Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, this is a motion to instruct the conferees on the Interior appropriations bill, to accept the provisions of the Senate bill improving funding for the National Endowment of the Arts. The House, my colleagues will recall, provided no funds for the National Endowment of the Arts because it was said it was unauthorized. And yet, Mr. Speaker, 14 other agencies in the House bill which were unauthorized received waivers from the Committee on Rules in order to permit them to receive money for their operations. NEA was the only unauthorized agency that did not receive a waiver of the Committee on Rules. And therefore, it was subject to being stricken by the bill on a point of order. That is why we attacked the rule, Mr. Speaker. We sought to vote down the previous question to correct the discriminatory treatment accorded to the NEA. Mr. Speaker, we lost by one vote. One vote, Mr. Speaker. And NEA was stricken from the bill on a point of order when the bill came to the floor. That strong showing, Mr. Speaker, indicates to me that there is strong support for the NEA in the House, and that is why I believe the House is ready and willing to join the Senate in providing the fund for NEA, and that is why, Mr. Speaker, I have filed this motion to agree with the Senate. I urge support for my motion.”