Press Releases

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes Against President Trump’s Bill To Rescind Federal Funding in Houston and Across the Country

Bill targets NPR, PBS, and global health efforts

Washington, June 12, 2025

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted against H.R. 4, a bill to cancel $9.4 billion in previously enacted and congressionally passed federal funding.  This bill would make permanent some DOGE spending cuts, including cuts to NPR, PBS, and foreign aid.  Many of these sweeping cuts are from agencies that DOGE is illegally dismantling, with cases pending in courts.  Now, despite Elon Musk’s exit, President Trump is pressuring Republicans in Congress to codify DOGE’s cuts into law.

“President Trump’s request retroactively rescinds federal funding for many programs that Congress previously enacted on a bipartisan basis and that have received bipartisan support for decades,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “Rather than address the real issues that Americans are struggling with, President Trump and Republicans are undermining our national security and our investments in programs, including educational ones, that Americans and people around the world rely on.  Rescinding funding sends the wrong message about what we value and whether people can count on us.  For these reasons, I voted no on this bill today.”

H.R. 4 includes:

  • $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding to NPR and PBS, funding for more than 1,500 locally owned public television and radio stations—including Houston Public Media;
  • $800 million in cuts to migration and refugee assistance, which slashes more than 25 percent of the funding that supports people escaping violence and hunger;
  • $361 million in cuts to Contributions to International Peacekeeping (CIPA), which would undermine operations where progress is already underway; and
  • $900 million in cuts to Global Health Programs at the U.S. Department of State and USAID.  Of this $900 million, H.R. 4 includes $400 million in cuts to the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved an estimated 26 million lives and helped ensure 8 million babies were born free of HIV, and eliminate family planning programs, which support nearly 48 million women and couples with modern contraceptive care, stabilizing health systems and reducing strain on global resources.  Cutting U.S. funding for international family planning could lead to 17.1 million more unintended pregnancies and 34,000 additional maternal deaths each year.
Through the recissions process, Congress can cancel funds that the federal government has not yet spent but has previously enacted into law.  Each year, Congress approves funding to keep the federal government running before the funds are disbursed to government agencies and programs.  The president can temporarily defer funds or withhold them altogether — but only with Congress' approval.  President Trump’s transmission of the rescissions package on June 3 started the clock on a process that gives Congress 45 days to act, or until July 18, 2025.