[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

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                               speech of

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5386) making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior, 
     environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2007, and for other purposes:

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment 
to increase funding for the NEA by $5 million and the NEH by $5 
million. Frankly, this is a modest amendment; I wish this amendment 
asked for an even greater increase in arts funding. It's astounding 
that this year the President will spend $60 billion in Cold War-era 
defense programs, such as a missile defense system that doesn't defend 
against missiles, and yet each year we have to come to the floor to 
defend this minimal amount of spending. The amount we are asking for is 
little more than a fraction of one percent of the Federal budget.
  This is not controversial funding. The NEA and the NEH are two of the 
best investments this Nation makes. The NEA distributes grants in all 
50 states. These grants fund theatres, orchestras, dance companies, and 
visual artists that move us, challenge the way we think, foster 
dialogue, and help us to understand one another. The NEH is the largest 
single funder of humanities programs in the country. NEH grants help 
museums, archives, libraries, universities, scholars and documentary 
filmmakers allow us to understand our rich history and cultural 
heritage.
  The cost-benefit ratio of this funding is tremendous. Each year, the 
arts generate $134 billion in economic activity; arts organizations 
employ 4.85 million Americans; they generate $89.4 billion in household 
income; and lead to $24.4 billion in total tax revenues.
  Not only do the arts and humanities have a positive economic impact, 
but they strengthen and build communities. They help revitalize our 
nation's cities, and provide venues for people from disparate 
communities to come together and share a common experience. Students 
who are exposed to the arts have higher test scores--in math and 
sciences as well as liberal arts--and have better attendance at schools 
and increased self-discipline. At-risk teens who participate in arts 
programs are half as likely to repeat their crimes.
  Mr. Speaker, every year, my friends from the other side of the aisle 
try to slash funding for the arts. I just don't understand their 
thinking. This modest amendment is the very least we should do today. I 
urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and to vote against any 
attempts to slash funding from the arts that may be offered in other 
amendments.

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