This week, the US House of Representatives reached a budget deal to fund the government for two years. This deal was done with the support of the White House and passed the House 284-149. The budget includes increased funding for the arts, and includes new language to support increased funding in new areas. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- + $12.5 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. New funding level is up from $155 million to $167.5 million.
- + $6 million for arts education.
- The Defense Department appropriations bill includes language, for the first time, to increase support for creative arts therapists to treat service members with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and psychological health conditions.
- The Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, also for the first time, dedicates $5 million to treat veterans with TBI and psychological health conditions through their Whole Health Initiative.
- The Justice Department appropriations bill calls on the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention to include arts-based juvenile justice programs among its strategies.
These positive results were the result of arts advocates across the country, including right here in South Carolina. In March, the SC Arts Alliance led a team of SC advocates to the Capitol Hill to advocate for many of the items listed above.
How Did SC Vote?
The SC Congressional Delegation voted the following way for this budget deal:
- Joe Cunningham (SC-01): No
- Joe Wilson (SC-02): Yes
- Jeff Duncan (SC-03): No
- William Timmons (SC-04): No
- Ralph Norman (SC-05): No
- Jim Clyburn (SC-06): Yes
- Tom Rice (SC-07): No
What’s Next
The Budget Deal now heads to the Senate to begin its journey through the Appropriations Committee and on to the full Senate. The full Senate is expected to take up the bill in September, following the August recess.
Take Action
Sen. Lindsey Graham is the only SC senator who sits on the Appropriations Committee which will take up the bill (and possibly amend it) before the full Senate.
You can contact your Senators through the national Arts Action Fund by clicking the link below.
