Susan Davis: “Mr. Chairman, I join my distinguished colleagues once again in making a strong plea for the high value that the arts and…”

“Mr. Chairman, I join my distinguished colleagues once again in making a strong plea for the high value that the arts and humanities bring to the quality of our lives. Indeed, we must provide the level of support contained in this amendment. In San Diego, these funds have made significant contributions to a whole range of small and large arts organizations, dance companies, and museums, museums like the Museum of Photographic Arts, theater companies like the San Diego Repertory Theater, as well as the Playwrights Project, which supports budding writers. Importantly, many grants have gone to provide outreach to new audiences organized by the San Diego Opera Association and the San Diego Performing Arts League. Two humanity projects in San Diego are giving the opportunity to young people to develop their oral history interviewing skills by developing a record of some of our recent immigrant groups. While we are a city proud of our existing museums, theaters, and music and dance organizations, funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities are essential to extend the availability of these institutions to our young people. Indeed, a review of recent grants reveals that the efforts emanating from these resources enable the kinds of experiences that are so important for an enlightened citizenry.”