Legislative News
Read the latest arts news
Last week, a letter signed by 140 chambers of commerce from 39 states across the country was delivered to Congressional leadership in support of federal relief for the nonprofit arts and cultural community. This letter was generated by a small group of chambers and distributed by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and Americans for the Arts.
On April 8, 2020, Americans for the Arts hosted a webinar titled “How the CARES Act Supports the Arts Sector” to discuss the recent COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress at the end of March. Americans for the Arts Government Affairs staff and valued guest speakers discussed the various pieces of the legislation that pertained to the arts sector.
Late last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed (96-0) the third phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19) response relief package. This vital piece of legislation includes direct support for both nonprofit cultural organizations and state and local arts and humanities agencies, as well as economic relief provisions for independent contractors, "gig economy" workers and artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses working in the creative economy.
Americans for the Arts has released the fall update to our federal legislative priorities. This one-page update and advocacy tool includes a new section on Arts & Health featuring the Dignity in Aging Act.
Californians for the Arts' action center has more information on the arts advocacy efforts on this bill, and the Teaching Artist Guild offers an in-depth analysis on the bill's impact on teaching artists.
Americans for the Arts has been pursuing more federal legislative priorities this year than ever before. To help track the various federal legislative priorities we have released a one-page update and advocacy tool.
On June 25, Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) introduced the Saving Transit Art Resources (STAR) Act (H.R. 3437), which would reinstate flexibility and allow local transit authorities to incorporate art into federally-funded transit projects and facilities. Rep. Adams is uniquely situated to introduce a bill supporting local art in transit projects as a practicing artist and art history professor.
After two years of hearings and legislative advocacy, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the Texas Commission on the Arts 2020-21 budget into law on June 15. The budget adds $250,000 for Exceptional Item #3—Arts Healing Grants for Active Service Members and Veterans to be administered under the state Arts Respond program.
The U.S House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee strongly rejected President Trump's budget request to eliminate both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities by appropriating $167.5 million in funding for FY 2020, an increase for both agencies of $12.5 million.
Following the record-breaking U.S. House of Representatives “Dear Colleague” letter a few weeks ago, a similar letter also circulated in the U.S. Senate led by Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) calling for support of $167.5 million for both the NEA and the NEH for FY 2020 appropriations. Nearly half of the U.S. Senate—44 Senators—signed on to this important letter.
