A long-time supporter of public media in America, St. Joseph Congressman Fred Upton was cited this morning at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. for that un-ending support with the Champion of Public Broadcasting Award from America’s Public Television Stations, APTS.
As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from 2010-2016, it was Congressman Upton who shepherded passage of legislation establishing the broadcast spectrum incentive auction and ensuring that all channel repacking costs were covered.
Congressman Upton is now co-chair of the Public Broadcasting Caucus, which encourages federal investment in public media and works with public broadcasters to enhance their missions of education, public safety and civic leadership in communities across America.
Patrick Butler is CEO at APTS. He says, “Fred Upton is a consummate legislator who reaches across the partisan aisle to craft and enact laws that make a difference in America.”
Butler continues, “We in public broadcasting are extremely fortunate that a leader of his talent and temperament is one of our champions – and has been for a long time. It’s been my personal privilege to know Congressman Upton since the Reagan Administration, and there simply is no finer public servant.”
Pointing to Fred’s actions in Congress, Butler notes, “He’s helped us build our broad bipartisan support in the Congress, navigate a challenging spectrum auction, and strengthen our ability to serve our country.”
Butler concludes, “America’s Public Television Stations are honored to present this most well-deserved 2020 Champion of Public Broadcasting Award to Congressman Fred Upton.”
In response, Fred says, “It is quite the honor to receive the Champion of Public Broadcasting Award,” adding, “As a former journalism major, I absolutely understand the important role media and public broadcasting plays in our communities across Southwest Michigan and around the nation. I remain absolutely committed to supporting public broadcasting and all the work they do to provide valuable services in education and public safety.”
APTS officials told their colleagues from across America this morning that Congressman Upton is proud to represent the common-sense values of Southwest Michigan’s Sixth Congressional District. Further noting, that the diverse section of the state that stretches inward from the shores of Lake Michigan is home to key industries that range from agriculture to auto parts manufacturing to high-tech biomedical innovation centers. The 6th includes all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties, and most of Allegan County.
Prior to his election to Congress, Fred worked for President Ronald Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). While at OMB, he learned from President Reagan’s example that it does not matter who gets the credit, as long as the job gets done. That has been Upton’s approach since he was first elected to Congress in 1986 and continues today.
From 2010 to 2016, Congressman Upton was selected by his House colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. That pivotal committee has jurisdiction over matters concerning energy, healthcare, the environment, telecommunications, commerce, manufacturing and trade, as well as oversight and investigations. Hard work and bipartisan success was a staple during Congressman Upton’s tenure as Chairman of the committee. Under Fred’s leadership, the Committee passed 354 legislative measures through the House and saw 202 of those signed into law by the president. Congressman Upton currently serves as the top Republican leader of the Subcommittee on Energy, which has jurisdiction over national energy policy.
Fred was born on April 23, 1953, and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Amey, have two adult children.
The Champion of Public Broadcasting Award was presented to Fred during the APTS Public Media Summit this morning, Wednesday, February 26, 2020.
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit online at www.apts.org.
Show in the photo from the Library of Congress this morning are, (left to right) Ken Kolbe, General Manager of WGVU Public Television in Grand Rapids, Pat Moody, Board member of WNIT Public Television in South Bend, Congressman Fred Upton, and Patrick Butler, President & CEO of America’s Public Television Stations in Washington, D.C. Photo Credit to Phil Humnicky.
