Date: August 17, 2005
From: Americans for the Arts
Americans for the Arts and its Arts Action Fund are pleased to announce the launch of its "Arts Policy Update." This online update is designed to provide timely and relevant information to congressional staff who are working on arts and arts education issues. The update will be published six times throughout the year and to convey breaking news.
This information is drawn from legislative news placed on our Congressional Resource Website, which is updated regularly with comprehensive and timely information, ranging from arts-related legislation to economic data and Arts Caucus events and activities. While links to much of this information are in the column to the left, we encourage you to visit the website often for these updates.
CONTENTS
CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS NEWS
ARTS LEGISLATION NEWS
ARTS RESEARCH NEWS
ARTS & CULTURAL AGENCY NEWS
UPCOMING CALENDAR
ABOUT US CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS NEWS
The Senate Cultural Caucus formed earlier this year already has 26 members and is chaired by Senators Kennedy (D-MA), Enzi (R-WY), Jeffords (I-VT), and Coleman (R-MN).
The Congressional Arts Caucus has 188 members and is co-chaired by Representatives Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Chris Shays (R-CT). Most recently, the Caucus coordinated a Dear Colleague letter supporting the House vote to increase the NEA and NEH budgets.
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NATIONAL ENDOWMENTS FOR THE ARTS & HUMANITIES RECEIVE FUNDING
On August 2, President Bush signed the FY 2006 Interior Appropriations bill, containing funding for the NEA and NEH. The bill increased funding for the NEA by $5 million, as approved by the Senate, rather than the House-approved level of $10 million. Of the $5 million increase, $3 million goes to the Challenge America program and $2 million to the American Masterpieces initiative. The bill also provides a $5 million increase for the NEA, as approved by both chambers. Finally, a rescission of .476 percent applied across the board for the entire bill. After the rescission, the NEA receives $125.66 million and the NEH receives $142.37 million for FY 2006.
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Click here for more information, or contact Andy Finch.
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ARTS EDUCATION FUNDED BY SENATE COMMITTEE
The Senate Appropriations Committee has completed its consideration of Labor/HHS/ED appropriations. The bill contains $35.7 million for the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education, an increase of $100,000 over last year. As has happened in previous years, the House approved zero funding for arts education. We hope that the House will recede to the Senate funding level, as it has in past years.
Click here for more information, or contact Narric Rome.
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MUSEUM FUNDING INCREASED IN COMMITTEE
The Senate Appropriations Committee, through the Labor/HHS/ED bill, funded the museum grant programs at the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) at about $33.5 million, an increase of $2.3 million over last year. Overall, the Senate bill is slightly more generous than the House bill, which included $32.2 million for IMLS museum grant programs.
For more information contact Narric Rome.
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PUBLIC BROADCASTING CUTS RESTORED
On July 11th, 2005, the Senate Labor/HHS/ED Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Americans for the Arts submitted written testimony asking the Senate to reject funding cuts and highlighting local examples (in Pennsylvania, Alaska, Iowa, and Mississippi) of the impact that federal support of public broadcasting can have on arts programming and how it helps to increase access to the arts for all Americans. In markup, the Senate Appropriations Committee subsequently rejected the cuts proposed by the House and provided funding for the digital transmission, satellite technology, and Ready to Learn programs, setting up a conflict that will be resolved by a House-Senate conference committee.
Click here for more information, or contact Narric Rome.
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PANEL RECOMMENDS CHANGES TO NONPROFIT TAX LAW
In June, the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector released a final report calling for a number of changes in nonprofit law. The panel was convened by Independent Sector in response to a request from the Senate Finance Committee after Members of Congress expressed concern at problems with nonprofit governance and practice. Of special note, the panel recommended increased penalties for appraisers who grossly misstate the value of contributed goods and property. This recommendation is meant to head off proposals in Congress to eliminate or restrict the income tax deduction for contributions of noncash gifts; under current law, such gifts can be deducted at their full market value. Americans for the Arts endorses the recommendations of the Nonprofit Panel, with reservations. In particular, we are uneasy with the panel's recommendation that Congress require a costly annual independent review of financial statements of all nonprofits with annual budgets over $250,000, with a full audit required for all with budgets over $1 million.
Click here to view the letter from Americans for the Arts, or contact Andy Finch.
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PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PROGRAMS INCREASED
On June 16, 2005, the House approved $410 million (a $53 million increase) to the State Department's Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA), and the Senate increased it even further to $440 million. Within ECA, the Office of Citizen Exchange manages professional, youth, and cultural exchange programs and the increase to the ECA budget will permit it greater flexibility to augment the $3 million (approx.) budget for the cultural exchange program.
Click here for more information, or contact Narric Rome.
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TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT FUNDING REAUTHORIZED
President Bush signed the "SAFETEA-LU" transportation reauthorization bill on August 10, 2005. The Transportation Enhancement program, which provides funding for communities to improve the cultural and aesthetic quality of transportation systems, was reauthorized at $3.5 billion over five years.
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NEW REPORT ON ARTS PHILANTHROPY
A new report shows that private-sector philanthropic giving to the arts by individuals, foundations, and corporations increased in 2004. The percentage of total philanthropy directed to the arts, however, remains significantly less than it was just a decade ago.
HARRIS POLL ON ARTS EDUCATION
A new Harris Poll reveals that 93 percent of Americans believe that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education. The telephone survey was conducted as part of an ongoing public service campaign-Art. Ask for More-developed by Americans for the Arts, the Ad Council, and the Austin-based advertising agency GSD&M.
STATE OF THE FIELD REPORT
A new report from Americans for the Arts titled, State of the Field Report: A Look at Statewide Arts Advocacy and Service Organizations, describes how statewide advocacy is conducted and services are delivered to the arts communities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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NEA
Senator Leahy, Representative Tiberi Appointed to NEA Advisory Board
The National Council on the Arts, which advises the chairman of the NEA on policies, programs, initiatives, and grants, has two new ex-officio Congressional members. On the House side, the Speaker appointed Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Cass Ballenger (R-NC), who retired at the end of the last Congress. On the Senate side, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) appointed Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to fill the seat that Reid himself vacated upon becoming Minority Leader.
New NEA Advisory Board Member from Idaho
President George W. Bush has nominated Idaho Shakespeare Festival Managing Director Mark Hofflund (Boise, ID) to serve on the National Council on the Arts.
Click here for recent NEA grants.
NEH
Click here for recent NEH grants.
IMLS
IMLS Chairman Martin Completes Term
Dr. Robert S. Martin completed his four-year term as director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) on July 12 2005. IMLS Deputy Director Mary Chute will administer the day-to-day operations of the agency as acting director.
Click here for recent IMLS grants.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Assistant Secretary Sclafani Delivers Arts Education Speech
Assistant Secretary for Vocational & Adult Education Susan Sclafani delivered a speech at the Education Commission of the States' Spring Steering Committee on how learning in and through the arts is central to fulfilling the No Child Left Behind Act's goal of improved student achievement. The chairman of ECS is Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), who has named arts education as his "Chairman's Initiative" during his tenure at ECS. Governor Huckabee was the recipient of the 2005 National Award for State Arts Leadership, given by Americans for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
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• 2006 Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy in Washington, DC, on Monday, March 13, 2006.
• 2006 National Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, on Tuesday, March 14, 2006.
ABOUT US
For more information about Americans for the Arts or the Arts Action Fund, please visit our websites. For further inquiries about arts policy or the information in this newsletter, please contact our Federal Government Affairs staff: Andy Finch
Senior Director, Government Affairs
T 202.712.2059 Narric Rome
Director, Federal Affairs
T 202.712.2060 Nina Ozlu
Chief Counsel for Government & Public Affairs
Executive Director, Arts Action Fund
T 202.371.2830
This update will be published six times throughout the year and for breaking news.
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