Americans for the Arts Advocacy Headlines

On February 2, the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to consider legislation that could end federal support for public art projects through the Transportation Enhancements program. Find more information about the program here. Please write you member of Congress today to convey the message that the Transportation Enhancements program should continue supporting public art and museums!

U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson has appointed Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch to a two-year term on the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Bryson stated, Lynch’s “experience in the travel and tourism industry will be an important resource to me as well as to the Board in advising me on ways to strengthen the industry, expand economic opportunities for American businesses, and create jobs.” Read the press release here.

Rep. John Kline (R-MN), chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education has introduced long-awaited legislation to reauthorize the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (also recognized as the No Child Left Behind Act). While the legislation maintains the arts as a core academic subject, it also would terminate the federal Arts in Education program which has been in place for the last 10 years. Bipartisan Senate committee legislation was approved in October 2011, however this House legislation does not have bipartisan support, which is expected to delay consideration of the bill for the immediate future. For more information, please contact Senior Director of Federal Affairs & Arts Education Narric Rome at nrome@artsusa.org

A package of charitable giving incentives, which includes the IRA Charitable Rollover, expired at the end of 2011 with Congress failing to extend them. Legislators hope to wrap up this unfinished tax business before April 15. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) released a statement vowing "to find a bipartisan path forward" for these tax extenders, adding that "it is critical to extend these tax provisions early in the year to maximize their effect and provide certainty for the 2012 tax year."

The charitable deduction remains under scrutiny as the Deficit Reduction Supercommittee looks for ways to raise revenues and close the federal deficit gap. A recent plan floated by one of the Republican members was reported to have suggested changes or elimination of the deduction. While the proposal is just one of many ideas being considered for deficit reduction revenues, it serves as a stark reminder that almost all policy measures are on the table as the joint committee struggles to find middle ground.  

The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, led by Chairman Jack Reid (D-RI) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), proposed level funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities at $155 million for FY 2012. This draft appropriations bill is not expected to be considered by the full committee as time is running out for Congress to complete FY12 appropriations work, and they are likely heading towards an omnibus agreement rolling all spending bills into one.

On October 18, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT), held a hearing on tax reform and charitable giving. In their testimony, witnesses provided support for charitable deductions to the nonprofit sector and also specifically mentioned the importance of supporting the arts. Watch an archive of the hearing and read the witness testimony here.

The top ranking senators on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Mike Enzi (R-WY), announced an agreement to move forward with bipartisan education reform legislation. The full committee is scheduled to begin consideration of the bill this week, and many amendments are expected to be offered to this draft bill.