Sen. Pierce celebrates her bill to protect access to Public Broadcasting services as Congressional Republicans gut essential funding
AUGUSTA — On July 18, 2025, the Republican-led United States House of Representatives passed a bill set to repeal roughly $9 billion in federal funding for public broadcasting, which includes an estimated $5 million loss in essential funding to Maine’s broadcasting service, Maine Public.
Maine Public is the only statewide broadcast service and serves as the catalyst of Maine’s broader alert system. In emergencies, Maine Public’s emergency alert system allows public safety officials to communicate warnings and information statewide on short notice. Maine Public partners with the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and serves as the backbone of the State’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcast on radio. On the television network, Maine Public partners with MEMA on the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system that provides geo-targeted text messages to cell phones in the event of an emergency.
Senate Majority Leader Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, sponsor of LD 692, which provides a $500,00 through FY 26-27 for operational costs at Maine Public, released the following statement: “Whether it’s warnings and news about incoming extreme storms, public safety updates or educational programming for our families, Maine Public provides a valuable, sometimes lifesaving, broadcasting service at no cost to Maine people,” said Sen. Pierce. “While Republicans in Congress consistently create chaos at every turn, Maine Senate Democrats continue to stand up to protect our Maine way of life. Keeping our families and neighbors informed and safe — especially in times of uncertainty — is at the heart of public broadcasting and it’s why I was proud to champion this legislation.”
LD 692 was supported unanimously in both the Senate and House earlier this year and signed into law by Governor Janet Mills on July 1, 2025. It will go into effect on September 24, 2025.
Sen. Pierce is serving her second term in the Maine Senate, representing Senate District 25 which includes Falmouth, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Yarmouth (majority), Gray and Long Island.
She serves as the Senate Majority Leader and as a member of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee and Transportation Committee in the 132nd Maine Legislature.