[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 106 (Thursday, June 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2643) making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior, 
     environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2008, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition 
to the Brown-Waite Amendment, which would cut funding for the National 
Endowment for the Arts by $32 million dollars, eliminating the much-
needed funding increase for the NEA.
  Since 1996, Congress has forced the NEA to meet the ever growing 
demands of our communities on a shoestring budget. Despite gross 
underfunding, the NEA has continued to promote arts and culture across 
the country.
  With much-needed incremental increases since 2001, the NEA has 
developed widely-popular programs, including the Big Read and 
Shakespeare in American Communities, to encourage Americans to 
participate in cultural experiences.
  In 2006, the NEA awarded 1,744 grants in 435 congressional 
districts--that's every single Congressional district in the nation.
  In addition, because of the NEA's partnership with state and local 
art agencies, NEA grants are typically leveraged 7 to 1 for every 
dollar of federal investment.
  Mr. Chairman, the cost of cutting funding to the NEA is so much more 
than the savings. I encourage my colleagues to support the NEA and 
oppose the Brown-Waite amendment.

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