Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 15:41:01 -0400

From: Allan Metcalf AAllan[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM

Subject: NEH budget vote



In the United States, the National Endowment for the Humanities has

significantly funded research in our field. The American Dialect Society

belongs to the National Humanities Alliance, a small Washington agency that

cultivates appreciation among members of Congress for the benefits of NEH.

NHA now notifies us that a vote on NEH appropriations is imminent, and

recommends that we get in touch immediately with certain members of the House

of Representatives. What you do is up to you, but FYI, I repeat the NHA

message below. - Allan Metcalf



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NHA Washington Update, June 21, 1995

by John Hammer and Cuc Vu, National Humanities Alliance





House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Passes Bunn Amendment to

Increase NEH FY96 Budget by Almost $50 million



The News



On June 20 the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Related

Agencies marked up their FY96 appropriations bill. Chairman Ralph Regula

(R-OH 16th) recommended funding NEH and NEA at $99.7 million. This

represents a 43% cut for NEH from the current FY95 level of $177 million

and a 39% cut for NEH. However, the subcommittee passed an amendment by

freshman Congressman Jim Bunn (R-OR 5th) to transfer $50 million from the

Life Sciences Research Service in the Department of Interior to the NEH.

With the transfer, the figure for NEH for FY96 will be close to $150

million. Only four members--Regula, George Nethercutt (R-WA 5th), Bob

Livingston (R-LA 1st), and David Skaggs (D-CO 1st)--opposed the Bunn

amendment.



Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ 5th) introduced an amendment that would have

shifted 80% of NEH funds to the states. Kolbe presented his amendment as

consistent with H.R. 1557, a reauthorization bill introduced by William

Goodling (R-PA 19th) and passed in May by the House Economic and

Educational Opportunities Committee, which calls for a four-year phase out

of NEH and an 80% state set-aside. In a point of order, Norman Dicks (D-WA

6th) urged the subcommittee not to act on Kolbe's amendment on the grounds

that it was an attempt to legislate policy and thus was an inappropriate

issue to put before the subcommittee. The subcommittee agreed, and Kolbe

withdrew his amendment. Kolbe said he will try to rework his amendment for

the full Appropriations Committee markup on Thursday morning, June 22.



NHA Position



NHA supports the current funding level of $28 million for the state

programs. An 80% transfer of the proposed $150 million, would devastate

national educational, research, and public programs.



Request for Action



NHA urges its members and friends to contact the chairs and ranking members

of the Appropriations Committee and Interior Subcommittee. The message to

convey is:



We very much appreciate the $150 million markup for funding the National

Endowment for the Humanities. However, we oppose any effort that

would give more to the states than they now receive.



At this point, phone calls to staffers are better than faxes. By whichever

mode of communication you wish to use, please make sure you make contact by

the close of business on Wednesday, June 21.



Ralph Regula, Chairman of Interior Appropriations Subcommittee

Tel (202) 225-3876

FAX (202) 225-3059

Staffer: Barbara Wainman



Sidney Yates, Ranking Minority of Interior Appropriations Subcommittee

Tel (202) 225-2111

FAX (202) 225-3493

Staffer: Mary Bain/Jason Alderman



Bob Livingston, Chairman of Appropriations Committee

Tel (202) 225-0739

FAX (202) 225-3015

Staffer: Stan Skocki (sounds like "skokey")



David Obey

Tel (202) 225-3365

FAX (202) 225-9476

Staffer: Christina Hamilton



Additional



NHA strongly encourages constituents of Jim Bunn (OR-5th), Barbara

Vucanovich (NV-2nd), Joseph Skeen (NM-2nd), Jim Kolbe (AZ-5th), Joseph

McDade (PA-10th), Charles Taylor (NC-11th), Sidney Yates (IL-9th), Norman

Dicks (WA-6th), Tom Bevill (AL-4th) and David Obey (WI-7) to thank these

legislators for their support of the NEH. Constituents of Jim Kolbe should

also urge him not to offer his amendment to transfer 80% of NEH funds to

the states.



This is an intense time for the NEH and things are moving fast on Capitol

Hill, so please stay tuned!





Cuc Vu

National Humanities Alliance

21 Dupont Circle, N.W. Suite 800

Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 296-4994

Internet: cuc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]cni.org