[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 81 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      WHO IS CRITICIZING THE NEA?

                                 ______


                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 1994

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to discuss an 
exchange that took place earlier today on the House floor.
  During debate on the Stearns amendment to cut funding for the 
National Endowment for the Arts, I expressed my anger over the 
hypocritical stance taken by many NEA critics.
  While so many Members of this House are quick to thunder their 
outrage over NEA funding of programs they perceive to be obscene, these 
same people are deafeningly silent when lewd, sexist comments are made 
about women.
  During my floor statement, I sought to ask a question of the author 
of the amendment about what he had said in the wake of the comments of 
a colleague who publicly remarked upon the size of a female television 
producer's breasts.
  Unfortunately, my question was misunderstood and in the interest of 
comity, I agreed to the withdrawal of the controversial sentences.
  The NEA has done a superb job for many years of fostering and 
expanding the arts in America. Those who seek to become self-styled 
guardians of public morality should be reminded of the Biblical 
admonition, ``Judge not, lest ye be judged.''

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