WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday recommended level funding of $40 million for fiscal year 2026 for the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS), which provides critical investment in public broadcasting’s public safety infrastructure.
This was met with glee by Kate Riley, President and CEO of broadcast media advocacy group America’s Public Television Stations. “America’s Public Television Stations are grateful that the committee recognizes the essential role that public television plays in the nation’s civil defense, public safety and homeland security,” she said, noting that this will help ensure public broadcasters “are able to continue to meet their public safety missions and provide the highest level of resilient and reliable public safety and homeland security services to communities throughout the country.”
In particular, APTS appreciates Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and the committee’s continuing bipartisan support for the public safety work of local public television stations.
“We look forward to working with the full House Congress to ensure that this critical funding moves forward through the appropriations process,” Riley said.
