Topic: Arts License Plate Fee
Increases the fees for Arts License Plates. It is estimated that this increase will generate more than $1.5 million for arts education and local arts programs.
Topic: State Investment in Arts and Culture
Expresses the California Legislature's intent to seriously consider recommendations contained in specified reports concerning the value of the arts, culture, and cultural heritage.
Topic: The Non-Profit Integrity Act of 2004
Requires strict policy changes for non-profit organizations regarding fund-raising, auditing, board responsibilities, and reports to the Attorney General's office.
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Urge Congres to suppot the President's request for an increae of $18 million in the FY05 Interior Appropriations Bill to fund American Masterpieces, a major new initiative for the NEA that will combine arts presentations with education programming to provide Americans with access to their cultural and artistic legacy.'
Write Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer and ask their support to amend its version of the bill to conform to the House version with respect to the NEA, $127.5 million.
In Jue, the House of Representatives voted 241 to 185 to increase funding for the NEA by $10 million.
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
We urged Congress to support the President's request of $162 million for the NEH in
the FY05 Interior Appropriations bill.
President Bush is asking for $33 million to support the We the People initiative, which is designed to address many Americans' disturbing lack of knowledge about their own nation's history.
Institute of Museum and Library Services (Office of Museum Services)
We urge Congress to support no less than the President's proposed increase to $41.7 million for the Office of Museum Services in the FY05 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriation bill.
The Office of Museum Services supports all types of museums, including art, history, science, children's, specialized institutions, and living collections such as zoos and aquariums.
Improve the Visa Process for International Artists
We ask Congress to urge the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) to adopt common sense administrative reforms to ensure the time processing of nonprofit arts-related visa petitions.
1. Reduce the processing time for O and P petitions filed by, or on behalf of, nonprofit arts-related organizations to a maximuym of 30 days, and specify that failure to comply with this deadline automatically moves the petition to the Premium Processing Service for consideration with 15 calendar days, without an additional fee;
2. Permit O and P visa applications to be filed one year before the propsed
employment will begin;
3. Update the petition form and instructions for O and P visas, which are outdated and inaccurate;
4. Implement uniform policies, procedures, and training at BCIS Service Centers for handling all petitions.
Action result: May 1, 2003 Senator Dianne Feinstein, member of the Judiciary Committee wrote to Eduardo Aguirem, Jr. Acting Director of BCIS by 4/11 to see that these reforms are implemented. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Representatives Melissa Hart (R-PA) and Howard Berman (D-CA) are leading the efforts to improve the visa process for foreign guest artists.
Transportation Enhancements
Under current law, enhancement funds may be used for a wide variety of arts-related activities, including commissioning public art, creating performance and exhibition venues in parks and historic structures, and many others. The federal government distributes enhancement funds to every state by a formula (10% of highway funds are allocated to enhancement projects) and currently these funds amount to approximately $600 million annually.
Advocates for enhancements will work to convince the full House of Representatives to approve a floor amendment to restore the enhancement requirement back into FY2004 Transportation Appropriations bill. The House will not take up this bill until after the August recess. There is time to write your elected representative in their districts.
Americans for the Arts will be formulating a letter on their Online Advocacy Center with talking points and other materials needed for action. www.ArtsUSA.org
FY2004-05 California Arts Council is $2.075 million if the legislature passes the state budget and the Governor signs the state budget.
ACTION ALERT:
Write your legislators and the Governor and remind them:
*The arts produce economic activity and income for the state.
*The arts are a $16.75 billion a year economic engine, accounting for
more than 400,000 jobs and contributing over $800 million to the state
treasury in the form of fees and sales and income taxes.
*One out of every four dollars spent by tourists is arts-related.
*The CAC's arts education programs are vital to the education of a
future generation that will be competitive in a global economy.
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