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For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C.—June 16, 2004—The U.S. House of Representatives today approved by a vote of 241 to 185 an amendment to increase funding for two federal cultural agencies in the FY2005 budget. The amendment increases funding for the National Endowment for the Arts by $10 million, to $131 million in total, and for the National Endowment for the Humanities by $3.5 million, to $142 million. This increase brings the funding level of both agencies closer to the increased budget levels proposed by President Bush. The additional funding will be used for providing much needed funding to local and state arts organizations across the country and such special initiatives as the NEA's "American Masterpieces" and NEH's "We the People."

The amendment was offered by the co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT), along with Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) and Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA). The margin of victory was substantially wider than last year, when a similar amendment passed by a vote of 225-200. Consideration of the funding increase will now move to the U.S. Senate.

Following the vote, Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch stated the following:

"With today's vote, it's clear that culture is understood to be part of the solution to America 's economic problems, not part of the problem. A solid bipartisan consensus in favor of public funding for the arts has been rebuilt. And great thanks are owed to the outstanding leadership of the Congressional Arts Caucus leaders.

Members of Congress clearly understand the value of the arts and humanities both aesthetically and economically. At a time when the national economy needs stimulating, it did not go unnoticed that the nonprofit arts industry alone generates $134 billion in economic activity annually.  This year, our new Creative Industries research provided lawmakers with compelling geo-economic maps detailing the number of arts-related businesses and jobs in every Congressional district in the United States.  Nationally, more than 548,000 businesses are involved in the production and delivery of America's creative industries and they employ 2.99 million people.  The arts mean business."

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a record of more than 40 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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