Letter To OMB - Broadcast Advertisement COVID-19

April 23, 2020
Russell T. Vought
Acting Director
The Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20503
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.
SD OMB 04.23.2020 Page 1 of 7

We thank you for your attention to this important issue and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
_________________________ _________________________
STEVE DAINES JOE MANCHIN III
United States Senator United States Senator
_________________________ _________________________
JOHN BARRASSO, M.D. GARY PETERS
_________________________ _________________________
THOM TILLIS CHARLES E. SCHUMER
_________________________ _________________________
JOHN BOOZMAN EDWARD J. MARKEY
_________________________ _________________________
MIKE CRAPO CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO
_________________________ _________________________
JONI K. ERNST JON TESTER
_________________________ _________________________
JAMES M. INHOFE TOM UDALL
SD OMB 04.23.2020 Page 2 of 7

_________________________ _____________________
JOHN CORNYN DOUG JONES
_________________________ _________________________
JOHN THUNE KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND
_________________________ _________________________
JERRY MORAN MAZIE K. HIRONO
_________________________ _________________________
ROB PORTMAN ROBERT MENENDEZ
_________________________ _________________________
M. MICHAEL ROUNDS JACKY ROSEN
_________________________ _________________________
TODD YOUNG TINA SMITH
_________________________ _________________________
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO MARGARET WOOD HASSAN
SD OMB 04.23.2020 Page 3 of 7

_________________________ _/s/Cory A. Booker .
KEVIN CRAMER CORY A. BOOKER
_________________________ _________________________
PAT ROBERTS BENJAMIN L. CARDIN
_________________________ _________________________
JOHN HOEVEN ANGUS S. KING, JR.
_________________________ _________________________
BILL CASSIDY, M.D. MICHAEL BENNET
_________________________ _/s/Sherrod Brown .

RICHARD BURR SHERROD BROWN
_________________________ _________________________
ROY BLUNT TAMMY BALDWIN
_________________________ _/s/Martin Heinrich .

CHARLES GRASSLEY MARTIN HEINRICH
SD OMB 04.23.2020 Page 4 of 7

_________________________ _________________________
RON JOHNSON AMY KLOBUCHAR
_________________________ _________________________
CINDY HYDE SMITH KYRSTEN SINEMA
_________________________ _________________________
LISA MURKOWSKI BERNARD SANDERS
_________________________ _________________________
MIKE BRAUN JEANNE SHAHEEN
_________________________ _________________________
DAN SULLIVAN RICHARD BLUMENTHAL
_________________________ _________________________
BEN SASSE MARIA CANTWELL
_________________________ _________________________
KELLY LOEFFLER ELIZABETH WARREN
SD OMB 04.23.2020 Page 5 of 7

_________________________
LINDSEY O. GRAHAM PATRICK LEAHY
_________________________ _________________________
TED CRUZ RICHARD J. DURBIN
_________________________ _________________________
MARTHA MCSALLY BRIAN SCHATZ
_________________________ _/s/Robert P. Casey, Jr. .

SUSAN M. COLLINS ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr.
_________________________. _________________________
TIM SCOTT DEBBIE STABENOW
_________________________
MITT ROMNEY _________________________
United States Senator DIANNE FEINSTEIN
United States Senator
_/s/Jack Reed . _________________________

JACK REED KAMALA HARRIS
SD OMB 04.23.2020 Page 6 of 7

_________________________ _________________________
JEFFREY A. MERKLEY TAMMY DUCKWORTH
_/s/Thomas R. Carper . _/s/Chris Van Hollen .

THOMAS R. CARPER CHRIS VAN HOLLEN
SD OMB 04.23.2020 Page 7 of 7

Letter To OMB - Broadcast Advertisement COVID-19

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April 23, 2020

Dear Mr. Vought,

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_________________________ _/s/Sherrod Brown .

_________________________ _/s/Martin Heinrich .

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_________________________ _/s/Robert P. Casey, Jr. .

_/s/Jack Reed . _________________________

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_/s/Thomas R. Carper . _/s/Chris Van Hollen .

SD OMB 04.23.2020 Page 7 of 7

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