National Endowment for the Arts

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) during the week of May 15. Please take a moment to urge your House member to support an increase for the NEA ? and, just as important, to oppose any proposed decrease. The more that House members hear from constituents in these crucial weeks leading up to the vote, the more likely they are to vote the right way. Writing your Members of Congress takes just two minutes.

If you go to you will find the site for Americans for the Arts where there is a remarkably easy way to contact your Senators and Congressman/woman. It will take you less time than it takes to read this email.

On May 4, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a bill which offers no increase in funding for the NEA in FY 2007. Instead, the bill "level-funds" NEA spending at last year's level of $124.4 million.

Next week the full Appropriations Committee will take up the bill, followed by the full House voting on the measure the week of May 15. We expect that during floor consideration of the bill, Congressional Arts Caucus co-chairs Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Chris Shays (R-CT) will offer an amendment to increase NEA funding. Also, NEA opponents probably would offer amendments to decrease funding. In past years, the House has approved the Slaughter-Shays amendments and has defeated anti-NEA amendments.

Again, the House debate is now scheduled to take place during the week of May 15. If you go to you will find the site for Americans for the Arts.