July 25, 2024
From: Isaac Brown, Legislative Counsel
Vol. 24:03
Today, the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, which includes an increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) of $2 million, to $209 million. We appreciate the Senate’s continued support and will be working with members of both parties to secure passage of this funding level.
This announcement comes after the House of Representatives voted to approve its Interior Appropriations bill, which would fund the NEA at $203.895 million, a reduction of nearly $4 million from its current level. While we were disappointed with this funding level, it is important to note that it passed after the House successfully defeated, on a largely bipartisan basis, an amendment by Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK) to cut funding for the agency by $48 million (near its FY2019 level).
With the Senate set to adjourn next week for the August recess, we strongly encourage you to contact your senators and urge them to support the proposed increase in funding for the NEA to $209 million. It will be important that the Senate is unified, or as close to it as possible, in support of this figure in order to push back against the House’s proposed decrease. If you have questions about how to approach your senators in the current political environment, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Source link
