[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24677]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


              HONORING THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

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                            HON. RAY LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, during the last several years, I have had 
the honor and pleasure to work with the National Endowment for the 
Arts. I have been impressed with their energy, passion, and integrity 
in connection with their pursuit to bring arts excellence to America. I 
would like to discuss a few of the programs which have been so 
important to our communities and which were brought to us by the 
National Endowment for the Arts.
  I'll start with Shakespeare in American Communities. Since its 
inception in 2003, the program has brought live, high quality 
Shakespeare performances to more than 2,000 communities in all 50 
states. Sixty-five professional theater companies have participated in 
the largest tour of Shakespearean theater in American history. They 
have reached audiences of 1 million--focusing on high school students--
and have distributed 55,000 sets of exemplary educational materials--
free to any teacher.
  Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest for high 
school students that was conducted in partnership with all 50 State 
arts agencies; 150,000 students were engaged in learning and reciting 
poetry and $50,000 was awarded annually in scholarship funds to winning 
students.
  The NEA Jazz Masters program has expanded exponentially under the 
leadership of Chairman Dana Gioia. Designed to honor the best and most 
innovative jazz musicians and advocates, the Jazz Masters award has 
become the nation's highest honor in jazz. An NEA Jazz Masters on Tour 
commenced, and a curriculum was developed for high school teachers--NEA 
Jazz in the Schools--celebrating the story of jazz in a classroom-
friendly format for music, civics, social studies, and U.S. history 
classes. The agency has produced a special commemorative recording of 
the music of 27 Jazz Masters, developed with National Public Radio a 
series of documentaries profiling honorees, and launched on public 
television the ``Legends of Jazz'' program--a series of conversations 
with Jazz Masters.
  Through the American Masterpieces initiative, the Endowment has given 
grants to organizations to bring the best of our cultural and artistic 
legacy to Americans. Through this program they have supported the 
disciplines of visual arts, dance, musical theater, presenting choral 
music, and chamber music. State arts councils have shared in this 
program by supporting their indigenous master artists and art forms.
  One program which we should be very proud of is the Big Read. Through 
this program--the largest project ever undertaken by the National 
Endowment for the Arts--the Endowment has given grants and educational 
materials to 533 communities to conduct community-wide reading programs 
centered around a great work of fiction chosen by the community. By 
reaching 96 percent of the country with Big Read events and activities, 
2 million attendees have been introduced to great American literature.
  Through its tireless effort, the National Endowment for the Arts has 
solidified its relationship with Congress and the American public. I 
would like to recognize all of the employees at the agency for their 
excellent work and commitment to the arts. In particular, I would like 
to commend the outstanding and tireless work performed by Chairman Dana 
Gioia and Senior Deputy Chairman Eileen Mason. Their leadership and 
enthusiasm and substantive work resulted in a renaissance era at the 
National Endowment for the Arts. I congratulate them for a job well 
done.

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