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ask.heather@mail.house.gov

In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax

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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico


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Wilson Announces Introduction of Arts Education Bill March 21, 2002
 
Bill will give children greater access to arts education


Washington, DC-Congresswoman Heather Wilson today announced that she has introduced a bill to increase resources for arts education in New Mexico. Her bill will amend the current “Access to the Arts” program under NEA so that a higher percentage of funding is used to create arts education programs in elementary and secondary schools. Currently, 50% of any amount over $175 million appropriated to the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) is allocated to schools for arts programs. Wilson’s bill will lower that amount to $98 million over which 100% would go to schools.

“I believe that getting the arts back into our schools should be the priority,” Wilson said. “Recent studies show that students who are involved in arts programs tend to have greater self-confidence and perform better academically. It is my goal to provide the means for more children to enjoy this benefit and to appreciate the arts.”

In the current fiscal year -- FY02 - Congress appropriated $98 million for the national Endowment for the Arts. After talking to artists and educators in New Mexico, Wilson concluded that any new federal arts funding should go to elementary and secondary schools.

“If we don’t educate our children in the arts, there will be no one to support the arts in the future,” said Mary Ann Weems, owner of Weems Gallery and Weems Artfest. “I am thrilled that Congresswoman Wilson has introduced this bill. Her devotion to education and the arts is real and this bill will make a real difference for kids.”

Congresswoman Wilson is focusing her attention in the coming weeks on improving public education. Throughout the next few weeks she will introduce several pieces of legislation that will focus on areas where Wilson believes the public education system can be strengthened or improved.


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