July 10 , 2003

CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS BY JULY 15

Urge your Congressional Member to support a $10 million increase to the NEA budget and a $2.5 million increase to the NEH budget

BACKGROUND:
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to begin floor debate next week on the FY 2004 Interior Appropriations bill, which includes funding for the NEA and NEH. The Congressional Arts Caucus will offer a floor amendment to the bill to increase funding for both cultural agencies. The amendment will be similar to the amendment passed last year by a vote of 234-192. This amendment is likely to call for an increase of $10 million for the NEA and $2.5 million for the NEH.

The FY 2004 Interior Appropriations bill was marked up and reported out of committee on June 25th with an allocation of $117 million for the NEA, which represents a nominal $1.3 million increase for administrative overhead (no new grants) over the current year's funding level of $115.7 million. The Committee allocated $137 million for the NEH, which represents a $10.1 million increase over the current year's funding level of $124.9 million, but falls considerably short of the President's request of $152 million. The increase is designated to be used for the NEH's new "We the People" initiative.

Please scan the Target List of House Members who need to be contacted. Ask them to support the Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment that will be offered by Representatives Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Chris Shays (R-CT) and Norm Dicks (D-WA) among others.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Another important point to remember is that the House floor vote that we won last year to increase NEA funding by $10 million and NEH by $5 million was dropped during conference negotiations of the Omnibus bill, so it was never enacted into law. This year's amendment would merely try to restore funding to the level the House voted on (and passed) last year.

We have been able to get enough support for similar amendments to pass in the last three years. However, this year may be more difficult both because of the terrible budget situation and because of the war. Therefore, we need to maintain and even increase our efforts!

TARGET LIST:
Use the following list call , fax, or email your House member. The following House members have been identified as targets based on several criteria: those Republicans who have supported NEA increases in the past; and those members who voted have historically voted for level funding (no increases and no cuts). We hope to break their pattern this year.

We urge YOU and your board, students, audience members to make the quick calls, emails and faxes as soon as possible.
Every Member of Congress needs to be contacted. But the following are targeted.

NY Targeted House Members
Walsh, James, 315-423-5657
Sweeney, John, 518-828-0181
Reynolds, Thomas, 585-663-5570
Quinn, Jack, 716-845-5257
McHugh, John, 315-782-3150
Kelly, Sue, 845-897-5200
Houghton, Amo, 607-937-3333
Fossella, Vito, 718-630-5277
Boehlert, Sherwood, 315-793-8146
Bishop, Timothy 631-696-6500

The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 28-year history as New York's primary service association for community based arts and cultural organizations. The Alliance provides leadership and vision, and delivers services, resources and tools that strengthen community cultural organizations. The Alliance monitors, informs and mobilizes the field on statewide and national issues affecting the arts and assists local arts agencies in building community support and developing effective grassroots public policy.

245 Love Lane, P.O. Box 96
Mattituck, NY 11952-0096
Phone (631) 298-1234 / Fax (631) 298-1101