[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 2, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DEPARTURE OF NEA CHAIRMAN WILLIAM J. IVEY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Mr. William J. Ivey, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, 
who will be stepping down on September 31, 2001.
  Since 1998, when the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Mr. 
Ivey as NEA Chairman, he has forged effective working relationships 
with more than 250 members of the U.S. Congress.
  Through these relationships, Mr. Ivey helped secure a $7 million 
funding increase for the NEA's Challenge America program in Fiscal Year 
2002, their first budget increase in a decade. The Challenge America 
program developed by Mr. Ivey supports arts education, services for 
young people, cultural heritage preservation, community partnerships 
and expanded access to the arts. Without a doubt, this program will 
contribute to the rich artistic and cultural fabric that has been woven 
over the course of our nation's history.
  Mr. Speaker, as the U.S. Representative for the 3rd Congressional 
District of New Mexico, I have the privilege of serving several well-
known art communities. On behalf of them and all those throughout the 
United States of America, who like myself, cherish the various arts and 
their valuable contributions to our society and culture, I would like 
to thank Mr. Ivey for his work as NEA Chairman.
  It was a pleasure to work with him and I am sorry to see him go, but 
am greatly appreciative of all that he has done and will continue to do 
on behalf of the arts and I wish him the best of luck with all his 
future endeavors.

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