March 23, 2018
From: Isaac Brown, Legislative Counsel
Vol. 18:03

After weeks of intense and at times highly contentious negotiations, the Senate overwhelmingly passed and sent to the President for signature a $1.3 trillion spending bill that will fund government agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2018. The legislation sets the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) appropriation at almost $153 million, an increase of $3 million over its current level. The bill also reiterates Congress’s support for the federal-state partnership that allocates 40% of the NEA’s grant dollars to state and regional arts organizations.

With the FY2018 process now resolved, work is expected to begin immediately on the FY2019 bill, in which the President has once again called for the elimination of the NEA. In the coming weeks, NASAA will contact you when optimal opportunities for engagement with Congress on this bill emerge.