[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 124 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1990-E1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES' 40TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2005

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 40th 
anniversary of the creation of the National Endowment for the 
Humanities--a small, independent Federal agency that each year puts 
millions of Americans in contact with the ideas, ideals, and 
institutions of our great Nation.
  As co-chairman of the newly established Congressional Humanities 
Caucus, I would like to congratulate the Endowment's Chairman, Dr. 
Bruce Cole, and his dedicated staff on the agency's anniversary.
  In establishing the NEH through the National Foundation on the Arts 
and Humanities Act of 1965, Congress declared that ``encouragement and 
support of national progress . . . in the humanities . . ., while 
primarily a matter of private and local initiative, is also an 
appropriate matter of concern to the Federal Government.'' 
Acknowledging the Federal Government's interest in promoting progress 
and scholarship in the humanities, the 89th Congress expressed this 
interest in a single, powerful observation: ``Democracy demands wisdom 
and vision in its citizens.''
  For 40 years, NEH has promoted ``wisdom and vision'' by advancing the 
study and understanding of history, literature, languages, archaeology, 
and philosophy throughout the United States. With the relatively small 
amount of funding provided by Congress to the agency each year, the 
Endowment provides important seed money for projects and programs 
including scholarly editions of the papers of historical and cultural 
figures, preservation of historically important books and newspapers, 
seminars and institutes for K-12 teachers and college and university 
faculty, major television documentaries, and educational museum 
exhibitions.
  Beginning in 2002, at the direction of President Bush and with the 
support of Congress, NEH began a historic initiative, We the People. We 
the People is a multi-faceted, agency-wide program focused on examining 
significant events and themes in our Nation's history. The initiative 
is designed to expand

[[Page E1991]]

awareness and knowledge of the traditions and values that have formed 
our Nation, and to enhance appreciation of our civic institutions.
  Because contact with the humanities encourages individuals and our 
Nation to seek knowledge and wisdom, to reflect deeply on issues, and 
to make sense of and find meaning in our cultural heritage, the mission 
of the NEH continues to be a worthy national enterprise.
  I extend my congratulations to the NEH for its 40 years of service to 
the American people.

                          ____________________