On November 3, two attempts to eliminate federal funding for the arts and humanities in the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior Appropriations were both soundly defeated!

Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA-10) sponsored two floor amendments:

• Amendment #60 to eliminate all funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was defeated by a vote of 292-129
• Amendment #61 to eliminate all funding to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) was defeated by a vote of 292 to 132.

100% of Democrats voted against both amendments and were joined by a strong 39% of Republicans to make it a bipartisan declaration that Congress supports the arts and culture. You can now see your House member voted on the NEA vote and the NEH vote.

This victory is due, in no small part, to the hard work of arts advocates across the country. While more work needs to be done to match the Senate number for FY2024, today demonstrates the influence arts advocates have when united to support important federal arts programs.

What’s next? This House bill will now move to the Senate, where a difference in funding levels will be reconciled. The House level sets both agencies at $186 million each while the Senate recommends $207 million each. Americans for the Arts will be lobbying for the higher level.