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February 4, 2008
President Bush
today sent his FY 2009 budget request to Congress, beginning the yearly
appropriations process for, among many things, the nation’s
cultural agencies and programs, including the National Endowment for
the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Office of
Museum Services (OMS), Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and the
Department of Education’s Arts in Education programs. Because
drastic cuts are being proposed for some key arts programs, we urge you
to write your
Members of Congress and tell them to reject the President's budget cuts.
On the heels of signing the largest
Congressionally-initiated funding increase for the arts in 28 years,
President Bush has proposed a senseless $16.3 million cut for FY 2009 for
the NEA—from $144.7 million to $128.4 million. After three
years of minimal, but incremental, funding growth, we are surprised to
see an attempt to erase this progress.
For the eighth
consecutive year, the President’s budget has eliminated funding for
the Department of Education’s Arts in Education programs, which
include funding for model arts programs and collaborations with schools,
teacher professional development, and arts programs for at-risk youth.
Arts literacy is as central to an educated citizenry as are reading,
math, and science. The Administration needs to understand the role of
arts education in developing an innovative and creative society.
Also, the FY 2009 budget request calls for a rescission of $200 million
in already-approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
(CPB). As a trusted community resource, CPB uses the power of
noncommercial television and radio to enrich the lives of all Americans
through quality programs and education services.
The President also asked for a slight cut to the NEH, from $144.7 to
$144.3 million. Finally, and on a positive note, the President requested
a funding boost of over $8 million for the Office of Museum Services,
bringing the amount of funding available for grants to almost $40
million. A breakdown of the President’s budget request is as
follows:
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Federally
Funded Arts Program
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FY08 Enacted
Appropriations
(in millions)
|
FY09
President’s
Budget
Request
(in
millions)
|
|
National Endowment for the Arts
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$144.7
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$128.4
|
|
National Endowment for the Humanities
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$144.7
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$144.3
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Office of Museum Services within IMLS
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$31.3
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$39.9
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U.S. Dept. of Education’s Arts in Ed
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$35.3
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$0
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting
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$400.0
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$200.0
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Next Steps
As you know, the
President’s budget is the first step in the appropriations
process. While it serves as an important framework, Congress has
the power to set its own priorities and change these funding
levels. That’s where you come in.
Arts advocates can make their voices heard by writing their Members of
Congress and urging them to increase funding for arts and culture and
restore funding for arts in education programs. We have provided you with
a customizable
letter to send to your Members of Congress, as well as
several talking points to help you craft your message. We recommend
you add your own thoughts and stories about why the arts are important to
you and your community. We also encourage you to join us in Washington, DC
for Arts Advocacy Day 2008, March 31 -
April 1, 2008. You’ll have the opportunity to visit your
Members of Congress face-to-face and urge them to support the arts.
Thank you for your continued support of the arts!
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We encourage you to forward this message
on to friends and colleagues that may be interested in these arts issues.
Keep checking back to our
E-Advocacy
Center for more
alerts and updates.
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