[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 164 (Thursday, November 5, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING INCREASED FUNDING FOR NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND 
                 NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 5, 2009

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the recent 
increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and 
National Endowment for the Humanities. The Fiscal Year 2010 Interior 
Appropriations bill, which President Obama has signed into law, 
contains $167.5 million in funding for both agencies, an increase of 
$12.5 million over last year's level. This is on top of the $50 million 
that the NEA received in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to 
preserve jobs in the arts. As a member of both the Arts and Humanities 
Caucuses, I want to thank Representatives Slaughter, Platts, Price 
(NC), and Petri, as well as Chairman Dicks, for their hard work in 
pushing for these funding increases.
  The arts and humanities play a crucial role in our society: they 
enhance our creativity, promote critical aspects of education, and 
provide Americans with the opportunity to view works of beauty and 
personal expression. Through exposure to the arts and humanities, our 
children are inspired to explore their own creativity and encouraged 
towards positive development in the course of their educational 
careers. There are also economic benefits of local arts in our 
communities, not just for those employed in theaters or museums, but 
also for tourism and economic revitalization programs. The downturn in 
philanthropic giving, brought on by the economic collapse, has 
constrained or even closed cultural institutions and, in turn, the 
restaurants, hotels, and construction industries that rely on their 
success. This is just one more reason that these funding increases are 
needed.
  I also want to recognize President Obama for understanding the 
important role that the arts and humanities play in enriching our lives 
and strengthening our economy. The President has appointed two 
exceptionally qualified individuals to head the NEA and NEH. Jim Leach, 
our former colleague, has a distinguished academic background, 
including his recent service as Visiting Professor of Public and 
International Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. 
He brings to the NEH a first-hand understanding of the needs of 
educators, historians, curators, researchers, archivists and scholars. 
Rocco Landesman, the Director of the NEA, has a long and varied career 
in the performing arts, and has brought an energy and focus to the job 
that will help foster a vibrant artistic landscape.
  Again, I rise to celebrate these important funding increases, and I 
look forward to working with the President and my colleagues to 
strengthen support for the arts and humanities.

                          ____________________