[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1238-E1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   STATEMENT BY KATE HAYES REGARDING NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS 
                                FUNDING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 1997

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my colleagues I would 
like to have printed in the Record this statement by a high school 
student from Vermont, who was speaking at my recent town meeting on 
issues facing young people.

       Ms. Hayes. Writer Justice Conrad said the artist appeals to 
     that part of our being which is not dependent on wisdom, to 
     that in us which is a gift and not an acquisition and, 
     therefore, more permanently enduring. He speaks to our 
     capacity to delight, for delight and wonder, to the sense of 
     mystery surrounding our lives, to our sense of pity, beauty 
     and pain.
       The arts cross geographical, ethnic and socioeconomic 
     barriers to enter into the lives of both children and adults. 
     The arts are the heritage we leave to our children and a 
     vital arts environment helps the economic development of this 
     country. You may not know it, but attendance there shows that 
     throughout the United States more people attend art 
     galleries, museums, ballet, theater, opera and symphony 
     concerts in a year than go to all the major professional 
     sports combined. That's good box office, it's good business 
     and it's good for the country.
       In particular, I know how important funding is to the arts 
     and the joy and happiness that exposure to arts brings to our 
     residents. For the past six years I have performed in a 
     traveling youth circus that has brought the thrill and antics 
     of the big top to communities throughout New England. Our 
     performances cross all age barriers. The child, the teenager 
     and adults alike all share in the excitement of seeing live 
     performances. If funding disappears, how will we provide that 
     experience of such entertainment to the thousands of 
     Vermonters who cannot travel to the big top in New York?
       I've heard people suggest that the Government has no role 
     in supporting the arts and humanities yet in Europe, 
     governments recognize that arts are part of the economy and 
     add essential vitality to modern life. Most European 
     countries support their museums, orchestras, dancers, poets 
     and visual artists to a far greater degree than the U.S. 
     Government has ever done. With the creation of the National 
     Endowment for the Arts in the 1960s, we took a step forward 
     in providing a rich cultural advantage to all citizens. Now 
     in the 1990s we are faced with the attacks by foes who are 
     picking insignificant battles and efforts to undermine the 
     support of the arts.
       With cuts up to 40 percent survival is paramount. The focus 
     on funding public arts programs will be on the projects of 
     very wide public appeal and accessibility. Gone will be the 
     funding for public programs of great scholarly significance 
     but smaller audience draw. The proposals to shrink government 
     by severely reducing or eliminating funds for the National 
     Endowment for the Arts is also a move of far-reaching effects 
     on the strength of all art programs.
       There are creative ways to fund the arts. In my research 
     I've discovered many new and innovative ways already 
     successful on the state level. In particular, I believe we 
     need to take a look at endowment funds, income tax check-offs 
     and lotteries. Together with local initiatives, we can 
     guarantee support for the arts. Just look at what some state 
     initiatives are, license plate programs, corporate filing 
     fees, special tax districts, local option taxes earmarked for 
     the arts and bond issues.
       Endowment funds offer long-term investment opportunities 
     for the arts by using interest only to fund current affairs. 
     Should we offer our wealthy citizens a tax haven through 
     contributions to the arts endowment, we will build up a 
     significant amount to fund the arts well into the next 
     century. Just like the presidential campaign check-

[[Page E1239]]

     offs, let's allow our citizenry to express their support for 
     the arts through a voluntary contribution of their tax refund 
     to such a worthwhile cause.
       I propose to further these ideas through a regional 
     petition drive urging Congress to support funding for the 
     National Endowment for the Arts.
       I believe I recognize the problems that are going on within 
     the United States, but I also believe that the arts provide a 
     fundamental part of life. You can't really experience life 
     without experiencing the arts because they really show the 
     true human emotion and no human can live without emotion. I 
     believe we can fund it through a number of the things that I 
     listed which were the endowment funds and such, and I believe 
     that if we really try, we can find funding for it if we 
     realize that it is such an important part of our life.
       At Burr & Burton we've been provided a lot of educational 
     things that have helped us out. We've had some dancers that 
     have come, some drummers. We've also had plays that have been 
     put on here in the Smith Center for us and I believe that 
     it's been an important part of our school life. It helps us 
     to just know that there's more out there than what we see 
     every day.
       I believe that art is subjective and if the person that 
     didn't like it should also recognize that now he knows what 
     he doesn't like and he knows that--what true art is now. He 
     knows what he likes to look for and he also knows what he 
     will never see again, so it is also enriching his life.
       I believe that everyone should have the right to go see it 
     if they want to. If they're not funded, then they may not be 
     wide for public appeal and you may not even if you wanted to 
     have the chance to go see it. You have the choice not to go 
     see it and that's your choice, but by federal funding, it 
     allows the people who may not be able to go see it. Like some 
     people can't get up to New York to see the plays and 
     everything and this brings it home to Vermont so everyone is 
     allowed the equal opportunity to see these things.

     

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