July 18 , 2003

CONGRESSIONAL ARTS CAUCUS AMENDMENT PASSED

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment to increase FY 2004 funding for the NEA by $10 million and NEH by $5 million over the amounts recommended by the House Appropriations Committee, bringing their respective funding levels up to $127.5 million and $142 million. Offered by Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Chris Shays (R-CT), Norm Dicks (D-WA), and Jim Leach (R-IA), the amendment passed by a vote of 225 to 200, with one member of the House simply voting present.

Sixteen members of Congress spoke in favor and only one in rather half-hearted opposition. The following NY members spoke on the House floor in support of the Arts Caucus: Louise Slaughter(D), Maurice Hinchey(D), and Jerrold Nadler(D).

To read a transcript of the floor debate on the Arts Caucus Amendment, visit the Congressional Record website and scroll halfway down the first column and find the section beginning with the words "AMENDMENT NO. 10 OFFERED BY MS. SLAUGHTER" http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=H6976&dbname=2003_record

This is a PDF file and you'll need adobe acrobat to read it.

TANCREDO AMENDMENT DEFEATED

After passing the Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment, the House resoundingly defeated an amendment offered by Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) to strip the NEA of $50 million and award it to the U.S. Forest Service Wildland Fire Management Program. The vote on the Tancredo Amendment was defeated by a vote of 313 to 112.

NEXT STEPS

The Senate Appropriations Committee has allocated flat funding for the NEA at a level of $117.5 million and allocated a $15 million increase to the NEA, bringing it to a level of $142 million. As a result, the NEH will be in very good shape when it heads into conference; whereas, the NEA will be an issue of contention between the House and Senate. The full Senate still needs to vote on the FY 2004 Interior Appropriations bill, which will be taken up either in the next two weeks or after Labor Day.

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.

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