Federal Update: September

Following a month-long recess, Congress returned to session on September 8 for what is expected to be a two- to three-week work period before adjourning for this November’s election. Given that limited window of time, Republican and Democratic leadership has made the decision to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government operating when the current funding year ends on September 30.

On September 10, a draft of the continuing resolution was released. The bill will continue current funding levels for all federal agencies until December 11, 2014, meaning that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will continue to be funded at a level of $146 million. What will happen on December 11 is unclear at this time. Should Republicans win control of the Senate in November, which appears a very realistic possibility, it is possible that House Republicans will urge the adoption of a second continuing resolution to keep the government operating at current levels until the new Congress begins in January and the party controls both chambers. Alternatively, if Democrats maintain control of the Senate, leadership from both parties might be inclined to pass a formal budget to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2015.

Although the failure of Congress to pass a budget before the fiscal year ends is a disappointment, we encourage our members and colleagues to reach out to your members of the House of Representatives and Senate and urge that they support funding for the NEA of at least $150 million, the figure approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. While the continuing resolution will maintain level funding for the NEA, members of the House and Senate will continue to work on finishing the appropriations process, in the event that the opportunity to pass a budget presents itself after the election. Therefore, it is important to solidify the significant progress that was made when the House Appropriations Committee agreed to restore full funding for the NEA after originally proposing a reduction. Beyond the NEA’s funding level, it is also important to urge support for NASAA’s other policy priorities, including restoration of the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education. The president proposed eliminating this program in his budget, which the House and Senate have thus far opposed.