Press Releases

DPE has media staff in Washington, D.C. to handle inquiries from journalists on issues related to professionals in unions. To schedule an interview with a member of the DPE staff, contact Katie Barrows at kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org or call 202-638-0320 ext. 15 or 202-549-5991.

Katie Barrows 9/10/24 Katie Barrows 9/10/24

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Launch Policy Agenda That Reimagines Federal Support for the Nonprofit Arts and Public Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2024 - Today, the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition within the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) unveiled its Reimagining Federal Support for the Arts and Public Media policy agenda that lays out how the federal government can take an updated approach to supporting the nonprofit arts and public media. In addition to its ongoing push for increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CBP), the AEMI calls for policies to strengthen labor protections, ensure a greater worker voice in grantmaking, and modernize grantmaking guidelines.

“The nonprofit arts and public media are not just popular institutions, they are economic drivers that put union professionals to work in family supporting careers,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “Committed to their long-term success, the AEMI is proud to put forward a reimagined approach to federal support for the nonprofit arts and public media that will help sustain the sector’s economic and cultural power.”

The nonprofit arts and public media help drive a segment of the economy that regularly generates four percent of the U.S. GDP and supports more than five million jobs. In fact, many union arts, entertainment, and media professionals either earn their living now or started their careers working on nonprofit productions and public media programs that receive federal funding. The policy agenda recognizes that, along with increased funding for the NEA, NEH, and CPB, a modernized approach to federal grantmaking will help make sure the sector continues to be able to offer professionals sustainable careers.

The policies proposed include: strengthening and modernizing prevailing wage protections; prioritizing seats for worker advocates on the National Council on the Arts, the National Council on the Humanities, and the CPB’s Board of Directors; and authorizing larger-dollar general operating grants through the NEA, NEH, and CPB with a worker-centered approach to grantmaking.

“I’m excited to share this policy agenda, which is informed by the lived experiences of AEMI union members who have a unique vantage point on what’s needed to best support this vital sector due to the work they perform everyday,” said Dorning.

The AEMI includes:

Actors’ Equity Association
American Federation of Musicians
American Guild of Musical Artists
American Guild of Variety Artists
Directors Guild of America
Guild of Italian American Actors
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Office and Professional Employees International Union
Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
Writers Guild of America East

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.

Katie Barrows 7/29/24 Katie Barrows 7/29/24

DPE Stands in Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers on Strike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2024 - On July 26, video game performers who are Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) members went on strike against the video game companies signed to the Interactive Media Agreement. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in support of the striking video game performers:

“DPE stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA video game performers on strike for a fair contract that provides common sense AI protections for the professionals who contribute to the success of the multi-billion dollar video game industry.

SAG-AFTRA members voice the characters that make video game stories captivating and inspire loyalty to a game, series, or company. Video game employers must do right by performers and come to a fair agreement that respects and values human creativity.

SAG-AFTRA members know firsthand that, while AI is a tool that can contribute to workplace improvement, it also has the potential for abuse. Like professionals in every industry, SAG-AFTRA video game performers are right to demand reasonable, clear, and enforceable contract language that prevents exploitation through AI.

Our coalition of union professionals stands firmly behind SAG-AFTRA members holding the line for fair AI protections.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 4/30/24 Katie Barrows 4/30/24

DPE Applauds USTR’s 2024 Special 301 Report for Monitoring IP Protection Around the World

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Apr. 30, 2024 - Last week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its annual Special 301 Report, which details the findings of USTR’s review of intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement in countries around the world. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the report:

“I applaud Ambassador Tai, USTR staff, and interagency partners for their hard work on the 2024 Special 301 Report. Current information on global trends related to IP enforcement is important to union creative professionals. In today’s digital era, members of DPE’s affiliate unions depend on effective copyright enforcement around the world because they earn collectively bargained pay and contributions to their health insurance and pension plans from the legitimate global sales and licensing of the content they help create. Inadequate copyright enforcement, along with content theft, harms every day creative professionals due to lost jobs and hard-earned pay.

Ensuring effective global IP enforcement matters now more than ever given the advent of generative AI. Without safeguards and appropriate transparency, AI will be used as a sophisticated, deceptive tool for content theft and the unauthorized digital replication of individual’s voices and likenesses. Special 301 Reports can help ensure that the copyright and IP protections union creative professionals depend on for their economic livelihoods are not weakened, distorted, or ignored to unfairly benefit AI developers.

DPE reiterates its appreciation to USTR and the Biden-Harris Administration for its continued commitment to a trade policy that prioritizes the needs of professionals.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 2/6/24 Katie Barrows 2/6/24

DPE Applauds USTR’s Annual Report on Markets with Substantial Content Theft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2024 - The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2023 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy report, which calls out online and physical markets where substantial piracy or counterfeiting occurs in an effort to motivate private sector organizations and governments to reduce content theft. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the report:

“I applaud Ambassador Tai, USTR staff, and interagency partners for again highlighting the scourge of content theft through the 2023 Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy report. Union professionals who are members of DPE’s affiliated unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries depend on legitimate sales and licensing of the films, TV shows, music, and other works they help create for their collectively bargained pay and contributions to their health insurance and pension plans. The theft of this content harms every day creative professionals and the American economy as a whole by leading to annual losses in jobs and revenue in the creative industries.

DPE continues to push for strong copyright protections and enforcement to address these issues, especially with the emergence of generative AI. Absent safeguards and appropriate transparency, AI will be used as a sophisticated, deceptive tool for content theft and the unauthorized digital replication of individual’s voices and likenesses. Monitoring the misuse of AI for these illicit purposes in future Notorious Markets List will be important.

DPE appreciates USTR’s and the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to a trade policy that prioritizes the needs of working people.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 1/31/24 Katie Barrows 1/31/24

Coalition of Entertainment Workers, Unions, and Employers Urges Congress to Restore Tax Fairness by Passing PATPA as Tax Season Begins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2024 - This week marks the start of another tax season with a tax code that punishes entertainment professionals for seeking employment. Entertainment workers, their unions, and their employers are continuing to stand together to demand Congress pass the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) to restore tax fairness for those working in the arts and entertainment industries.

“For too long, hard-working, middle-class entertainment professionals have been penalized with an unfair tax code. Their taxes increased with the last tax reform bill while CEOs and billionaires got a tax cut,” said Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning.

When the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed, it eliminated the ability of entertainment workers to deduct necessary work expenses that most spend 20 to 30 percent of their gross income on. Without the ability to deduct expenses like travel to auditions, talent agents, and equipment, entertainment workers now owe burdensome amounts in taxes, which causes many to struggle to make ends meet.

PATPA would fix this issue by updating the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction. The QPA deduction allows eligible entertainment workers the option to take above-the-line deductions for certain unreimbursed expenses, but it is currently limited to taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of $16,000. PATPA would raise the thresholds of the QPA deduction to $100,000 for single tax filers and $200,000 for joint tax filers to help ensure middle-class entertainment workers qualify for the deduction.

PATPA was introduced for this Congress in the House of Representatives by Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Judy Chu (D-CA) in April 2023, and currently has support with 83 cosponsors. It also has the support of many employers and arts organizations, including Americans for the Arts, the Motion Picture Association, the Broadway League, National Independent Venue Association, and many state and regional arts organizations.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Buchanan and Chu in fighting for a tax code that treats entertainment workers fairly by co-sponsoring PATPA. We urge both the House and Senate to pass PATPA and send it to President Biden’s desk to sign into law,” said Dorning.

About DPE

Katie Barrows 5/8/23 Katie Barrows 5/8/23

DPE Commends the Nomination of Deborah Robinson for Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2023 - Today, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Deborah Robinson for the position of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC). The IPEC is the position in the Executive Office of the President statutorily charged with engaging on copyright protection and enforcement issues and coordinating the actions of multiple federal agencies.

Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on Robinson’s nomination:

“I commend President Biden for nominating Deborah Robinson to serve as the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC). Deborah’s more than two decade legal career makes her well-qualified to serve in this critical role.

At a time when policy makers are confronting the rapid emergence of AI and grappling with the growth of digital trade, middle class creative professionals, including members of DPE’s affiliate unions, need a person in the IPEC role who understands that their economic livelihoods depend on strong intellectual property protections. I believe Deborah meets the mark on this important qualification.

I urge the Senate to move swiftly on Deborah’s confirmation. Union professionals need a confirmed IPEC on the job right away. Previously, the Senate has confirmed IPEC nominees in both Democratic and Republican administrations with overwhelming bipartisan support, and Deborah should be no different.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 4/19/23 Katie Barrows 4/19/23

DPE Applauds the House Reintroduction of PATPA, Legislation Focused on Restoring Tax Fairness for Entertainment Professionals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2023 - Today, Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Judy Chu (D-CA) reintroduced the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA), which would update the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction by raising the adjusted gross income cap from $16,000 to $100,000 for single taxpayers and $200,000 for joint filers to help ensure middle-class entertainment professionals qualify to take the QPA deduction for certain unreimbursed, work-related expenses.

In response to the House reintroduction of PATPA, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement:

“This tax season middle class entertainment professionals once again grappled with owing unnecessarily burdensome amounts in taxes because they are unable to deduct expenses required to secure and maintain employment. I applaud Representatives Chu and Buchanan for prioritizing this issue by reintroducing PATPA.

Many middle class actors, stage managers, dancers, musicians, cinematographers, and other entertainment professionals spend 20 to 30 percent of their income on necessary work expenses. An unintended consequence of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the elimination of the ability to take miscellaneous deductions. This change hit these professionals, including members of DPE’s affiliate unions, particularly hard due to the out of pocket costs they incur to travel to auditions, for equipment, and to hire talent agents. In effect, these middle class entertainment professionals are incurring a financial penalty when they look for work in their profession. By updating the QPA deduction, PATPA will ensure that individuals in the entertainment industry have the option to take an ‘above-the-line’ deduction for these types of expenses.

We urge Congress to restore tax fairness for entertainment professionals by passing PATPA and sending it to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 4/14/23 Katie Barrows 4/14/23

Union Professionals, Including SDC’s Laura Penn, Appointed to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2023 - Yesterday, President Biden announced his appointees to the reestablished President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. The appointees include Laura Penn, executive director of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and member of the Department for Professionals Employees’ (DPE’s) General Board, and members of DPE’s affiliated unions.

The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities aims to facilitate public-private partnerships, promote interagency cooperation, and propose programs to enhance the arts, humanities, museums, and library services throughout the nation. Lady Gaga will co-chair the committee with producer Bruce Cohen. Other individuals appointed to the committee include actor George Clooney, television show creator Shonda Rhimes, and musician John Batiste. Additionally, the heads of key federal agencies, like the Chairs of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, will serve on the committee.

DPE President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the announcement of the appointees to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities:

“I applaud President Biden for restoring the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and for ensuring that union creative professionals have a seat at the table. I am thrilled that President Biden has appointed Laura Penn and other members of DPE’s affiliated unions to serve on this important committee.

Members of DPE affiliate unions play an essential role in powering the arts and humanities, and having their voice and expertise on this committee will be invaluable in building out a national strategy to advance the arts and humanities.

With the addition of Laura Penn, the committee gains an individual of great caliber and character who brings decades’ worth of experience in the arts. As executive director of DPE affiliate SDC, Laura understands first hand that union professionals strengthen the arts sector through bargaining for good pay, benefits, and working conditions. The achievements of SDC and members of other DPE affiliate unions have ensured that the people working in the more than five million jobs in the creative sectors can earn a fair return on their work and sustain family-supporting careers.

I’m excited to see the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities raise the profile of the arts and humanities and take steps to bolster the sector and the professionals who work in it.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 3/21/23 Katie Barrows 3/21/23

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Launch Updated DEI Policy Priorities for the 118th Congress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2023 - Today, unions of professionals in the arts, entertainment, and media industries affiliated with the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) announced their updated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy agenda for the 118th Congress. The policy agenda’s legislative priorities are centered around creating diverse talent pipelines, incentivizing diversity in hiring, and strengthening creative professionals’ workplace rights.

“Union professionals in the arts, entertainment, and media industries remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “The updated DEI policy agenda for the 118th Congress allows union creative professionals to continue building off gains made in collective bargaining that provide for more inclusive, representative industries.”

DPE and its 12 affiliated unions with members in the arts, entertainment, and media industries first released their DEI policy agenda in 2021. In the last Congress, union creative professionals advanced many parts of the agenda, including a meaningful increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the establishment of chief diversity officer positions at each agency.

The DEI policy agenda for 118th Congress includes additional legislative priorities, like restoring tax fairness for creative professionals and addressing systemic barriers to careers in arts, entertainment, and media. Still, passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, the American Music Fairness Act, and the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act; reforming Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; and creating federal tax incentives that will encourage more inclusive hiring remain core components of the policy agenda.

“The arts, entertainment, and media industries are becoming more diverse and inclusive thanks to the efforts of union professionals at the bargaining table and in the halls of power. However, we realize this work is not finished, which is why we remain committed to pushing for smart policy solutions that will help continue to move the creative industries forward and allow creative professionals of historically marginalized communities to realize the full value of their skills and talents,” said Dorning.

The unions supporting this DEI policy agenda include:

Actors’ Equity Association

American Federation of Musicians

American Guild of Musical Artists

American Guild of Variety Artists

Directors Guild of America

Guild of Italian American Actors

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Office and Professional Employees International Union

Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

Writers Guild of America, East

About DPE

Katie Barrows 1/31/23 Katie Barrows 1/31/23

DPE Commends USTR’s Report on Notorious Markets for Highlighting the Impact Content Theft has on Creative Professionals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2023 - Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its latest report that highlights prominent and illustrative examples of online and physical markets that reportedly engage in, facilitate, overlook, or benefit from substantial copyright piracy or trademark counterfeiting. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to the report, the 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy:

“I commend Ambassador Tai and USTR for using the 2022 Notorious Markets List to examine the impact online content theft has on U.S. workers. Additionally, I appreciate the report’s acknowledgment that this is an issue directly affecting the members of DPE’s affiliate unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries.

Union creative professionals rely on adequate and effective copyright protection to earn a fair return on their work. Many members of DPE’s affiliate unions in the arts and entertainment industries earn collectively bargained pay and contributions to their health insurance and pension plans from the sales and licensing of films, TV shows, music, and other content they help create. Revenue from authorized sales and licensing also funds the projects of tomorrow that union creative professionals count on for future jobs. As the 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy makes clear, content theft is pervasive and it hurts working people.

DPE remains ready to support USTR and the Biden-Harris Administration as they pursue a worker-centered trade policy that provides the strong copyright protections that middle-class creative professionals need to secure their livelihoods in today’s digital era. ”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 12/23/22 Katie Barrows 12/23/22

DPE Applauds FY23 Omnibus Legislation, Celebrates Federal Arts and NLRB Funding Increases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2022 - The Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill is headed to the president’s desk to become law after passing the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. This legislation contains numerous victories for union creative professionals, including increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) at $207 million each and for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) at $310.23 million.

“Increasing NEA and NEH funding to $207 million each for FY23 was a top priority for creative professionals and their unions due to the agencies’ critical role in supporting good-paying, family-supporting jobs in every state and congressional district,” said Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning. “This victory would not have been achieved without the grassroots advocacy of union creative professionals. $207 million in FY23 funding brings us an important step closer to our goal of a historical full funding level of $331 million, or $1 per capita, for both the NEA and NEH. I commend Representative Chellie Pingree and Senator Jeff Merkley for their championing of arts funding, and I am grateful for the bipartisan supporters of the arts and arts professionals in both the House and Senate.”

“Furthermore, the omnibus increases funding for the NLRB by $25 million. This is the agency’s first funding increase in 10 years, and it is needed to keep Board staff on the job to enforce private sector professionals’ workplace rights,” said Dorning.

The FY23 omnibus legislation also includes important funding increases for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

“Union journalists and creative professionals work directly for public media stations and help create the content that stations distribute. Public broadcasting has earned its bipartisan support among the American people because of the high-quality, educational content that these union members deliver to people in every corner of the country,” said Dorning.

Finally, Congress did not come to an agreement on a tax package, meaning the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) will not become law this Congress.

“I applaud Congress for coming together to pass FY23 omnibus legislation. While it is disappointing that tax fairness for entertainment workers will not be restored by this Congress, union creative professionals remain committed to passing PATPA in the next Congress,” said Dorning.

About DPE

Katie Barrows 12/6/22 Katie Barrows 12/6/22

Entertainment Unions Urge Congress to Restore Tax Fairness for the Industry’s Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2022 - Americans will soon start gathering their receipts and documents to prepare their taxes, and entertainment workers anticipate owing unnecessarily burdensome amounts in taxes because they are unable to deduct required work expenses. In a letter sent today, unions of entertainment workers affiliated with the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) call on Congress to restore tax fairness for these middle-class creative professionals by passing the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA), S. 2872/H.R. 4750.

“Entertainment workers should not be punished by the tax code for seeking employment,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “We urge Congress to fix this problem by passing the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act.”

Most entertainment workers spend 20 to 30 percent of their income on necessary work expenses, including transportation to auditions, talent agents, and equipment. Up until 2019, these common work expenses were deductible.

PATPA allows entertainment workers to deduct essential work expenses by updating the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction. QPA is a provision of the tax law that allows eligible entertainment workers the option to take an “above-the-line” deduction for certain unreimbursed expenses. Currently, the adjusted gross income threshold for the QPA deduction is $16,000, a level unchanged since QPA’s inception in 1986 under President Reagan. PATPA would raise the threshold of the QPA deduction to $100,000 for single taxpayers and $200,000 for joint filers to help ensure middle-class entertainment workers qualify for the deduction.

The ability to claim the QPA deduction would have a meaningful impact on the lives of entertainment workers and their families. According to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at the Actors’ Equity office in New York, a Pennsylvania sound engineer would realize a tax savings of over $4,500, a Nevada actor would pay $1,500 less in taxes, and a New York musician would save $3,000 under PATPA.

“After their industry was completely shut down by the pandemic, entertainment workers are still trying to get back on their feet,” said Dorning. “PATPA will put money back in the hands of entertainment workers to help them pay their rent, put food on the table, and contribute to their local economies.”

The labor organizations calling for the passage of PATPA include:

Actors’ Equity Association
American Federation of Musicians
American Guild of Musical Artists
Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
Directors Guild of America
Guild of Italian American Actors
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts
Office and Professional Employees International Union
Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
Writers Guild of America, East

About DPE

Katie Barrows 10/3/22 Katie Barrows 10/3/22

DPE Commends President Biden Declaring October National Arts and Humanities Month, Reestablishing the Committee on Arts and Humanities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2022 - President Biden has released a proclamation declaring October National Arts and Humanities Month for 2022. Additionally, President Biden has issued an executive order to promote the arts, humanities, museum and library services by reestablishing the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and directing cooperation among Federal agencies and offices.

DPE President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to President Biden’s arts and humanities proclamation and executive order:

“I am thrilled President Biden is again recognizing the importance of the arts and humanities to both America’s society and economy in his proclamation on National Arts and Humanities Month in October, and for issuing an Executive Order on Promoting the Arts, the Humanities, and Museum and Library Services.

An executive order on the arts, humanities, and museum and library services is welcome news for the members of many DPE affiliate unions who play an essential role in powering this sector. Specifically, union creative professionals make art on stage, on screen, in the recording studio, and behind the scenes, while museum and library union professionals provide the public with access to and information about the world around us. Building out a national strategy to advance the arts and humanities will have real value for these professionals, the American public, and local economies who benefit from the sector’s positive economic spillover effect.

The arts and humanities are responsible for more than five million jobs and over four percent of the United States’ GDP. Support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is critical to ensuring these jobs provide creative professionals with a family-supporting living in every state, and that all Americans can access artistic and educational content. DPE and our affiliate unions are committed to funding the NEA and NEH at $331 million each, or $1 per capita to expand employment opportunities and community access. Additionally, DPE is dedicated to fostering a more representative arts and humanities sector by continuing to advocate for policies aimed at creating diverse talent pipelines and incentivizing diversity in hiring in creative industries.

President Biden’s executive order also reestablishes and renews the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and I urge him to ensure that union arts and humanities professionals have seats on this important advisory committee.

DPE applauds the Biden-Harris Administration’s recognition of the arts and humanities, and remains deeply committed to helping continue its efforts to lift up and build out this important sector.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 6/29/22 Katie Barrows 6/29/22

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

Katie Barrows 6/8/22 Katie Barrows 6/8/22

DPE Celebrates the Creation of Chief Diversity Officers for the NEA, NEH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2022 - Today, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chair Shelly Lowe announced that their respective agencies will create a Chief Diversity Officer position. The announcement was made at the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing on fiscal year 2023 budget requests for the arts and humanities. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the establishment of Chief Diversity Officers for the NEA and NEH:

“The move to hire Chief Diversity Officers at the NEA and NEH is a win for creative professionals. 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. We applaud Chairs Jackson and Lowe for moving quickly to create more inclusive arts, entertainment, and media industries through the work of their agencies.

In February 2021, we released our Policy Agenda for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries, which includes recommendations aimed at creating diverse talent pipelines and incentivizing diversity in hiring in creative industries. We called for Chief Diversity Officers at the NEA and NEH because officers can boost the agencies’ capability to support performances and programs that offer underrepresented people an opportunity to develop skills, experience, and professional connections.

We look forward to working with the NEA and NEH Chief Diversity Officers as part of our longtime engagement with these important agencies. We continue to call on Congress to fully fund the NEA and NEH at $331 million, or $1 per capita.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 3/18/22 Katie Barrows 3/18/22

DPE Applauds the House’s Passage of the CROWN Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2022 - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed with bipartisan support H.R. 2116, the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, legislation which prohibits race-based hair discrimination, in a vote of 235-189. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to the bill’s passage:

“DPE and our affiliated unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries made passage of the CROWN Act a pillar of our Policy Agenda for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in these industries because no person should face discrimination for their natural hair, on or off stage. We applaud the House’s passage of this important legislation and thank the members who voted yes. Now it is the U.S. Senate’s turn to take action in order to send this important legislation to President Biden’s desk. We will continue our advocacy until the CROWN Act is the law of the land.”

In February 2021, DPE affiliates representing creative professionals released their Policy Agenda for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries. The agenda details legislative action the unions are pursuing to help make their industries more representative.

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Katie Barrows 1/21/22 Katie Barrows 1/21/22

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Urge Congress to Pass FY 2022 Funding for the Arts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, January 21, 2022 - Today, the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership urging the passage of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations bill that funds the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) at $201 million each and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) at $565 million.

DPE President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the need for a FY22 appropriations bill that increases federal arts funding:

“DPE and our affiliate unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries want Congress to know that continued investment in the NEA, NEH, and CPB is essential. These agencies fund programs that help veterans heal from the invisible scars of war, inspire the next generation of creators and innovators, and deliver content that unites people across small towns and big cities. By funding the NEA and NEH at $201 million each and the CPB at $565 million, programs supported by these agencies will be able to reach even more Americans.

Increased federal arts funding will also help get creative professionals, including members of DPE’s affiliate unions, back to work and help economies across the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. While creative professionals have started to get back on stage and return to sets, industry employment remains below pre-pandemic levels. Increased NEA, NEH, and CPB funding will help ensure that professionals working in the arts and public media can fully return to work. Funding the arts also generates consumer spending at restaurants, hotels, and other local businesses trying to build back from the pandemic.

Simply put, funding the NEA and NEH at $201 million and the CPB at $565 million will help creative professionals earn a living and provide Americans with access to enriching programs that lift up local economies. These funding levels are also an important step toward restoring the NEA to an inflation-adjusted full funding level of $331 million, or $1 per capita.”

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Katie Barrows 12/20/21 Katie Barrows 12/20/21

DPE Applauds the Confirmation of Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson as National Endowment for the Arts Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2021 - The U.S. Senate approved Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to Dr. Jackson’s confirmation to lead the NEA:

“I am excited to congratulate Dr. Jackson on her confirmation as chair of the NEA. Through her scholarship and tenure as a member of the National Council on the Arts, Dr. Jackson has demonstrated that she will be a champion for the arts and arts professionals. The NEA plays a pivotal role in the lives of union creative professionals. Many earn their living working on nonprofit productions and performances that receive NEA funding. Still more union creative professionals working now in the commercial parts of the arts, entertainment, and media industries established their careers through NEA-supported work in the nonprofit sector. As the arts recover from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, DPE looks forward to working with Dr. Jackson and the NEA to rebuild a more inclusive industry where creative professionals can get back to work in good-paying, family-supporting jobs.”

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Katie Barrows 9/29/21 Katie Barrows 9/29/21

DPE Applauds the Senate Introduction of the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2021 - Today, Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced the Senate version of the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA). This comes after the bill was reintroduced in the House of Representatives in July by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL). The PATPA would update the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction to correct an unintended consequence of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which caused middle class creative professionals' taxes to drastically increase by preventing the deduction of their work expenses.

Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to the introduction of the PATPA in the Senate:

“The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s elimination of the ability to deduct miscellaneous deductions had a devastating impact on union creative professionals, and addressing this unintentional consequence of the 2017 tax legislation has remained a top priority for DPE and our affiliated unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries. We commend Senators Warner and Hagerty for introducing this important legislation in the Senate, which will right this wrong.

Many middle class actors, stage managers, dancers, musicians, cinematographers, and other creative professionals spend 20 to 30 percent of their income on necessary expenses to secure and maintain employment. Losing the ability to deduct these work expenses hit many creative professionals hard and caused them financial strife even before the pandemic cut off many creators' income. The PATPA is a needed correction that will restore tax fairness and put money back in the hands of hard-working, creative professionals.

We urge Congress to pass this critical piece of bipartisan legislation and we look forward to President Biden signing the PATPA into law.”

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Katie Barrows 7/28/21 Katie Barrows 7/28/21

DPE Applauds the Re-Introduction of the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, July 28, 2021 - Today, the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would update the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction to correct an unintended consequence of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which caused middle class creative professionals' taxes to drastically increase by preventing the deduction of their business expenses.

Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the reintroduction of PATPA:

“We applaud the re-introduction of PATPA and urge the Senate and House to pass this critical bipartisan legislation so the President can sign it into law.

Middle class creative professionals have suffered greatly from the significant tax increases that resulted after they lost the ability to deduct their business expenses. Actors, stage managers, dancers, musicians, cinematographers, and many other creative professionals spend 20 to 30 percent of their income on necessary expenses to secure and maintain employment, including travel to auditions, talent agents, and camera equipment. Without the ability to deduct these expenses many middle class professionals struggled to make ends meet even before the pandemic started when many creators still had income coming in. The PATPA will restore tax fairness and put more money in the hands of hard-working, creative professionals.

Righting this unintentional wrong created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has been a top priority for DPE and our affiliate unions due to the devastating impact the change to the QPA deduction has had on union members. We thank Rep. Chu and Rep. Buchanan for re-introducing this important piece of bipartisan legislation and we look forward to PATPA becoming law.”

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