NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined a group of 74 senators urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to direct federal advertising to help support local radio, television and print media hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Local newspapers and broadcasters have been particularly hit hard financially due to decreased revenue typically derived from advertising sales. This comes at a time when they have increased coverage of daily news, alerts and educational programs,” the senators wrote to Acting OMB Director Russell Vought. As Congress and the administration continue to work to keep small businesses operating and employees on the payroll through the Paycheck Protection Program, we believe there is an opportunity for the federal government to provide relief to our local newspapers and broadcasters.

The senators noted that several federal agencies, including the U.S. Census Bureau, maintain advertising accounts to provide public notices and information to citizens. They argued that the federal government can disseminate that information through local media and asked OBM to also allow flexibility for state and local governments to use federal funds to get their messages out through local press.

“We strongly believe that local newspapers and broadcasters play an integral role during the COVID-19 pandemic and making sure that stations are able to continue operating during this time is critical,” the senators continued. We therefore encourage the Office of Management and Budget to work with federal agencies throughout the government to increase advertising in local newspapers and on broadcast stations in order to help ensure they are able to continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Earlier this month, Sens. Menendez and Booker called for funding to support local journalism and media in any future COVID-19 relief package.

The bipartisan letter to OMB is cosigned by Sens. Menendez and Booker, Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Steve Daines (R-Wyo.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cindy Hyde Smith (D-Miss.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Full text of the letter is below and can be downloaded here.

Dear Mr. Vought,

We are writing today concerning the challenges faced by local media and actions the Office of Management and Budget can take that will help ensure these important businesses are able to continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our radio and television broadcasters and rural newspapers provide local and national news, emergency alerts, educational programs, and more to all corners of the United States. In many rural areas, broadcast stations are the predominant or only form of local information. It is important that local media are able to continue to provide their services during the COVID-19 pandemic so that Americans are able to stay up to date with the latest news and information.

Local newspapers and broadcasters have been particularly hit hard financially due to decreased revenue typically derived from advertising sales. This comes at a time when they have increased coverage of daily news, alerts and educational programs. As Congress and the administration continue to work to keep small businesses operating and employees on the payroll through the Paycheck Protection Program, we believe there is an opportunity for the federal government to provide relief to our local newspapers and broadcasters.

Many federal agencies maintain advertising accounts in order to provide public notices and information to Americans. For example, the Census Bureau receives funding to run advertisements regarding the 2020 Census. With the passage of new programs under the CARES Act and other COVID-19 related legislation, there is an opportunity for the federal government to disseminate essential information to Americans through local advertisements. Further, allowing for flexibility for state and local governments to use federal funds to publicize new programs and information to their residents would serve a vital, dual interest. Increasing local advertising will both help disseminate important information to communities and support local media with revenue that will help keep them operating. This action can be implemented today, without the need for additional federal appropriations from Congress.

We strongly believe that local newspapers and broadcasters play an integral role during the COVID-19 pandemic and making sure that stations are able to continue operating during this time is critical. We therefore encourage the Office of Management and Budget to work with federal agencies throughout the government to increase advertising in local newspapers and on broadcast stations in order to help ensure they are able to continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

We thank you for your attention to this important issue and look forward to your response.

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