URGENT: Oppose an Amendment to Decrease Funding for NEH!

This afternoon, the House of Representatives will consider an amendment to the FY 2019 Interior Appropriations bill that would cut the budget of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by 15% or nearly $23 million.

If we can defeat this amendment, the House will then proceed with a vote on an Interior Appropriations bill that will increase the NEH’s budget by $2 million.

Use our tool to call or write your Representative to oppose this amendment!

Learn more about the amendment to reduce NEH funding here.

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Subject:

Please Support the NEH!

Dear Official,

As a constituent, I am writing to urge you to vote against Representative Grothman’s proposed amendment (#169) to the FY 2019 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 6147) that would cut funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities. I urge you to support the funding level passed by the Appropriations Committee.

The NEH’s programs teach essential skills and habits including reading, writing, critical thinking, and effective communication that are crucial for ensuring that each individual has the opportunity to learn and become a productive member of society. Employers increasingly seek employees who can combine the cultural knowledge and analytical ability fostered by these programs with technical knowledge and scientific research fostered by STEM education to create innovation and economic growth.

In the past two years, the NEH has added the Standing Together initiative to its already critical work. The initiative funds reading groups for veterans that help them process their experiences through discussions of literature on war and homecoming; writing programs for veterans suffering from PTSD; intensive college-preparation programs; and training for Veterans Affairs staff to help them understand the experiences of veterans.

In addition to this initiative, the NEH continues to support the work of humanities councils, museums, libraries, and universities to preserve and explore local history and traditions; promote understanding among diverse communities; and foster a sense of our common ideals, enduring civic values, and shared cultural heritage.

While I appreciate the difficult budgetary decisions ahead, I strongly believe that the NEH must be a high priority.

Thank you for your consideration.

Regards, Your Name

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Hello, Thank you for taking my call! I'm a constituent from [city/town] and I am calling to express my support for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

I am concerned that President Trump's budget blueprint called for the elimination of the NEH. I hope that the Representative/Senator will do everything they can to oppose it. Do you know what the Representative/Senator's position is on NEH?

Possible Talking Points:

Share your experience with the agency!
NEH grants are critical for encouraging private financing of projects. Challenge Grants, for example, have been leveraged at a 3:1 ratio, while State Council grants are leveraged at a 5:1 ratio and Public Programs at an 8:1 ratio.
NEH grants are highly competitive, funding less than 16% of peer-reviewed grant applications.
NEH's Standing Together initiative supports veterans and their families in the transition back to civilian life, and promotes public understanding of the military experience for all Americans.
NEH-supported humanities councils provide continuing education and family literacy programs in every state in the country.

In all, please try to keep the conversation to just a few minutes.