"NEH CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE"
1999-09-08 until 0000-00-00
National Endowment for the Humanities
Washington, DC, USA United States of America

by Michael Bagley, Director, Office of Governmental Affairs When Congress reconvenes on Sept. 8, the Senate is expected to resume action immediately on the fiscal year 2000 Interior appropriations bill, which includes NEH's allocation. NEH's current budget--for FY 1999, which ends Sept. 30--is $110.7 million. Before adjourning for the August recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an increase of $1 million each for NEH and the National Endowment for the Arts. There were also efforts by a bipartisan coalition of Senators (including Cochran, Bennett, Kennedy, Moynihan, and Jeffords) to increase funding for the Endowments by more than $1 million each, but the legislation was not completed before the recess. The President has requested budgets of $150 million for each of the Endowments. We will report the outcome of the deliberations in the October issue of NEH Outlook.

NEH is also pleased to be hosting a regional breakfast event on Sept. 14 in the Capitol, featuring Shelby Foote. Mr. Foote, a distinguished writer and historian who narrated the Ken Burns Civil War series, will speak to the congressional audience about the significance of southern culture. The event is sponsored by the Grocery Manufacturers of America. NEH will host future breakfast events on Capitol Hill featuring distinguished speakers from other regions.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of District of Columbia

Other Important Exhibitions in Washington