Advocacy Archive

2009

National Endowment for the Arts Stimulus Grants The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes $50 million in direct grants to fund arts projects and activities to preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector. Forty percent of the funds are to be re-granted through the state and regional arts agencies and sixty percent will be direct grants from the NEA. Find complete information.

2007

2007 Issue Priorities

• Federal Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts
• Increasing Opportunities for Cultural Exchange
• Visas Procedures for Foreign Artists
• Federal Funding for Arts Education through the U.S. Department of Education
• Charitable Giving Incentives for Non-profit Organizations
• Coming Soon: File O & P Petitions Up to One Year in Advance
• ARTS Act Introduced: Improved Visa Processing Times!
• USCIS Announces Location Changes for Filing Visa Petitions
• IRA Rollover

Rep. Howard Berman introduced The ARTS (Arts Require Timely Service) Act (HR 1312)
Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA-28) introduced The ARTS (Arts Require Timely Service) Act (HR 1312), which would require O and P visa processing within 45 days. This legislation would address the delays and unpredictability currently suffered by nonprofit performing arts organizations pursuing artist visas. The bill is co-sponsored by 4 Democrats [Reps. Berman, Weiner (D-NY-9), Nadler (D-NY-8), and Schiff (D-CA-29)] and 4 Republicans [Reps. Blackburn (R-TN-7), Coble (R-NC-6), Chabot (R-OH-1), and Lungren (R-CA-3)]. The bill is similar to the provision approved by the Senate last year as part of the comprehensive immigration reform bill.

2006

U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Level Funding for NEA
On June 29, 2006, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved level funding for the NEA, $124.4 million, as previously approved by the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior. The Interior Appropriations bill that contains the funding level for the NEA will now move to the floor of the U.S. Senate to be voted on by the entire U.S. Senate.

U.S. House Appropriations Committee Zeroes Out Arts in Education Funding
On June 13, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted to eliminate funding for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs as previously approved by the House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations.

First Step Toward O & P Visa Reform Passes U.S. Senate
On May 25, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment in the comprehensive Immigration bill that would reduce the current processing times for O and P arts-related visa petitions to a maximum of 45 days. The amendment forces U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to treat any arts-related O and P visa petition that it fails to adjudicate within 30 days as a Premium Processing case, without the usual additional charge of $1,000 per petition. The amendment was introduced by Senator Kerry (D-MA) and was supported by some familiar allies to our community. Among the members of Congress of note that had a hand in this victory were Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Member Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

The next step for the legislation will be to successfully pass the House and Senate conference committee that will be scheduled shortly. While Arts Presenters and our colleagues will be working diligently to try and pass this amendment through conference, it should be noted that this amendment is part of the controversial Immigration bill, which could suffer setbacks in passage in its current form this year. Regardless, this recent victory in the Senate demonstrates a renewed desire of Congress to support our field and recognizes the devastating impact these delays are having to our field and strengthens our position on Capitol Hill moving forward.

U.S. House Approves $5 Million Increase for NEA
On May 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) by $5 million. The amendment, sponsored by Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Norm Dicks (D-WA), Jim Leach (R-IA) and David Price (D-NC), passed by voice vote and was part of the passage of the FY 2007 Interior Appropriations bill (H.R. 5386). Following the amendment to increase the NEA budget, Rep. Beauprez (R-CO) offered an amendment to decrease the NEA budget by $30 million, which failed by a vote of 112-306.

House Appropriations Committee Approves Level Funding for NEA
On May 10, the full House Appropriations Committee approved a FY 2007 Interior spending bill that includes no increase for the NEA. The committee opted to keep funding at the FY 2006 level of $124.4 million. On May 4, this same funding level was approved by the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.

The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rep. Taylor (R-NC) and Ranking Member Rep. Dicks (D-WA) received a letter from Congressional Arts Caucus co-chairs Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) with 122 members of Congress in support of a NEA budget of $170 million. A total appropriation of $170 million would nearly restore the agency to the FY 1992 high water mark of $176 million.

President Bush Releases Budget for FY 2007
On Feb. 6, President Bush released his FY 2007 budget package, which requested $124.4 million or level funding from FY 2006 for the NEA. In a repeat of previous year budget requests, the president's budget has once again eliminated funding for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs. Over the next few months, Arts Presenters along with the American Arts Alliance will be advocating for increases to funding for the NEA and the restoration of the Arts in Education programs.

Congress Passes Bill making Performing Arts Centers Eligible for FEMA Relief
Congress approves a new Federal Emergency and Management Agency (FEMA) funding policy for performing arts centers in times of national disaster.

Arts Presenters Testifies on Capitol Hill
The U.S. House of Representatives Government Reform Committee hears about the negative impact of visa processing delays on the presenting and touring industry.

Fighting for Federal Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts
Congress continues to incrementally restore the NEA budget, which was cut from a high of $176 million in 1992 to $97.6 million in 2000. Arts Presenters is committed to restoring the agency's budget.

Ensuring Federal Funding for Arts Education through the U.S. Department of Education
We advocate to ensure Congress funds the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs traditionally zeroed out of the President's budget requests.

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