Vernon Ehlers: “I would simply reiterate the choice before us is very clear at this point. This amendment, in spite of the accusations…”

“I would simply reiterate the choice before us is very clear at this point. This amendment, in spite of the accusations made against it, is not a smoke screen, it is not trying to fool anyone. It is a simple attempt at providing continued Federal funding for the arts, given the fact that the House at this moment in time is not prepared to continue the NEA. So the issue is clear. Do we want to send a bill to the Senate that has no NEA and no arts funding, or do we want to send a bill to the Senate that has no NEA but does have continued arts funding? The choice to me is very clear. Let us continue the Federal support for the arts. Let us continue to provide funding for the arts through the various State agencies that are available, through the arts education programs at various States and that school districts have. I believe it will be a more equitable distribution than we have had. It certainly will be far less controversial, and I believe it will be beneficial for the arts, for the people of this Nation who are interested in the arts, and it will be beneficial for the students who will be learning about the arts. I think it is a win-win situation.”