WASHINGTON — January 30, 2013 — Patrick Butler, president and chief executive officer of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS), made the following statement today on the retirement of Senator Tom Harkin:
“The Association of Public Television Stations wishes to extend its profound thanks to Senator Tom Harkin for his many years of enthusiastic and effective support for the work of public service media in America.
“Senator Harkin has been a true and stalwart champion of public television’s education mission, and we are particularly grateful for his leadership in recent years as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Labor-Health & Human Services-Education.
“We salute Senator Harkin’s 40 years of distinguished service in the Senate and House of Representatives, and we wish him all the best in his retirement in 2014.”
About APTS
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1979. The mission of APTS is to conduct – in concert with member stations – advocacy, planning, research and communications activities in order to achieve strong and financially sound noncommercial television and advanced digital services for the American people. APTS provides consistent leadership and information that helps our members better accomplish their own missions and goals. Through its affiliate APTS Action, APTS promotes the legislative and regulatory interests of noncommercial television stations at the national level through direct advocacy, and grasstops and grassroots campaigns designed to garner congressional support. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
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