July 22, 2003

Action Needed to Save Transportation Cultural Enhancements Funding

BACKGROUND
On July 11, 2003, a subcommittee of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee unexpectedly passed a voice vote approving a version of the FY 2004 Transportation Appropriations bill that contains a new Section 114. This new section would eliminate funding for the cultural enhancement program that has been part of the nation's transportation system since 1991. Arts advocates know the program as ISTEA or TEA-21. Since its inception, several billion dollars have been used to ENHANCE transportation projects by designing and installing signage, commissioning public art, covering signage costs, building walking and biking trails, and rehabilitating historic structures, among other uses.

Transportation enhancements allow transportation services to incorporate cultural, environmental, scenic, historic, and community values that are vital to quality of life. They create a partnership of state and federal transportation authorities with state and local arts agencies so that transportation development programs will preserve the cultural and historic aspects of each community. These projects also create and enhance tourist attractions that generate tax revenue and promote economic development. They provide educational and recreational venues in urban as well as rural neighborhoods that would ultimately be destroyed if not cultivated and preserved. The transportation enhancements are highly sought by many
communities: 16,699 projects were programmed between 1992 and 2002.

NEXT STEPS
The FULL House Appropriations Committee will meet Wednesday, July 23rd, to mark-up the Subcommittee's version of the FY 2004 Transportation Appropriations bill. At that time, the Committee will consider an amendment to strike section 114, which contains the funding cut language. If the amendment passes, funding for transportation enhancements will be restored in the bill before it moves to the House floor.

ACTION NEEDED
Grassroots constituents whose Congressional House Members are members of the Full Appropriations Committee need to send emails and make calls to ask them to restore funding for transportation enhancements within the FY 2004 Transportation Appropriations bill. Messages to New York State Committee members need to be received by close of business on Tuesday, July 22nd:

Rep. Jose E. Serrano (D)
Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D)
Rep. John E. Sweeney (R)
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D)
Rep. James T. Walsh (R)

To send an automated message to these members of the committee using Americans for the Arts' Online Advocacy Center, please follow these
steps:

1. Visit Americans For the Arts Online Advocacy Center at: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/?style=D

2. Select "Contact the House Appropriations Committee to Restore Transportation Enhancements"

3. Click "Go!" on Take Action Now

4. You can customize their automated message, or type your own message

5. Enter your contact information (this is important to prove you're a
constituent)

6. The default program is set to direct the email message to all members of the full Appropriations Committee, but it would be best for you to direct the email message only to members of the committee from NY. In order to do this, you will simply need to "un-check" the boxes for those Members of Congress not from your specific state.

7. Click "Send Message"

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