Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO

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DPE Commends House Appropriations Approval of NEA and NEH Funding, Looks Forward to Funding Bill Passage by the Full House and Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2022 - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee voted to approve the FY 2023 Interior Appropriations Bill, which includes $207 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) each. The bill now moves to the floor for consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to the approved federal arts funding levels:

“We commend the House Appropriations Committee for approving $207 million in funding for the NEA and NEH each for FY 2023. Increased funding is needed to ensure that the agencies can continue to support good-paying, family-supporting jobs in every state and congressional district for creative professionals, including the members of DPE’s unions. $207 million is also an important step toward the goal of a historical full funding level of $331 million, or $1 per capita, for both the NEA and NEH.

In addition, the funding approved today by House Appropriators enables both the NEA and NEH to hire Chief Diversity Officers, roles that will boost the agencies’ capability to support opportunities for underrepresented people to develop skills, experience, and professional connections. DPE and its affiliated unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries advocated for the creation of these senior positions because we know diversity is a strength and essential to the long-term sustainability of the creative sectors.

As the annual appropriations process moves forward, we call on the House and Senate to approve the $207 million in FY 23 funding for the NEA and NEH.”

About DPE 

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.