William Martini: “I rise today to urge opposition to the Chabot amendment that will eliminate all funding for the National Endowment for…”

“I rise today to urge opposition to the Chabot amendment that will eliminate all funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Unlike many Federal Government programs, NEH serves as one of America's sound investments. Only careful attention to the various cultures and religions that form this wondrous melting pot can ensure our Nation's future success. NEH embodies Government's commitment to the preservation of America's diverse, beautiful, and often fragile culture. Do not misunderstand, I supported the budget proposal to phase out funding for NEH and I support the principles of privatization; however, when dealing with matters of such importance, time and careful planning are necessities. Passage of this amendment would amount to a hurried mistake. As a representative of a Congressional District rich in diversity, I have utmost appreciation for the education made possible through the existence of NEH. Few institutions provide the means by which tolerance can be achieved. Through NEH, we have also preserved history--both good and bad. Some Members of Congress oppose the NEH because of this. Those Members believe that painful history is best forgotten. I do not agree with this philosophy. It has been said time and time again, and I hesitate to repeat it--but history does repeat itself and societies can learn from their mistakes.”