Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment offered by Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-7) that will save the taxpayer over $20 million this year.  The amendment was added to H.R. 1, the FY2011 Continuing Resolution, which funds the government for the remainder of the current fiscal year. The amendment to the budget bill would return funding for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) back to FY2006 levels, which would save $20.5 million.

After the successful passage of this amendment, Congressman Tim Walberg stated, “I offered this budget amendment to save the taxpayer $20 million and believe that if American families and businesses are reducing their budgets, so should the federal government.  As a patron and former finance chair of a local arts organization, I appreciate and support the arts.  This funding cut would return the NEA to a funding level that it has previously operated from and yet allow it to remain an active participant in supporting the arts.”

Click Here to View the Floor Speech by Rep Walberg in Introducing this Proposal