[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S14700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, 30 years ago today on September 29, 1995, I 
was proud to witness President Lyndon Johnson sign into law the 
National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act which established 
the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the 
Humanities. That historic occasion marked the beginning of a process to 
preserve America's cultural heritage and to broaden access to millions 
of our citizens in every corner of the country, Americans who would 
otherwise not be able to hear a symphony orchestra concert, see a dance 
or theater production, or experience a great museum exhibition.
  By any measure, the endowments have been a magnificent success. 
People are participating in our culture in record numbers. The 
endowments have made a difference in the lives of millions of children 
and their families. A cultural infrastructure has solidified and grown. 
In 1965, where there were 46 nonprofit theaters, there are over 425 
today. The numbers of large orchestras has doubled, opera companies 
have increased 6-fold, and there are 10 times as many dance companies 
now as there were 30 years ago. In 1965, there were five State arts 
agencies; today every State has a vibrant public arts agency, and there 
are now community arts agencies in over 3,800 cities, counties and 
towns. Individuals who have received endowment support early in their 
careers have gone on to spectacular achievement, earning numerous 
important prizes and awards, and creating works that will prove to be 
an enduring legacy from the second half of the 20th century.
  In my own State of Rhode Island, the endowments have supported a 
Music in our Schools program in Providence, a folk and traditional arts 
apprenticeship program and the nationally-acclaimed Trinity Repertory 
Theater; aided the Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design 
in renovating its painting and sculpture facilities; and provided funds 
to a team of scholars at the Rhode Island Historical Society to edit 
the papers of Revolutionary War Gen. Nathaniel Greene for publication. 
Also funded was a partnership between the Rhode Island State Council on 
the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education to integrate theater, 
music and design into the curriculum of the Davies Career and Technical 
High School which has shown to improve overall discipline and 
attendance at the school.
  As further testimony to their success, the small investments in 
American culture made by the endowments has stimulated an extraordinary 
amount of private dollars. Since 1985, NEH matching funds have 
leveraged almost $1.4 billion in third-party support for the 
humanities. Each Federal dollar invested by NEA leverages $12 non-
Federal dollars.
  As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the endowments, we are 
celebrating our belief in a vigorous, democratic, far-reaching culture. 
The Federal Government has a strong role to play in transmitting our 
Nation's greatest artistic and scholarly achievements to the 
generations of the future. As the present custodians of American 
culture, we must continue to do so. It would be a tragedy for the 30th 
anniversary celebration to be marred by a reluctance to reauthorize the 
National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities.

                          ____________________