Photo Courtesy of Sen. Gillibrand’s Office
Sen. Gillibrand led the bipartisan letter that was signed by 24 senators.
By Forum Staff
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Friday led a bipartisan letter signed by 24 senators to President Donald Trump urging the administration to keep federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more than 50 years, the NEA and NEH “have provided vital support and resources to endeavors in the arts and humanities across the country,” Gillibrand said. The senators cited the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report that determined that the arts and humanities sector is a $704 billion industry, accounting for 4.2 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“The National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities have proven invaluable in the growth of our cultural institutions that our families and children enjoy, learn, and experience,” Gillibrand said. “Their reach extends to communities in every corner of the State of New York and across the country. The critical work of these agencies includes funding research, preserving our culture and history, strengthening museums, and bringing artistic projects to life, while adding tremendous value to the national economy. Support for national arts and humanities initiatives define who we are as a nation and are pivotal in the advancement of our education and economy.”
City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), chairman of the Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, added, “I strongly oppose any plan to cut funding to the NEA. The arts help us communicate the unsayable, envision a brighter future, and connect to one another in ways that almost nothing else can. Arts and culture are vital to creating the American spirit. Defunding the NEA would irreparably cripple the soul of our country. I stand with Senator Gillibrand in support of the arts.”
In the missive to Trump, the senators noted that the ideals of the NEA and NEH “are enshrined in our Constitution as a fundamental tenet of American civil society. Article I, Section 8 explicitly empowers the United States Congress to promote the ‘Progress of Science and useful Arts.’ The importance of federal support for these activities inherently aligns with the founding principles of this country.
“Federal support for the arts and humanities is essential to our education system, economy, and who we are as a nation,” they concluded. “We hope you will keep this in mind as you consider proposals that support these fundamental American institutions.”
