Congresswoman McCollum's Remarks to Americans for the Arts

[as prepared]

Good afternoon!

Nina, thank you for the very kind introduction. You and your colleagues at Americans for the Arts are top notch and I deeply appreciate the work you all do. I am thrilled you are all here in Washington this week! It is important that you are here.

For those of us in Congress who believe in strong federal support for the arts, we need you here. We need your energy and your passion. Most of all, we need your determination to educate policymakers about the power of the arts in our economy, in our communities, in our schools, and in our lives.

Tomorrow is Arts Advocacy Day and you’ll be on Capitol Hill walking the halls, meeting with Members of Congress and staff, and making your voices heard. First, let me say thank you for being here. I know it is a sacrifice to leave home and come to Washington – especially when it’s a 70 degree day and the cherry blossoms are exploding! But the truth is … it is absolutely critical that your voices be heard.

This is a very, very difficult budget environment and nothing is guaranteed. As an appropriator, I can tell you, we are going to have to fight and scrap for every dollar we can get for the arts. We are fortunate to have President Obama on our side and strong support in the U.S. Senate.

That’s the good news.

But in the House, we have some members – hopefully still a minority of the majority party – that want to zero out funding for the NEA, terminate the Department of Education, and then turn around and increase spending on the Pentagon. Folks, these are some of the same Members who told me last year that I was “micromanaging” the Pentagon’s affairs when I tried to stop the Department of Defense from spending over $50 million sponsoring NASCAR racing teams and bass fishing tournaments with your tax dollars.

I am all for cutting wasteful spending – like NASCAR racing teams – and investing in what works because ART WORKS!

We know the NEA helps create and sustain jobs because there are nearly 6 million Americans working as artists or in arts related activities. We know the arts strengthens communities and local economies, and NEA funding helps leverage millions and millions of additional dollars for investment. So, let’s be clear, even in this tough budget environment, investing in the arts should be a bi-partisan issue. It is an education issue. It is a jobs and economic development issue. And it is a quality of life issue.

This is what every Democrat and Republican in Congress needs to hear tomorrow as you advocate, activate and educate! And for those of you who have come here year after year, you still need to deliver the message! And let me tell you why.

Back in March of 2007, I had the honor of having Bob Lynch present me with your Congressional Arts Leadership Award. It was a very special award. I bring this up because I had the Congressional Research Service do some checking and from the beginning of 2007 when I received that award until today there are 229 new Members of Congress. That means 53% of Congress is new in the past six years. That is a tremendous amount of turnover. A lot of strong supporters are gone and new members have taken their place who may not have much background. Others may have come to Washington with misperceptions about the NEA and federal funding that need to be dispelled.

So, you have a lot of educating and informing to do tomorrow!

As you get ready to go to Capitol Hill, here is how I would categorize the offices you will visit: You have your champions; your persuadable; and those who, let’s say, have yet to see the light. For your champions – thank them! Tell them how much you appreciate their support and let them know all the wonderful activities and important investments taking place in their districts and states. They are not only your champions, but they will be the leaders we need on the floor to rally support among other Members.

The persuadables: These are the Members who need to hear what you have to say. They need to know that their constituents value a federal investment in the arts and arts education. They need to know that jobs are being created in the arts and a real and sustained economic impact as a result of investing public dollars that leverages even more private dollars.

This is where the particular impact on rural and suburban communities will be critical to your message. Most urban legislators are already on your side. But making the case to a Member that reflects the perspective of rural or suburban citizens is critical to broadening support.

The persuadable Members are often times supporters who are looking for a reason to give you a vote as long as they have the political cover back home. This means make your advocacy not a one day affair, but a long-term relationship. After tomorrow, visit the district office in the coming months. Write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper highlighting your visit and the benefits of federal arts funding to your district. Give that persuadable member every reason to vote with you and for the arts.

Finally, some of you will visit offices that are not receptive, don’t know the issue, or just don’t care about the federal role in the arts. Be respectful, be friendly, and make the case the best you can.

Now, on Wednesday, President Obama will release his budget. I am looking forward to seeing $154 million for the NEA for fiscal year 2014. I hope to see strong funding for arts education. And, no changes in the deduction for charitable contributions.

As a member of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee in the House, I am going to be working closely with my Democratic ranking member, Jim Moran of Virginia, who is a fantastic arts supporter, to get President Obama’s request in the House bill. Our subcommittee chairman, Mike Simpson of Idaho, is a good man and a fair man, who I will personally lobby.

This will be a year of tough choices and I suspect some tough budget cuts, but we don’t need dumb cuts and cutting the NEA one dollar below the president’s request is what I would call a dumb cut. The one request I will make of President Obama – please nominate a new chairman or chairwoman for the NEA as soon as possible. We really need that agency leadership directly engaging with Congress.

Let me wrap up my comments with a bit of reflection.

My home district in St. Paul, Minnesota is an arts district. Artists, the staff of arts organizations, artistic entrepreneurs, business owners, patrons, donors, students, arts educators – these are my constituents. These are the people who elect me and send me to Washington to represent them. Some of my supporters and friends are here today and I would like to recognize the Minnesota delegation of arts advocates – please stand up.

In particular let me recognize Sheila Smith from Minnesota Citizens for the Arts for her amazing leadership of a powerful arts advocacy organization. Thank you, Sheila for all you do!

The economy, our educational system, the vitality and the spirit of St. Paul and our entire Twin Cities Metro area is directly tied to the creative energy, creative quality, and financial investment in the creative industries that is taking place. Art is an important economic sector in the Twin Cities which means we live in an exciting place. And so do many of you. You also live in exciting places with amazing stories of energy, renewal and revitalization because of the arts. Make sure your Members of Congress know it too! Tell your stories. Brag about your successes.

From rural towns to urban neighborhoods to suburban communities – tell the stories about why the richest and most powerful country in the world should continue to invest about 50 cents per person next year to support the National Endowment for the Arts. Talk about keeping arts educators in our elementary, middle school and high school classrooms. The arts are a cradle to grave investment – an essential investment – for all Americans to embrace that must be sustained, even when budgets are tight. You have my support and my commitment to work with both Republicans and Democrats to ensure the NEA is funded and able to effectively carry out its mission on behalf of the American people.

Thank you for your determination to make your voices heard as important decisions are made. Remember -- millions of Americans are standing with you who are working because art works!

Have a great day tomorrow and wear comfortable shoes! Thank you.