• HOME
    • WELCOME TO NATIONAL FRIENDS (CHAIR)
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • JOIN OR RENEW ONLINE >
      • INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP ($25)
      • PATRON MEMBERSHIP ($100)
      • PARTNER MEMBERSHIP ($200)
    • THANK YOU TO NFPB PARTNERS & PATRONS
    • MEMBERS OF NATIONAL FRIENDS
  • AWARDS
    • AWARD NOMINATION FORMS >
      • Outstanding Volunteer Leadership (Nomination form)
      • Distinguished Service (Nomination form)
      • Community Outreach (Nomination form)
      • Grassroots Advocacy (Nomination form)
      • Volunteer Management (Nomination form)
      • Volunteers in Fundraising (Nomination form)
    • AWARD DESCRIPTIONS & PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS >
      • OUTSTANDING PUBLIC BROADCASTING VOLUNTEER >
        • 2015 Recipient: WQPT
        • 2015 Recipient: RMPBS
        • 2013 Recipient: WETA
        • 2011: KLRN
        • 2010: Rocky Mountain PBS
        • 2008 Recipient: WGBY
        • 2007 Recipient: WSKG/Birmingham
        • 2006 Recipient: KAMU/College Station
        • 2005 RMPBS OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER
        • 1993 Recipient: WILL AM-FM-TV
        • 1993 Recipient: Dennery
        • 1993 Recipient: KRMA
        • 1993 Recipient: WXXI
        • 1992 Recipient: WTTW
        • 1992 Recipient: WMVS/WMTV
        • 1992 Recipient: WLRN-TV/FM
        • 1992 RECIPIENT: KERA
        • 1991 Recipient: Channel 10/36 Friends, Inc
        • 1991 Recipient: KVIE
      • DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD >
        • 2015 Recipient: WQPT
        • 2013 Recipient: CPT12
        • 2011 Recipient: Maryland Public Television
        • 2010 Recipient: KTXT, Lubbock, TX
        • 2010 Recipient: Montana PBS
        • 2010 Cert Recipient: UNCTV
        • 2008 Recipient: KEDT
        • 2007 Recipient: MPTV
        • 2006 Recipient: KCET & WISC PUBLIC TV
        • 2005 Recipient: WETA
        • 1993 Recipient: Georgia Public Broadcasting
        • 1993 Recipient: Louisiana Public Broadcasting
        • 1993 Recipient WGTE, Toledo, OH
        • 1992 Recipient: WKNO TV/FM
        • 1992 Recipient: KVPT
        • 1992 Recipient: KIXE
        • 1991 Recipient: Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB)
        • 1991 Recipient: KUSM
      • COMMUNITY OUTREACH AWARD >
        • 2015 Recipient: WGVU
        • 2015 Recipient: RMPBS
        • 2013 Recipient: WGCU
        • 2011 Recipient: Vegas PBS
        • 2010 Recipient: Rocky Mountain PBS
        • 2008 Recipient: WVPT
        • 2007 Recipient: Friends of KET
        • 2006 Recipient: KET
        • 2005 Recipient: WHYY
        • 1993 Recipient: Friends of South Dakota Public Broadcasting
        • 1993 Recipient: Friends of KUSM
        • 1993 Recipient: WFYI Friends
        • 1992 Recipient: Volunteer Friends of 8
        • 1992 recipient: KLRU
        • 1992 Recipient: WNET
        • 1991: Friends of KET
        • 1991 Recipient: KIXE
      • GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AWARD >
        • 2015 Recipient: WJCT
        • 2013 Recipient: WQPT-PBS Ambassadors
        • 2011 Recipient: Maryland Public Television
        • 2010 Recipient: KET
        • 2010 Recipient: Friends of Thirteen, WNET
        • 2007 Recipient: Montana PBS
        • 2005 Recipient Friends of Thirteen
      • VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT AWARD >
        • 2015 Recipient: WQPT
        • 2011 Recipient: UNCTV
        • 2007 Recipient: KEDT
        • 2006 Recipient: WNED
        • 2005 Recipient:
        • 1993 Recipient: RMPBS (KRMA)
      • VOLUNTEERS IN FUNDRAISING AWARD >
        • 2015 Recipient: NHPTV
        • 2008 Recipient: Friends of Thirteen
        • 2007 Recipient: WGBY
        • 1992 Recipient: WIPB-TV
        • 1992 Recipient: WXXI
        • 1991 Recipient: KLRU
        • 1991 Recipient: WSFP
    • TIPS ON WRITING EFFECTIVE AWARD NOMINATIONS
    • 2018 NFPB AWARDS >
      • 2018 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP, KQED
      • 2018 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP, KVIE
      • 2018 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, KVIE
      • 2018 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, KBTC
      • 2018 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP, KBTC
      • 2018 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, KERA/KKXT
      • 2018 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP, KERA/KKXT
      • 2018 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP, KTWU
      • 2018 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, KTWU
      • 2018 Volunteers in Fundraising, WQPT
      • 2018 GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY, Friends of THIRTEEN
    • 2017 NFPB AWARDS (San Diego) >
      • 2017 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP
      • 2017 VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT AWARD
      • 2017 GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY
      • 2017 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
      • 2017 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
    • 2016 NFPB AWARDS (Chicago) >
      • 2016: Volunteer Management, KET
      • 2016: Community Development, LPB
      • 2016: Fundraising, WXEL
      • 2016: Distinguished Service, WCET
      • 2016: Distinguished Service, WTTW
      • 2016 Volunteer Leadership, WCET
      • 2016: Volunteer Leadership, KQED
      • 2016 Grassroots Advocacy, LPB
    • 2015 VIDEOS OF AWARD PRESENTATIONS MAY 11 (Austin, TX) >
      • VIDEO - 2015: Outstanding Volunteer, RMPBS
      • VIDEO - 2015: Outstanding Volunteer, WQPT
      • VIDEO - 2015: Volunteer Management, WQPT
      • VIDEO - 2015: Volunteers in Fundraising, NHPTV
      • VIDEO - 2015: Community Development, WGVU
      • VIDEO - 2015: Community Development, RMPBS
      • VIDEO - 2015: Distinguished Service, WQPT
      • VIDEO - 2015: Grassroots Advocacy Award, WJCT
      • SLIDE: 2015 Recipient: Volunteer Management, WQPT (no video)
    • VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION VIDEO
  • PROJECTS & EVENTS
    • CELEBRATING PUBLIC MEDIA VOLUNTEERS >
      • NET Recogonizes Mary Ann and Bob Johnson
      • WNET HONORS VOLUNTEERS 2017
      • NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 2016
      • Vegas PBS Celebrates 2017
      • ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC MEDIA VOLUNTEERS
      • WNET Honors Volunteers 2017
      • NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK (cont.)
      • MPB Volunteer Luncheon 2015
      • Vegas PBS Volunteer Stars Apr 14, 2015
      • WFYI Celebrates Its Volunteers
      • Vegas PBS: An Afternoon Affair
      • Rocky Mountain PBS "Volunteer Milestone Awards"
    • STATION EVENTS >
      • WNET Recogonizes Gloria Deucher
      • Friends of THIRTEEN 50th Anniversary Gala 2017
      • WGCU Antiques Appraisal Fair
      • Vegas PBS Celebrates Volunteers
      • RMPBS 60TH ANNIVERSARY
      • MPB Annual Family Day and Fitness Fest 2015
      • Friends of Thirteen at New York's "Winter's Eve"
      • KAMU American Graduate Events
      • WNET at "NEW YORK TIMES TRAVEL"
      • Friends of Thirteen "Wonder Women!" Discussion
    • VOLUNTEER EVENTS >
      • RMPBS: Station's Archived Memories (SAM)
      • VEGAS PBS: Volunteers Make a Difference
      • American Graduate Day 2013
      • WQPT-PBS Ambassadors
      • Women's Engagement Council
      • KIXE: Quilt Exhibit
      • Vegas PBS: Splendor in the Glass
    • VOLUNTEER WEBSITES & NEWSLETTERS >
      • NineNetwork of Public Media Volunteers
      • OPB Volunteer Website
      • Rocky Mountain PBS Volunteers
      • Wisconsin Public TV Newsletter
      • WCNY Volunteer Newsletter
    • SHARE INFO ABOUT YOUR PROJECT >
      • GREAT PROJECT: Submitted by KQED (Radio Pledge)
    • PHOTOGRAPHS >
      • 2016 Slideshow NFPB Workshop
      • 2016 Photos General PBS AM
      • 2015 SLIDESHOW, NATIONAL FRIENDS WORKSHOP
      • 2015: Slideshow of PBS Annual Meeting images, Austin, TX May 2015
      • 2014: PBS ANNUAL MEETING/National Friends Workshop
      • PUBLIC MEDIA VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION
      • 2013 PMDMC
      • 2013 PBS Annual Meeting
      • 2012 PBS Annual Meeting
      • 2011 PBS Annual Meeting
      • 2010 PBS Annual Meeting
      • 2010 NFPB Trustee Retreat
  • ADVOCACY
    • APTS Advocacy Award
    • Legislative Updates >
      • The President's Budget
      • Preserving "Ready To Learn"
      • READY TO LEARN & ESEA
      • June 30, 2015 Funding Victory
      • June 24, 2015 Funding Update
      • MAY 7, 2015 FUNDING RESTORED
      • Legislative Update 3-25-2015
      • February 2, 2015: Legislative Update
      • 2015, January Legislative Update
      • Legislative Update 12-19-2014
      • NPR Legislative Update 9-17-2014
      • ARCHIVES: NPR Legislative Updates
    • LIKE PROTECT MY PUBLIC MEDIA >
      • A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD 5-1-15
      • WHY SUPPORT PUBLIC BROADCASTING
      • Pledge to Support Public Media
      • ARCHIVES: Protect My Public Media >
        • PUBLIC MEDIA TEACHES ME
        • ABOUT "PROTECT MY PUBLIC MEDIA"
        • CELEBRATING MISTER ROGERS 5-01-2014
        • GREAT NEWS!
        • Funding Update (Protect My Public Media)
    • 2014 NATIONAL ADVOCACY AWARD
  • ANNUAL EVENTS
    • 2018 NFPB WORKSHOP SLIDESHOW & AGENDA
    • 2017 NFPB WORKSHOP SLIDESHOW & AGENDA >
      • 2017 WORKSHOP POWER POINT
      • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS 2017 PBS ANNUAL MEETING
      • 2017 GENERAL SESSION PHOTOGRAPHS
      • WHY ATTEND 2017 NFPB PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSION
    • 2016 Workshop Overview >
      • 2016 Workshop Power Points
    • 2015 Public Media SUMMIT >
      • 2015 PBS ANNUAL MEETING & NFPB WORKSHOP >
        • NATIONAL FRIENDS WORKSHOP POWER POINT, 5-11-2015
      • PERSPECTIVES ON 2015 APTS SUMMIT
      • APTS 2015 PUBLIC MEDIA SUMMIT AWARDS
    • American Graduate Day >
      • AMERICAN GRADUATE DAY 2016
    • 2014 NFPB ACADEMY & PBS ANNUAL MEETING >
      • Power Points: 2014 Volunteer Management Academy
      • Photographs of NFPB Volunteer Management Academy 2014
      • 2014 PBS ANNUAL MEETING general photographs
    • 2013 PMDMC >
      • PMDMC PANELISTS 2013
      • Power Point of PMDMC session by National Friends of Public Broadcasting
    • Meeting Locations since 1971
  • ABOUT US
    • 2016-2017 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    • Charlotte Hill Memorial Tribute 2018
    • Judith Dunson Memorial Tribute 2017
    • Meet 2015 Board Member, Sasha Schechter
    • MEET NFPB TRUSTEE, Laura Sampson
    • MEET NFPB TRUSTEE, Mary Ann Johnson
    • BEVERLY LUNDQUIST HONORED 2016
    • NFPB RACK CARD 2013
    • ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS
    • TRUSTEES (password) >
      • Protect My Public Media: Webinar and Power Pt.
      • 2017 NFPB MEETING DATES
      • VIEW "Inside NFPB . . A Trustee's Guide"
      • DOWNLOAD PAGES FROM "2016-2017 INSIDE NFPB. . . A TRUSTEE'S GUIDE"
      • 2018 Trustee Meeting Minutes
      • 2017 TRUSTEE MEETING MINUTES
      • 2016 Minutes: Trustee Meetings
      • 2015 MINUTES: Trustee Meetings
      • 2014 MINUTES: Trustee Meetings
      • 2013 Minutes: Trustee Meetings
      • 2012 Minutes: Trustee Meetings
      • 2011 Minutes: Trustee Meetings
      • NFPB Annual Meeting Minutes
    • CONTACT US
    • ASK NATIONAL FRIENDS >
      • Sign Up for ListServ
National Friends of Public Broadcasting
ARCHIVES:  WASHINGTON UPDATES FROM NPR . . .

MARCH 17, 2014

Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees met to begin outlining the working calendar for tackling the twelve FY 2015 spending bills.  They indicated that even in the absence of a formal agreement on overall spending ceilings, movement to begin the process will likely begin in May.
Perhaps somewhat optimistically, the Chairs suggest that floor action in the summer months is their plan.  As always, the best outcome is approval of all the appropriations bills before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1.
The December bipartisan budget agreement already set the caps for defense spending and domestic spending. Appropriations now need to determine the top-line allocations for each of the twelve appropriations bills.
It is unclear at this point which bills will be taken up first.  Some key lawmakers, including Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), chair of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee) have signaled that the Labor-HHS spending bill, which contains CPB funding, will likely be one of the last to be addressed.
Bipartisan "Dear Colleague" letters will be circulating in March through the House and Senate to request support for public broadcasting funding.  
- CPB FULLY FUNDED IN OMNIBUS
January 21, 2014

Congress approved and the president signed the $1.012 trillion omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2014.  The measure keeps the federal government funded until September 30 and preserves CPB's two-year advance at $445 million for FY16.  Federal agencies and programs were also given some relief from sequestration this fiscal year and next as part of the budget deal struck last month by lawmakers.
All eyes now turn to the FY15 budget cycle.  it is expected that the Administration will deliver their annual budget recommendation to Congress belatedly in March as has been done in previous years.


- BUDGET DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE

NOVEMBER 18, 2013

The current Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the federal government expires January 15, 2014.  With this deadline in mind, the Budget Conference Committee, comprised of seven House members and all 22 members of the Senate Budget Committee, met for its second public meeting last Wednesday.  Its members continue working toward a compromise on FY14 discretionary spending levels and a possible re-think of sequestration.  They have until December 15 (2013) to report their recommendations.

There is currently a $92 billion difference between the House and Senate budget resolutions for non-defense discretionary spending levels.  The House budget plan is $414 billion, roughly 12% below current levels; the Senate budget plan is $506 billion, about 8% above current levels.  If the budget conference committee strikes a deal, House and Senate appropriators have until January 15 to avoid another government shut-down by approving individual spending bills or packaging them together into an omnibus measure.

As in previous years, chances of an overall deal seem slim.  The LHHS bill has only been enacted twice since FY02 as a stand-alone measure; its funding instead has usually come in a year-end omnibus spending bill package.

With the December 13 deadline fast approaching for the Budget Conference Committee, another CR seems a likely outcome.  Discretionary funding under a CR would be set at the current level of about $986 billion. However, the second round of sequestration is scheduled to hit on January 15 (2014), decreasing FY14 discretionary spending to $967 billion.


- GOVERNMENT REOPENED (FOR NOW)
October 22, 2013

After a sixteen-day partial shutdown, the government has reopened following Congress' approval of a bipartisan deal to reopen and fund the federal government until January 15 and raise the nation's debt ceiling until February 7 (2014). The measure passed with a vote in the House (285-144) and in the Senate (81-18).

The deal also calls upon select members of the House and Senate to meet under a budget conference framework.  Budget conferees, led by House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), have already begun discussions and will first need to decide how much FY 2014 discretionary spending to provide.  The difference between the proposed House and Senate spending levels is approximately $91 billion.  The budget conference report, due December 13, will establish a plan for spending allocations through the rest of the year once a continuing resolution funding the government ends on January 15.  The second round of automatic, across-the-board cuts under sequestration are to begin at that point unless Congress changes the law.
- THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
October 8, 2013

The House and Senate remain at an impasse and much of the federal government remains closed.  However, the U.S. Treasury transferred $445 million to CPB at the start of the new fiscal year on October 1.  Under the two-year advance, Congress approved the FY 2014 funds during the FY2012 budget cycle and CPB's doors remain open for business.

- GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN
September 23, 2013

The House passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) on Friday to keep the government operating at current funding  levels through mid-December and to defund the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare").  The measure is now with the Senate, which may vote this week to strip the CR of the Affordable Care Act provision and send a "clean" CR back to the House before the end of the fiscal year on September 30. At this point and as we head closer to a possible government shutdown, it is unclear how the house will respond to the Senate's potential actions.  In the meantime, the Administration plans to host a meeting with congressional leaders later this week.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting is expecting to receive $445 million from the U.S. Treasury on October 1, whether or not the federal government shuts down. The funds for FY 2014 were approved by Congress two years ago and because CPB is a private non-profit entity and not a federal agency, it will remain open throughout a shutdown scenario.

Stations should be on the lookout this month for a memo from CPB explaining the funding situation, particularly as it relates to the pending second round of sequestration. Like last year, CPB may reserve a percentage of its funds to plan for sequestration.  Unless and until Congress changes current law, January 2014 will mark the next round of across-the-board spending cuts established under the Budget Control Act of 2011.

- COMMUNITY VOICE INITIATIVE
September 11, 2013

"Make your efforts local and make them personal," were words of advice from Bill Frist, the former Republican Senator from TN and former Senate Majority Leader, during a conversation to discuss how to best present the role of public radio and NPR to Congress.  The Senator's suggestion is a perfect reflection of efforts that have been taken to connect the federal investment in local services supported by local voices.

The "Community Voice Initiative" is the centerpiece of NPR's advocacy this year.  It is built on constructing local advocacy from the base up.  Priority activities are constructed around identifying and enabling both local community leaders and coalitions to sharpen the case for local stations and federal funding.

- EMERGENCY INFORMATION IMPROVEMENT ACT
July 23, 2013


Good news on equipment replacement assistance.  Two U.S. Representatives, Brian Higgins (D of Buffalo New York) and Steve Palazzo (R from Biloxi, Mississippi) have introduced the H.R. 2467, Emergency Information Improvement Act which will make stations eligible recipients to secure federal financial disaster relief in the future.

Every hurricane, tornado, flood, ice-storm and wildfire needs immediate response efforts, local relief supplies, evacuation orders and emergency routes as well as on-the-ground report.  Passage of this legislation will help make certain that these essential services remain available when needed. 

For facts about the legislation, download the attached file.
higgins_qa.docx
File Size: 22 kb
File Type: docx
Download File


- SENATE APPROVES LEVEL FUNDING FOR CPB
July 23, 2013


Positive news for federal funding, too:  the Senate approved level funding of $445 million for CPB in FY 2016. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2014 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) appropriations bill which contains level funding for CPB.  The House LLHS Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled tomarksup its FY 2014 LHHS bill soon.  It remains unlikely that the House and Senate will resolve differences between their respective bills.  A continuing resolution will need to be approved before the start of the new fiscal year beginning on October 1.



NPR | Michael Riksen | Vice President, Policy & Representation | mriksen@npr.org

HOME 
PHOTOS
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
MEMBERSHIP
JOIN OR RENEW
 PROJECTS & EVENTS 
 CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS 
 ANNUAL MEETINGS
     - 2017 PBS Annual Meeting
 APTS AWARDS 2015
PMDMC 2013

 STATION EVENTS
 VOLUNTEER EVENTS
​PHOTOGRAPHS/SLIDESHOWS


ADVOCACY
2014 NATIONAL  ADVOCACY AWARD NOMINATIONS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
PROTECT MY PUBLIC MEDIA
NFPB AWARDS
NOMINATION FORMS

ANNUAL EVENTS
- PBS ANNUAL MEETINGS
-  NFPB WORKSHOPS
​
ABOUT US
2016-2017  BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NFPB RACK CARD
MEET THE TRUSTEES

ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS
CONTACT US
ASK NFPB
Last Update 6/8/18