715) 832-8424
Madison Office
(608) 264-5338
Green Bay Office
(920) 498-2668
Milwaukee Office
(414) 297-4451
La Crosse Office
(608) 796-0045
Sen. Ron Johnson
Washington DC Office
Phone: (202) 224-5323
Fax: (202) 228-6965
Milwaukee Office
Phone: (414) 276-7282
Fax: (414) 276-7284
Madison Office
Phone: (608) 240-9629
Fax: (608) 240-9646
Oshkosh Office
Phone: (920) 230-7250
Fax: (920) 230-7262
What is Rescission?
The rescission process allows the White House to request immediate removal of funds approved and allocated by Congress in previous years. Now that a request has been sent to Congress, both houses have 45 session days to respond either with a vote or by taking no action.
Congressional rules allow this package to be approved by a simple majority and also limit the amount of debate over the proposal. Congress can make amendments to the package before they vote, but they only get one vote. If approved by both houses of Congress, the funding is eliminated. If either chamber of Congress does not pass it before the clock runs out, the rescission request expires, and the president cannot send another rescission request targeting the same funding again.
Now is the time to take action to safeguard public media’s future.