Louise Slaughter: “I do not know how many forests the gentleman has in New Jersey, but let me say that when I first came to Congress in…”

“I do not know how many forests the gentleman has in New Jersey, but let me say that when I first came to Congress in 1987, the National Endowment for the Arts budget was over $170 million. It has been cut considerably as well. I know of no other program, no other investment that we make in the United States budget of $98 million that will bring back into this Treasury almost $4 billion. Indeed, that money that is sent out enriches the lives of everyone that it touches. I agree that open space is terribly important, but I do not want to see us pit one against the other, because the importance will be very difficult to approve for each one. I would think that the people in the gentleman's district would agree that the money that they have for the National Endowment for the Arts has been money well spent and has had a positive effect on the State of New Jersey, particularly in the gentleman's district. Again, I urge a 'no' vote on this amendment.”