Recognizing Arts in Education Week

Floor Speech

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Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Arts in Education Week.

As children return to school from their summer vacations, I am reminded that true education must go beyond language arts and math. It must include daily access to creative subjects like dance, poetry, visual arts, and theater.

Ninety-three percent of Americans agree: The arts are a vital part of a well-rounded education, and when schools make the investment, we see ripple effects across students' lives. A student involved in the arts is four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement; they are three times more likely to win an award for school attendance and are elected to class office more than three times as often as their peers.

We must do more to ensure every child can regularly access arts education. In the most recent appropriations bill passed by this Chamber, we included a $6 million increase to support Arts in Education at the Department of Education.

I am proud to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support this program and will push to preserve a strong increase in any final spending bill.

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