Danny Davis: “I urge you today to vote in favor of the bi-partisan amendment introduced by Representatives Slaughter, Horn, Dicks and…”

“I urge you today to vote in favor of the bi-partisan amendment introduced by Representatives Slaughter, Horn, Dicks and Johnson. The amendment will increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Humanities Council and the Office of Museum Services by $15 million, of which $10 million will go to the NEA. This increase would take the NEA budget to $120 million. Though not the $150 million the agency requested to fully support the Challenge America initiative, it makes important inroads into funding the arts in parts of our country which have not received NEA support before. In a community like my own, these new monies will reach out to community organizations and cultural groups, previously unfunded, working to bring the arts to our children in after school programs. Challenge America is designed to strengthen communities through the creation of partnerships that support arts programs. This program funds projects serving arts education, access for underserved areas, youth- at-risk, cultural heritage preservation and community arts partnerships. These partnerships represent what the arts do so well. Arts organizations working with schools, libraries, local businesses to make the arts available for everyone. There are numerous studies that point to the benefits of art experience and instruction. The arts increase the ability of students to perform better in all areas of education.”