[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2217, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 17, 2001

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Interior 
Appropriations bill. It is far from perfect, but it is thankfully free 
of the most objectionable provisions we have seen the last several 
years.
  I want to take special note of the modest increase once again granted 
to the National Endowment for the Arts, Challenge America Grant. This 
is a very important program that helps bring the arts to areas of this 
country that have traditionally been under-served. I'm happy to see 
this vital program continuing to be supported.
  At the same time, however, I can't help but be disappointed that the 
other activities of the NEA will continue to receive flat funding. 
After years of contentious debate, I suppose we could be thankful that 
at least it's not a cut. But in reality, it is a cut. Level funding 
means that the resources that the NEA needs to do its job get stretched 
thinner year after year.
  I appreciate the hard work of the appropriators, but I hope that in 
the future we can work to increase the NEA's budget to a level that 
would enable it to fulfill its core mission of nurturing work that 
would not, on its own, receive popular support. At times, this may mean 
supporting forms of expression that we ourselves may not agree with. 
But that is one way we promote a free society.
  A true National Endowment for the Arts would play a vital role in 
nursing back to health the devastated arts community of New York in the 
wake of the September 11th attacks. Broadway may be rebounding, but the 
performance artists and the small art galleries, who have no marketing 
campaign behind them, are suffering. A fully funded NEA could be the 
key to restoring this once thriving arts community and drive the 
economic recovery of New York. But unless we make a commitment to 
dramatically increase its budget, it will not have the ability to lead 
these efforts.
  However, the arts are not just an economic engine. They also provide 
the emotional and spiritual lift that we have all needed this past 
month. In the wake of the attacks, music halls around the country were 
packed. A crying nation flocked to the theater to laugh again. People 
went to dance concerts and museums for a sense of community and 
emotional release. In times of crisis, the arts can provide comfort in 
a frightening world.
  I salute the appropriators for supporting Challenge America. But I 
caution, if we do not support the other vital elements of the NEA, the 
flourishing arts communities we have turned to in recent weeks will 
surely whither away.

                          ____________________