July 8, 2011
From: Thomas L. Birch, Legislative Counsel
Vol. 20:11
Contact House Appropriators: Protect NEA Funds from Further Cuts
The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, July 12, to vote on the draft of the fiscal year 2012 Interior Appropriations Bill approved this week by the subcommittee. The bill sets spending for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at $135 million, a decrease of $20 million from 2011 funding, and $11 million below President Obama’s budget request for 2012. The bill was passed by the subcommittee on a party-line vote, 8-5.
The cut to the NEA’s funding of 13% proposed by the House subcommittee is disproportionate to the overall reduction of 7% in funds for the total Interior Appropriations Bill. Although no further cuts have been proposed, we need to be vigilant about the possibility that an amendment could be offered at the committee meeting on Tuesday to reduce NEA appropriations even further.
If your representative sits on this committee, NOW is the time to call and urge a vote to OPPOSE any cuts to the NEA. You may reach your state’s representatives by e-mail at http://www3.capwiz.com/mygov/dbq/officials/ or by phone through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Key to a successful defeat of any amendment to cut NEA funds in the Appropriations Committee are the votes of Republicans who in the past have voted against cuts in NEA funding, highlighted below in bold. PLEASE be sure to contact these legislators and urge others in your state to do the same before Tuesday morning, July 12.
House Appropriations Committee
Republicans
Harold Rogers, Kentucky, Chairman
C.W. Bill Young, Florida
Jerry Lewis, California
Frank R. Wolf, Virginia
Jack Kingston, Georgia
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, New Jersey
Tom Latham, Iowa
Robert B. Aderholt, Alabama
Jo Ann Emerson, Missouri
Kay Granger, Texas
Michael K. Simpson, Idaho
John Abney Culberson, Texas
Ander Crenshaw, Florida
Denny Rehberg, Montana
John R. Carter, Texas
Rodney Alexander, Louisiana
Ken Calvert, California
Jo Bonner, Alabama
Steven C. LaTourette, Ohio
Tom Cole, Oklahoma
Jeff Flake, Arizona
Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida
Charles W. Dent, Pennsylvania
Steve Austria, Ohio
Cynthia M. Lummis, Wyoming
Tom Graves, Georgia
Kevin Yoder, Kansas
Steve Womack, Arkansas
Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi
Democrats
Norman D. Dicks, Washington, Ranking Member
Marcy Kaptur, Ohio
Peter J. Visclosky, Indiana
Nita M. Lowey, New York
José E. Serrano, New York
Rosa L. DeLauro, Connecticut
James P. Moran, Virginia
John W. Olver, Massachusetts
Ed Pastor, Arizona
David E. Price, North Carolina
Maurice D. Hinchey, New York
Lucille Roybal-Allard, California
Sam Farr, California
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., Illinois
Chaka Fattah, Pennsylvania
Steven R. Rothman, New Jersey
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Georgia
Barbara Lee, California
Adam B. Schiff, California
Michael M. Honda, California
Betty McCollum, Minnesota