Arts and Humanities

As the co-chair of the Congressional Humanities Caucus and a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I am a strong supporter of federal investments in the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Both NEH and NEA have long histories of effective partnerships with public, private and nonprofit organizations that have helped to preserve the cultural and historical legacy of the United States, promote the arts, and make both more accessible to the American people. These investments not only enrich our nation's cultural and historical legacy but also generate economic activity and may even enhance our national security, for example by promoting an understanding of foreign languages and cultures.

NEA and NEH programs reach Americans in every state and territory, including in North Carolina. In partnership with state arts agencies and state humanities councils (see links below), NEA and NEH funds provide or support programs on local history and culture. They also support teacher institutes, literacy initiatives, scholars and local cultural, arts, and educational groups. All of these efforts are critical to a vibrant regional culture and the local economy.

I also place a high value on the commercial-free, independent programming provided by our public broadcasting system, which is built on a network of local radio and television stations that air programs developed locally or purchased from affiliates such as NPR or Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). While public broadcasting stations raise most of their funding from the communities they serve, many also receive grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit agency that receives an annual appropriation from Congress.

Federal funding for CPB constitutes only a small percentage of public broadcasting's total revenue, and some public television and radio stations could survive without it. However, this commitment of federal resources serves a specific purpose: it allows public broadcasters to remain independent of corporate, commercial, and political influence and to serve the needs of all Americans, particularly in underserved audiences and regions.

Unfortunately, these agencies and organization have been targeted for severe cuts in the current Congress, with many House Republicans claiming that the federal government has no business supporting the arts and humanities. As General Colin Powell and others have argued, in light of the minimal investments that NEH and NEA require and the significant benefits they produce for our cultural and historical heritage and our economy, they are in fact among the smartest investments we make, and I will continue to fight to preserve them. As Congress debates these issues, I hope you will keep in touch with your views.

Other Resources