Nancy L. Johnson: “I rise in strong support of NEA funding and regret the narrow 2-year window this bill provides for the reorganization…”

“I rise in strong support of NEA funding and regret the narrow 2-year window this bill provides for the reorganization and restructuring of support for the arts in this great Nation. First, supporting the arts is as much sound economic policy as the Government building the interstate highway network, funding airports, or paying for basic research in agriculture, energy, health, or any other area. Not-for-profit arts organizations, many leveraged by small amounts of Federal dollars, generate $37 billion in economic activity and $3.4 billion in Federal tax revenues every year. The not-for-profit arts industry provides $1.3 million Americans with jobs and is a key component of the complex of attractions that has made tourism big business in our big, diverse, beautiful and creative Nation. Since NEA was funded, the number of performing arts companies, museums--chamber orchestras, local art leagues--and other arts organizations has grown from 50 to 900 in my State, with all the impact on the economy and cultural strength of our towns and cities that dramatic growth implies. But the arts are not just good business, and preserving this industry that has grown as a result of Federal incentives, is not just good economic policy. Preserving the NEA is about more than money. It is also about quality and culture.”