I am a longtime supporter of the arts at the state level, first as the Chair of the State Legislature's Joint Committee on the Arts, and now as a Member of the U.S. Congressional Arts Caucus. I value the tremendous role arts funding and arts education programs play in the lives of our children and community. As the parent of two young children, I am particularly interested in the most recent research on links between arts education and child development. Children who learn to read music or play an instrument show improved proficiency in math and science. Several academic studies demonstrate the connection between music, dance, visual arts, and the development of the human brain. It is well known among researchers that arts education cultivates critical thinking skills that are so important in our information-age economy. I believe arts education should be a vital component of a comprehensive curriculum in our schools. Such education has been increasingly recognized as important to the well-being and academic achievement of students in grades K-12.

As a Member of Congress, I have encouraged increased federal funding for art and music education programs in several letters to the House Appropriations Committee. I also supported increased funding for a bipartisan amendment to the House Interior Appropriations bill to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America Grants and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) "We the People" Initiative.

I also support the California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) Community Arts Partnership (CAP) program. The CAP program is a broad-based educational initiative that delivers arts education to secondary schools in partnerships with leading professional artists and academics. The program provides economic and educational opportunities for inner city and suburban youth through hands-on training in the arts and entertainment industry. In conjunction with its nine partner organizations in Los Angeles, including the Armory Center for the Arts, CalArts has served over 80,000 students and has contributed to their increased self-confidence, creativity, job marketability, and academic success.

In addition, I host an annual Congressional Arts Competition. Every high school in California’s 29th Congressional District is invited to submit three entries. Each spring, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor competitions in their districts as part of a nationwide Congressional High School Arts Competition - "An Artistic Discovery" - that aims to foster artistic talent throughout the nation.

To read more about the Congressional Arts Competition, click here.