[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1487]
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. PAUL W. HODES

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House of 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:

  Mr. HODES. Madam Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote 
against Rep. Lamborn's amendment to the Interior-Environment 
Appropriations bill which would slash the funding for the National 
Endowment of the Arts. The NEA has suffered deep cuts over the last 
decade. It is time for a new direction in supporting the arts in 
America.
  America's global competitiveness relies on a creative, thoughtful 
citizenry, and funding the NEA has been proven to produce just that by 
funding artists, arts organizations and arts education.
  Students with an education rich in the arts have better grade point 
averages in core academic subjects, score better on standardized tests, 
and have lower drop-out rates than students without arts education.
  Creative thinkers are our innovators, our visionaries, and our 
leaders. Investing in their development is an American priority.
  Support for the arts means supporting good business. The arts 
industry: Supports 5.7 million full-time jobs; generates $104.2 billion 
in household income; generates $7.9 billion in local government 
revenue; generates $9.1 billion in State government revenue; and 
generates $12.6 billion in Federal income tax.
  But beyond all the statistics demonstrating the importance of the 
arts in education and in our economy is the clear reality that money 
spent supporting the arts is a crucial investment in America's lasting 
legacy. For long after we are gone our artistic creation will survive.
  This Amendment is a shortsighted attempt to strangle an agency that 
does amazing work for the people of this country. I know firsthand what 
is done with the few dollars awarded through the NEA.
  I stand today to ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
reject this amendment and fund the NEA, which encourages creative 
thinking and the creative economy.

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