WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The House passed a bill this week to cut funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting as part of the president’s efforts to eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse” in the federal government.
“Republicans are attacking Elmo,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said during debate on the House floor Thursday.
“I never realized Elmo was more important to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle than the American people,” Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) said.
Sesame Street characters were part of the debate Thursday as House lawmakers voted to cut $1.1 billion in funding for PBS and NPR, and $8.3 billion for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
“Three million for Iraqi Sesame Street. I mean, Lord knows the Iraqi children need a little Big Bird in their life, right?” McClain asked.
Republicans narrowly passed the package of $9.4 billion in cuts requested by the president, by a vote of 214 to 212.
North Carolina Congressman Mark Harris says this is a step toward stopping out-of-control spending.
“If we continue on our track, our grandchildren will be enslaved to a debt that will dwarf our current monstrosity,” Harris said.
GOP lawmakers argued public media is biased and many foreign aid programs are wasteful.
“DEI musicals in Ireland,” Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) said.
“A million dollars on voter ID in Haiti,” Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) said.
Democrats, meanwhile, slammed the bill.
Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark said public media, especially at the local level, keeps people safe.
“You are defunding emergency broadcasts during hurricane season, tornado season, wildfire season,” Clark said.
Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) says foreign aid funding saves lives.
“There will be people who will die,” Cohen said. “Don’t end it. Mend it. This is a terrible bill.”
Democrats say those cuts will leave space for adversaries to step in.
“And do you know who will come out ahead? China, Russia, Iran,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel