[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 107 (Friday, July 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2004

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                               speech of

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2691) making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this Amendment, 
which would provide much needed funding increases for the National 
Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities. These organizations provide 
national recognition and support to projects of cultural significance 
and education that preserve and enhance our Nation's heritage.
  The importance of supporting and sustaining the arts is especially 
critical for our young people, who perform much better in school when 
their academic programs are combined with music, dance, drama or the 
visual arts. In fact, the No Child Left Behind Act specifically lists 
the arts as one of the core subjects that all schools should teach.
  But ensuring adequate support for the arts is not simply about 
providing cultural enrichment or enhancing educational opportunities. 
It is also about ensuring the economic well-being of our communities. 
The nonprofit arts industry alone generates $134 billion annually in 
economic activity and $10.5 billion in federal tax revenue.
  The National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities are worthwhile 
investments of our federal tax dollars, and I strongly support the 
Slaughter-Dicks amendment to increase their funding by $15 million.

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