[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2584) making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior, 
     environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2012, and for other purposes:

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of funding for the 
National Endowment for the Humanities. As a former President of the 
Southern Nevada Public Broadcasting Station, I have long been an 
advocate of funding our Nation's cultural agencies. Arts and humanities 
play a valuable role in my home State of Nevada, not only because they 
enrich our culture, but also because they create much-needed jobs in 
our communities.
  Programs funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities are 
particularly critical to enhancing the quality of K-12 education in 
Nevada. In 2010, Nevada Humanities produced and supported programs that 
reached 228 K-12 educators and nearly 55,000 K-12 student participants 
throughout the State. The humanities play an important role in 
preparing our students for the future, encouraging them to seek 
knowledge and wisdom and to reflect on the values and traditions that 
have shaped this great Nation.
  The study of arts and humanities enriches our knowledge about our 
world and the value of different cultures, which is essential in 
today's global economy. These efforts preserve the great 
accomplishments of the past, help us understand the present, and bring 
clarity and insight to the future. Providing funding for humanities 
programs is a smart investment for our Nation because it teaches our 
young people to be thoughtful and well-rounded leaders of tomorrow and 
creates much-needed jobs today. As a proud member of the Congressional 
Arts Caucus and a passionate patron of the arts and humanities, I am 
committed to protecting these investments now and for generations to 
come.

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