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National Endowment for the Arts

Date: June 23, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Arts, Entertainment, and History


NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS-HON. BETTY McCOLLUM (Extensions of Remarks - June 23, 2005)

HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2005

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I rise today in support of the amendment to increase funds by $10 million to the National Endowment for the Arts and $5 million to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The value of Federal arts programs lies in their ability to nurture the growth and artistic excellence of thousands of arts organizations and millions of artists throughout the Nation, making a variety of arts-performance, graphic, literature, and media-available to millions of Americans.

The NEA is the Nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art-both new and established-to all 50 States, including rural communities, inner-city neighborhoods, schools, and military bases.

Support for the arts is a critical investment in the economic growth of every community in this country. The nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion annually in economic activity, supports 4.85 million jobs, and returns $10.5 billion to the Federal government in income taxes.

Minnesota's 4th Congressional District alone is home to over 1,200 arts-related businesses that employ nearly 9,000 people. These businesses range from theaters, arts schools, museums, architecture firms, and advertising agencies. In addition, unnumbered individual and freelance artists call my district their home. I am proud to represent these artists and their families.

I appreciate how the arts deeply enrich Minnesota. The educational, cultural, and economic impact of the arts is very measurable. Not only do 95% of Minnesotans believe that the arts are an important or essential part of the education of Minnesota children, but 67% of Minnesotans have attended an arts activity themselves within the past year. In addition, the arts in Minnesota have over a $1 billion economic impact annually.

Arts education has also been proven to help students increase cognitive development, inspire creativity, and enhance problem-solving skills. At a time when students are expected to take more high stakes tests, we must support the activities, such as the arts, that encourage their success.

It is with a commitment to the economic, social, and cultural well-being of my district, and of the Nation, that I rise today in support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

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