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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 489 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

  2d Session
S. RES. 489

       Designating April 2008 as Public Radio Recognition Month.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               March 14 (legislative day, March 13), 2008

 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Specter, Mr. Cardin, and 
Mr. Leahy) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
       Designating April 2008 as Public Radio Recognition Month.

    Whereas the mission of public radio is to create a more informed 
            public--one that is challenged and invigorated by a deeper 
            understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and 
            cultures;
    Whereas the programming and content created and distributed by 
            public radio is based upon three core values--qualities of 
            mind, qualities of heart and qualities of craft--and 
            exemplifies the inherent meaning of localism by placing 
            value and financial investment in local and regional assets 
            to gather and distribute a collection of programming that 
            informs and improves community;
    Whereas public radio is known for distinctive, award-winning 
            programming including Morning Edition, All Things 
            Considered, A Prairie Home Companion, Marketplace, Speaking 
            of Faith, and This American Life;
    Whereas the United States more than 800 public radio stations serve 
            every State and every congressional district with news, 
            information, cultural, and music programming that is unique 
            to free radio;
    Whereas some 33 million Americans listen each week to public radio 
            programming;
    Whereas the public radio audience has doubled in the past 15 years 
            and increased by some 70 percent in the past decade;
    Whereas public radio stations are licensed by community 
            foundations, colleges, universities, school boards, 
            libraries, and other local non-profit entities;
    Whereas public radio stations are locally licensed, locally 
            staffed, and locally programmed, and tailor their 
            programming to meet the needs of local audiences;
    Whereas public radio stations receive, on average, more than 85 
            percent of their annual funding from local sources;
    Whereas public radio's public service also finds expression through 
            a deep, rich music discovery, education and enrichment 
            experience--both for its audience and for performers, 
            singer-songwriters, musicians, lyricists, and composers--
            which places the highest emphasis on a value partnership 
            with performers to bring all facets of music into the lives 
            of its audience in a way that is found nowhere else;
    Whereas public radio has preserved and enhanced the archetypal 
            musical formats of American music history--jazz, classical, 
            folk, blue grass, the blues, Celtic--and regards these 
            formats as the priceless family treasures of public radio's 
            musical foundations;
    Whereas public radio is responding to its commitment to community 
            and fact-based journalism with several initiatives 
            including the Local News Initiative, a national effort to 
            increase public radio's service to communities through 
            investments in station capacity to provide in-depth, 
            serious, and balanced news and Public Insight Journalism, a 
            pioneering concept that uses citizens to help cover the 
            news by sharing their observations, knowledge, and 
            expertise;
    Whereas public radio has embraced digital broadcasting technology 
            because of its inherently inclusive nature and potential to 
            expand public service programming; and
    Whereas public radio exists to serve the public interest: Now, 
            therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the month of April 2008 shall be known as Public 
Radio Recognition Month, during which time all of America's public 
radio stations shall be celebrated for their contributions to our 
Nation's communities and enduring civic spirit.
                               <all>D23/
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