A new record number of U.S. Representatives have signed the annual “Dear Colleague” letter in support of federal arts funding, led by the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY).

This year, the letter asked for “at least” $167.5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for FY 2020, and 184 U.S. Representatives signed the letter. This funding support matches the unified request of the nonprofit arts community.

The bipartisan letter is available for download here. The letter is addressed to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, which is responsible for setting the annual budget for the NEA and other cultural agencies. This letter is a key signal of wide and bipartisan congressional support as appropriators begin drafting legislation later this spring.

The continual increasing and bipartisan support in Congress behind this request is great news following another threat of proposed elimination from the president's FY 2020 budget. At the 32nd annual National Arts Action Summit, over 500 advocates attended a full day of advocacy and policy trainings to learn the latest research and legislative arts priorities. The following day on Arts Advocacy Day, advocates took their passion, knowledge, and stories to Capitol Hill for more than 300 meetings with congressional leaders and their staff. One of the messages arts advocates shared was information about the impact federal NEA grants make in local communities, and asking for their member's support of increased federal funding.