[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN SUPPORT OF THE COLORADO HUMANITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED PERLMUTTER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 31, 2011

  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Colorado 
Humanities. The Colorado Humanities and State Humanities councils offer 
programs in every congressional district in this country. These 
programs strengthen individuals, families and communities. Councils 
support K-12 education, family reading programs, local heritage 
initiatives, veterans programs, public discussion forums, online state 
encyclopedias, book festivals, documentaries, lectures, library and 
museum exhibits, professional development and more. Without these 
programs many schools and small museums would go without essential 
educational programs.
  The funding for these programs is possible through the National 
Endowment for the Humanities. Some have suggested the termination of 
the National Endowment for the Humanities. All of the participating 
councils stretch federal dollars by diligent fiscal management, 
strategic collaborations and leveraging of resources at the local 
level. Some of the programs including the online state encyclopedias 
can help generate revenue by providing an important resource for state 
tourism. Without federal funding councils could potentially lose the 
matching and in kind donations they use to double the federal funding 
they receive. The lack of federal support affects the future donation 
by private companies and donors. In 2010, the state councils used their 
funding to leverage $5.15 for every federal dollar awarded in grants, 
worked with 9,600 partner organizations and conducted programs in 5,700 
communities nationwide.
  The Colorado Humanities is an innovative leader, community resource 
and important partner for humanities programs. The Colorado Humanities 
is the only statewide organization exclusively dedicated to support 
humanities education for adults and children. They developed 57 unique 
programs and awarded 1504 grants in its 36-year history to support 
humanities education for adults and children. There are three annual 
community Chautauqua festivals, the Young Chautauqua history curriculum 
for K-12 students and the distribution of Colorado history 
documentaries to school and public libraries statewide. The Colorado 
humanities also provide schools with student writing competitions, the 
Colorado Book Awards, traveling exhibitions and numerous institutes for 
teachers.
  The termination of NEA funding would impact numerous schools and 
museums in Colorado and the 7th Congressional District would lose 
multiple educational programs. Our nation's schools and museums already 
face budgetary cuts on the state level. Colorado Humanities demands 
little funding, practices diligent fiscal management and is staffed 
almost entirely by volunteers. The cuts proposed would eliminate an 
important program for all Colorado residents.

                          ____________________