Christopher Shays: “I love the introducer of this amendment, but I don't love her amendment. It would reduce a much-needed funding increase…”

“I love the introducer of this amendment, but I don't love her amendment. It would reduce a much-needed funding increase for the National Endowment for the Arts from $160 million in the bill to the President's requested level of $128 million. I first want to compliment the chairman and ranking member again for putting together a good bill that adequately funds our key priorities. Our national parks, the environment, and the arts receive strong support, and the bill takes a critical step to addressing climate change and global warming. We owe both of you a debt of gratitude for your good work here. The NEA has been shortchanged for too long, and it is time to ensure that it has the resources necessary to carry out its mission of supporting excellence in the arts, bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. With much-needed incremental increases since 2001, the NEA has developed widely popular programs, including the Big Read and Shakespeare in American communities, to encourage Americans to participate in cultural experiences. What is impressive is that it is in every community practically in the country: large communities, small communities, urban communities, rural communities. The arts improve the lives of so many people including children, the elderly, and those on limited budgets who might otherwise not have the opportunity to see some very beautiful, spiritual, and enriching performances.”