(July 1) On June 12, the U.S. House Representatives voted 214-212 in support of a rescissions package request from the Trump Administration, which now moves on to the senate for approval or rejection by July 18. The rescission would claw back funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including $1.1 billion in already Congressionally-approved CPB funding. If enacted, this action would instantly destabilize local public and community radio and TV stations nationwide. For WERU this would mean a loss of 25% of our budgeted revenue (for 2025 and 2026) and access to the CPB’s music licensing system. We urge all WERU friends and supporters to contact Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King and urge them to oppose the recissions package. Please also thank them for their ongoing support over the years. (Senator Collins, in fact, recently spoke in the Senate in support of local public media.) “Read more” for additional information. Thank you!

The combination of the rescissions package, budget uncertainty, and administrative interference places federal support for public media—including WERU —in a precarious position. We are monitoring developments closely and are in regular contact with public media stakeholders, like the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Alliance for Rural Public Media, and Protect My Public Media. We remain committed to our mission and will continue advocating for the essential work that we do with and for the community. Thank you for your continued support!

More information:

• Protect My Public Media
• American Coalition for Public Radio
• Community Radio: Strengthening Communities Through Local Service

Email/Call Template:

I am a strong supporter of WERU Community Radio, based in East Orland, Maine, and I am writing/calling to urge you to strongly oppose the rescission of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This rescission would do serious harm to our local noncommercial community radio station, WERU, which provides music, information, essential services, and emergency alerts to communities in all of Hancock and Waldo Counties, and parts of five other counties in Downeast, Midcoast, and Central Maine.

The CPB provides 25% of WERU’s annual revenue, plus funding for its music licenses as a noncommercial station. WERU has a paid staff of 8 that supports 125 volunteers, who produce dozens of vital music and public affairs information programs that many people rely on.

[Add a personal story about why you support WERU, and the value that you find in its service to the community.]

Please work with your colleagues to oppose this rescission, and to support continuing level funding for public media to ensure its on-going service to both the 1st and 2nd Districts of Maine.

Thank you,

[Your name and town]

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Representative Golden:

https://golden.house.gov/contact

1107 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC  20515
Phone: (202) 225-6306

6 State Street
Suite 101
Bangor, ME  04401
Phone: (207) 249-7400

Representative Pingree:

https://pingree.house.gov/contact/

2354 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-6116

1 Silver Street
Waterville, ME 04901
(207) 873-5713

Senator Collins:

https://www.collins.senate.gov/contact/email-senator-collins
202 Harlow St., Room 20100
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 945-0417

413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2523

Senator King:

https://www.king.senate.gov/contact-home

133 Hart Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5344

202 Harlow St., Suite 20350
Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 945-8000