Action Alert: H.R. 1891 WOULD PERMANENTLY ELIMINATE FEDERAL ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS / HOUSE PANEL VOTES TO ELMINATE ARTS EDUCATION

California Alliance for Arts Education Action Alert | National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Legislative Alert| http://bit.ly/k7JABD

Mon, Jun 20, 2011 1:30 pm - After a contentious battle over the federal budget this Spring, lawmakers reached a compromise which, thanks to the strong, steady lobbying efforts of arts advocates, included funding for both the NEA and Arts Education programs.

But now, arts education programs are threatened by a new piece of federal legislation, the “Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act” (HR 1891), which calls for the elimination of 43 existing federal education programs, including Arts in Education.

Oppose HR 1891

This bill is more serious than the annual funding measures that threaten to de-fund arts education because it would permanently strip policy language from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

The full House of Representatives may vote on HR 1891 prior to their August Congressional Recess. Visit Americans for the Arts Action Center, where you can send a customizable message to your Member of Congress opposing this bill.

Send a Message Today

National News

House Panel Votes to Eliminate Arts Education
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce, with authorizing jurisdiction over the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), passed a bill to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education's Arts in Education program, which provides support for competitive grants to promote innovations in arts education. The Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act (H.R. 1891), introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) would eliminate some 40 education programs identified as "inefficient and unnecessary." There is no word on when the bill might go to the House floor for a vote. Learn more and stay tuned.

Legislative Alert

House Panel Votes to Eliminate Arts Ed; Prospects Uncertain
May 26, 2011
From: Thomas L. Birch, Legislative Counsel
Vol. 18:11
On Wednesday, May 25, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, with authorizing jurisdiction over the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), passed on a strict party-line vote a bill to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education's Arts in Education program, which provides support for competitive grants to promote innovations in arts education.
The Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act (H.R. 1891), introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, would eliminate some 40 education programs identified as "inefficient and unnecessary."
An amendment to the bill, offered by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), aimed to restore funding authorization for the arts education program and a handful of others such as language education, teaching of "traditional American history" and economic education. It failed to pass, on a party-line vote as well.
There is no word on when the bill might go to the House floor for a vote, or what its prospects might be in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Much of the legislative activity this year on Capitol Hill has revolved around legislation passed by the Republican majority in the House and rejected—or ignored—by the Democratic majority in the Senate.
The bill sponsored by Hunter was presented as the committee's debut effort in reform of ESEA. In fact, the measure has little to do with reform, failing to address concerns raised by Republicans as well as Democrats since the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act. The serious consideration of reforming federal education policy remains in the future.

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Monday, June 20, 2011