[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 17, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H4859-H4860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FUNDING FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as evidenced by the enormous 
vote on the previous appropriations bill, the Interior bill enjoys much 
support from this body. It is a bill that protects our natural 
resources and the natural beauty of this Nation.

[[Page H4860]]

  I rise to speak to this bill for its inclusion of support of the 
National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the 
Humanities. I was very pleased to be able to support the Slaughter 
amendment which added $15 million to the budgets of the NEA and the 
NEH. It is a small but important step, for those two organizations 
raise the Nation's cultural competence. It is extremely important that 
the next generation of Americans be culturally aware. They need to 
understand the history, the art, the culture, the literature and 
archaeology not only of this Nation but of the world.
  I am very proud, coming from the 18th Congressional District in 
Houston, to support the Houston Symphony, the Houston Ballet, the 
Houston Grand Opera, the Ensemble and many, many other arts 
institutions in our community. The many, many museums that we enjoy in 
Houston and the State of Texas, all of it benefits from the support of 
the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the 
Humanities. That is why this bill was passed with such overwhelming 
support. That is why I am pleased to have supported the Slaughter 
amendment and to rise today to support the NEA and the NEH.

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