The fight for the NEA is a fight for the soul of our country. We cannot say we are a country that values creativity and the arts if we are merely going to praise the past and not encourage the future. The NEA is a critical part of our country's intellectual infrastructure, and threats to its funding weaken our foundation.
Congress cannot expect state and local government or the private sector to make up for already significant cuts in the federal contribution to the arts. Federal investment in the arts creates new jobs and improves the quality of American lives. In addition to supporting 1.3 million full-time jobs, the arts return $3.4 billion in federal income taxes each year. Our federal investment reaps a significant return.
Contrary to information being circulated by opponents of the NEA, a recent Harris poll found that 79 percent of Americans support a government role in funding the arts. The current NEA budget represents a 38 cent annual investment from each American. It costs us only 38 cents each to foster creativity and imagination in our communities.
It is a sad commentary when the richest nation on earth threatens to eliminate an endowment that makes such a great contribution to our country's vitality. A great nation must invest in artistic and cultural development, just as it protects natural resources or promotes scientific discovery.
