[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 26 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other 
     departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes:

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  NEA funding is an investment in the arts, but it's also an investment 
in communities and jobs. The arts have an incredible ability to enrich 
our communities and strengthen our cultural diversity, while positively 
impacting local economies and spurring billions in economic activity.
  A strong arts sector is an economic engine that stimulates 
businesses, generating $166.2 billion annually in economic activity, 
supports 5.7 million full-time jobs, and returns $12.6 billion in 
Federal income taxes.
  The NEA provides grants to communities across the country, supporting 
our national progress and scholarship in the arts. For each Federal 
dollar spent on the arts, it creates 9 dollars in economic activity for 
local communities.
  The arts creates jobs in every Congressional District across the 
country. In Representative Garrett's district alone, there are 2,042 
arts-related businesses that employ 8,473 people, according to 
Americans for the Arts. And yet, Representative Garrett is proposing to 
completely eliminate funding for the NEA, which will threaten jobs and 
businesses in his district.
  The arts also generates tourism revenue. Arts audiences spend more 
than $100 billion annually boosting local economies. Every year, 78-
percent of U.S. travelers take arts and heritage trips with their 
families, contributing more than $192 billion annually to the U.S. 
economy.
  In my district, the 28th District of New York, we have impressive 
institutions that attract tourists from far and wide, like the Shea's 
Performing Arts Center in Buffalo and the Memorial Art Gallery in 
Rochester.
  Americans embrace the arts on a personal level. Both military and 
civilian populations have long relied on the arts for inspiration, to 
raise morale, to fight anxiety, and to express our democratic values.
  This amendment represents the Republicans' commitment to killing jobs 
and stifling economic activity. It's flawed ideas like this one that 
have created zero jobs with a Republican Majority.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this job killing, economy 
stifling amendment.

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