Tuesday, April 11, 2017

On Thursday, April 6, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, led a one-hour Special Order debate on the U.S. House floor for members of Congress to share their stories of support for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Seven members of Congress from Rhode Island, North Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York spoke at length about the impact of these grant-making institutions on their districts and the national at large.

Leading the debate, Rep. Langevin shared the historical underpinning of the agencies, and in describing his purpose, Rep. Langevin explained, “The president's recent budget outline called for the defunding and dismantling of the Endowments. So I have gathered here with my friends and colleagues in the hope that we can help the president change his mind and demonstrate to him the immense benefit that the NEA and the NEH bring to our districts, our country, and, in fact, the world.”

Read the extended debate, or watch a recording on C-SPAN.