[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 89 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  2001 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. RICK LARSEN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2216) making 
     supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2001, and for other purposes:

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong 
support of the Slaughter/Dicks Amendment and to highlight the 
importance of NEA and IMLS funding for the small towns in my own 
district.
  Last year's NEA funding increase created the Challenge America 
program, to help smaller communities gain access to the arts. The Arts 
Council of Snohomish County in my home district was one of the first 
organizations to receive this grant. This organization offers weekly 
art classes to juvenile offenders, many of which have no adult role 
models in their lives, and provides them with opportunities to express 
creativity and interact in a forum outside of a detention center. 
Without this grant, the program would have had to cut back drastically 
or even be eliminated. That would be truly unfortunate, Mr. Chairman, 
because it is programs like these where the arts can provide hope and 
opportunity for troubled youth. Challenge America is doing great things 
for youth in my district, yet this program would not exist if the NEA 
did not receive increased funding last Congress.
  I would also like to offer my support for IMLS, which also funds key 
services in my district. The Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner--a 
town of 900--received a key grant from the IMLS to help attract more 
tourists to the Skagit Valley region in my district. Because of the 
IMLS grant, La Conner brings in many more visitors who come to 
experience the Skagit Valley, thereby boosting their economy. 
Unfortunately, other museums in my district do not receive funding 
because of the lack of IMLS funding. The executive director of the 
Whatcom Museum contacted me earlier this year to share his frustration 
that the Whatcom Museum and Bellingham Library were denied important 
funding, not because of their qualifications, but because of the lack 
of funding for the IMLS. The Slaughter/Dicks amendment will provide key 
funding increases for the IMLS, and help small libraries and museums in 
districts like mine continue to flourish and reach out to the 
community.
  Mr. Chairman, let's continue to show our support for the arts, the 
humanities and our museums and libraries by supporting the Slaughter/
Dicks amendment.

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