How NJ Senators Voted On $9B Bill Cutting Public Broadcasting, Foreign Aid

New Jersey senators voted against $9 billion in federal spending cuts, including deep reductions in public broadcasting and foreign aid, in a bill passed early Thursday by the Senate.

NJ Senator Votes

• Cory Booker (D): No
• Andy Kim (D): No

The legislation, one of President Donald Trump’s key priorities, would have a tiny impact on the nation’s rising debt but could have major ramifications for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and U.S. food aid internationally.

It also could complicate efforts to pass additional spending bills this year, as Democrats and even some Republicans voice objections to broadly ceding congressional spending power with little idea of how the White House Office of Management and Budget would apply the cuts.

Democrats sought to remove many of the proposed rescissions during the 12 hours of amendment votes. The measure passed on a vote of 51-48 just after 2 a.m. ET. None of the Democratic amendments were adopted.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the legislation.

In a statement posted on Thursday, NJ Senator Andy Kim said Senate Republicans “abdicated their responsibility to the American people” and put their loyalty to President Trump first by voting to approve the cuts.

He went on to say that as the bill moves back to the House, the public must continue to “make noise about the harmful impact this will have” and urge House Republicans to “uphold their commitment to the American people.”

“In voting to cut over $9 billion in foreign assistance and public broadcasting, Republicans went back on their word and clawed back funds they had previously promised," Kim said. "Threatening our health, security, and access to information."

Patch has reached out to Senator Booker for comment on the bill.

Following the Senate's approval of the bill, NJ PBS took to social media to call on the public to reach out to their representatives and urge them to oppose the Rescissions Act and protect local stations.

“The Senate just approved a bill slashing $1.1 billion in public media funding,” NJ PBS said. “Now, it’s back to the House, and a final vote could happen within hours. Call your representative immediately and urge them to oppose the Rescissions Act and protect local stations.”

The action network Protect My Public Media (PMPM) has also spoken out against the bill, labeling it as something that threatens “the survival of rural and Tribal stations and jeopardizes the essential services all stations provide to communities nationwide."

PMPM is urging voters to call on their representatives to vote “no” on the bill as it returns to the House for final consideration before the July 18 deadline. If the House passes the bill, it would go to Trump’s desk for his signature.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.