Ranking Member Pingree Statement at the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request Hearing for the Arts and Humanities

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Ranking Member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request for the Arts and Humanities:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m so happy to be here today to discuss the fiscal year 2025 budget requests for our arts and humanities agencies.

As Chair of the Arts Caucus, I know that the arts have incredible value as a positive tool for economic development, education, and community building.

I am proud that over the last few years we were able to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities to historic highs and that we were able to protect their funding in the challenging fiscal environment of fiscal year 2024.

At $207 million each, the endowments are small but mighty powerhouses, and this modest investment has a far-reaching impact with funding benefitting every single district in America.

I am sorry the Smithsonian Institution is unable to participate today, but I am glad the National Gallery of Art is with us. These institutions inspire, challenge, and educate us through their collections.

We know that operating facilities in a constrained fiscal environment is challenging, yet it is essential we continue to share the Smithsonian Institution and National Gallery collections with the Nation and the world and maintain them for future generations. 

I am pleased one way the Smithsonian Institution does this is through the Smithsonian Affiliate program that affords museums such as the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor access to Smithsonian resources.

I look forward to discussing the FY 2025 budget requests for the arts, humanities, and the National Gallery, and learning about the goals you have outlined for fiscal year 2025.

Thank you again Director Feldman, Chair Lowe, and Chair Jackson for appearing before us this afternoon. I appreciate your testimony and answers to our questions.

I yield back.