With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

AHA: Support Amendment to Restore NEH funding

Humanities Advocates:

There is still time to take a few minutes and write or call your Representative.

The U.S. House of Representatives is tentatively scheduled to consider the FY2007 Interior Appropriations bill between Friday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 23. Recently, the Interior Appropriations Committee supported the President's request and recommended funding for the NEH at $142 million. Despite the appearance of level funding, this actually is a proposed cut of $1.3 million to the agency's core programs of research, education, preservation & access, public programs, and challenge grants.

We expect that when the bill comes to the House floor, an amendment will be introduced by the leadership of the Congressional Humanities Caucus [Rep. Jim Leach (IA-2) and Rep. David Price (NC-4)] and the Congressional Arts Caucus [Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-28) and Rep. Christopher Shays (CT-4)] to increase funding for the NEH and the NEA by $10 million to $15 million, evenly divided between the two endowments. This would mean an increase for the NEH of $5 million to $7.5 million that would help rebuild program lines suffering from budget rescissions and inflation.

We strongly encourage you to send a message to your member of Congress via email or fax, urging them to vote in favor of this amendment.

Beginning text and talking points are provided for you to amplify at . We suggest adding information about your own programs and the importance of humanities funding to the citizens of your member's district (there is no need to ask for the support of the caucus co-chairs).

Many thanks for your help in this important effort to increase funding for the humanities!