Legislative News
Read the latest arts news
02-16-2012: A hearing on legislation to reauthorize the Elementary & Secondary Education Act in the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee included significant discussion on arts education. Colorado Springs arts teacher Felicia Kazmier, one of the witnesses, spoke about the need for more funding and accountability in supporting arts education. Congressional Arts Caucus co-chair Todd Platts, caucus member Rep. Bobby Scott, and Rep.
02-13-2012: The Obama Administration released its federal budget blueprint for Fiscal Year 2013 with an $8 million increase in funds for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This proposal would bring the NEA’s funding to $154 million compared to last year’s appropriation of $146 million.
01-16-2012: Rep. John Kline (R-MN), chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education introduces draft legislation to reauthorize the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (also recognized as the No Child Left Behind Act).
12-16-2011: The U.S. House passed the final FY 2012 budget agreement, which includes $146.255 million in funding for the NEA. This number is identical to President Obama's proposed budget, a cut of nearly $9 from FY 2011, and is a compromise between the House-proposed number of $135 million and the Senate-proposed number of $155 million as previously considered by their respective subcommittees.
11-09-2011: The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee approved a transportation infrastructure reauthorization bill that would severely limit the support for public art and transportation museums currently authorized in the Transportation Enhancement program since 1992.
The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, led by Chairman Jack Reid (D-RI) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), proposes level-funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities at $155 million for FY 2012.
The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee began marking up a draft education reauthorization bill co-authored by HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-WY).
10-18-2011: The U.S. Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT), held a hearing on tax reform and charitable giving. In their testimony, witnesses provided support for charitable deductions to the nonprofit sector and also specifically mentioned the importance of supporting the arts.
10-03-2011: President Obama issues a White House Proclamation declaring October National Arts and Humanities Month.
09-23-2011: The Senate Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee recommends approximately level-funding for the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education for FY 2012.
