July 24, 2009

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY 2010 Labor-HHS-Education funding bill, which sets the appropriation level for both the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and Arts in Education programs (AIE) at the U.S. Department of Education.  The Senate Appropriations Committee is preparing to take up this funding legislation within the next week, and Americans for the Arts needs your help to urge your Senators to fully fund these important programs.  Please take two minutes to write your Senators in support of this funding today!

Background:
Within the jurisdiction of this funding bill fall several key cultural programs.  AIE is set to receive a $2 million boost over last year's funding level to total $40 million.  This still falls short of the $53 million requested by advocates on Arts Advocacy Day this year.  These programs fund grants for arts education professional development and model dissemination programs, as well as arts education programs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and VSAarts.

In addition to arts education, this legislation has recommended $1.059 billion in FY 2010 for CNCS. While this figure is a $169 million increase set to implement the new Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the allocation falls $90 million below President Obama's request.  Americans for the Arts has joined Voices for National Service, a national coalition, in a joint letter in support of this funding to senior legislators on the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee.  With the new eligibility provided to the arts in the Serve America Act, now is the time to invest in service, creativity, and social innovation. Congress needs to fully support these important programs.

Next Steps:

The Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to meet next week, and before they make critical funding decisions, we want to make certain they know that arts education and national and community service are priorities for communities all across the country.  Write your Senators and urge them to fully fund the Serve America Act and Arts in Education programs.

Help us continue this important work by becoming an official member of the Arts Action Fund.  If you are not already a member play your part by joining the Arts Action Fund today -- it's free and simple.

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