President Lyndon Johnson was right when he declared: "In the long history of man, countless empires and nations have come and gone. Those that created no lasting works of art are reduced to short footnotes in history..."

President Johnson spoke those insightful words in 1965 in signing legislation establishing the National Endowment for the Arts. Created to support the arts and nurture creativity in our society, the NEA is the primary support of local arts communities, making it possible for all Americans to experience the creativity and vitality that goes into a play, or a concert or a museum exhibit.

This year Congress will be considering an increase of $52 million for the NEA. The vast majority of this increase - $49 million - has been earmarked for "Challenge America," a new initiative that focuses on developing new programs in underserved areas. These funds will be targeted for arts education; at-risk youth programs; access to the arts; cultural/heritage preservation; and community arts partnerships.

This very modest increase will allow the NEA to reach out to many inner city and rural areas that often have little exposure to the arts. The goal is to foster recognition and appreciation of the excellence and diversity of our nation's artistic community. The NEA has not received a funding increase in more than 10 years, and actually experienced a significant reduction of 40% in the mid-1990s when there was a major effort to eliminate the NEA.

But the NEA is an extremely efficient organization. Funding for the NEA costs each American approximately 36 cents per year, less than one 100th of one percent of the federal budget. Each NEA dollar is a funding catalyst, helping NEA leverage private support. In fact, the majority of NEA grants are matched by recipient organizations dollar for dollar, with some generating a 3 to1 match.

Support of the arts also stimulates local economies. For every dollar the NEA invests in communities, there is a 20-fold return in jobs, services and contracts.

Since 1965, the NEA has awarded more than 111,000 grants to support thousands of projects like: music, theater and film festivals; touring dance and opera performances; national radio and TV arts broadcasts; orchestra and chamber music concerts; museum exhibitions (large and small); city design and downtown renewal; and many other projects. In 1999, Maryland received $2.9 million from the NEA to help support arts activities throughout the state.

Federal support for the arts is a worthwhile investment that helps us preserve what is unique and profound in our civilization. The NEA makes it possible for all Americans to experience the arts. The current funding increase that is being considered by Congress will help the NEA expand its programs to even more Americans.