[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               OPPOSITION TO H.R. 1 GARRETT AMENDMENT 34

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                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 18, 2011

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the amendments 
offered by Representative Garrett to eliminate funding for the National 
Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, 
as well as the amendments by Representatives Walberg and Canseco to 
decrease such funding.
  As a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I believe that the arts 
play a crucial role in our society, enhancing our creativity, promoting 
critical aspects of education, and providing Americans with the 
opportunity to view works of beauty and personal expression. 
Furthermore, the arts inspire our children to explore their own 
creativity and encourage positive development in the course of their 
educational careers. The arts are a fundamental component of our 
society and warrant federal funding.
  As noted by Americans for the Arts in its report Arts and Economic 
Prosperity III, across the county ``nonprofit arts and culture industry 
generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year.'' The report 
also details that the arts support 5.7 million jobs and generate $29.6 
billion in government revenue. In my district in New Jersey alone, as 
of January 2010, there were 1,841 arts-related businesses employing 
almost 10,000 people. So not only are the arts good for our cultural 
development as a society, they are good for our economic development as 
well.
  I have heard from hundreds of my constituents on this matter, and 
nearly every one has pleaded with me to preserve as much funding as 
possible for the arts. As one of them said, poignantly, ``a nation 
without culture is a nation without a soul.''
  I strongly oppose any cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts and 
the National Endowment for the Humanities, and I urge my colleagues to 
oppose the amendments offered by Representatives Garrett, Walberg and 
Canseco on this subject.

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