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Washington, DC, October 14, 2005 - Action Needed - Just 4 Steps
Your help is needed to ensure that the Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education get the support they need from Congress. For the past four years, both the President and the U.S. House of Representatives have slated the Arts in Education programs for elimination. Due to strong support in the Senate, the Arts in Education programs have survived with modest increases each year. This year, the Senate Appropriations committee has approved $35.7 million - a $100,000 increase over last year's funding level. The House has eliminated arts in education from their appropriations bill. As Congress nears final consideration of all FY06 funding, we need strong support from the Senate in order for these programs to survive.

Act soon! Congress will return to Washington next Tuesday to resume the FY06 decision-making process. Make sure your Senators hear from you by Friday, October 21!

1. Read the Arts in Education issue brief for complete background information and talking points. Copy & paste into your browser: http://www.symphony.org/govaff/what/pdf/2005Art.pdf.
Or, this article and related links are available by sending an email to: info@artsfoundation.org

2.Contact your U.S. Senators.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy senator@kennedy.senate.gov
Sen. John F. Kerry john_kerry@kerry.senate.gov

3. Convey the following message to your Senators: "Support $35.7 million in FY06 for the Arts in Education programs at the U.S. Department of Education, which provide direct support for model community arts collaborations with schools and innovative professional development programs for arts specialists and classroom teachers."

4. Please notify Heather Watts Noonan in League Government Affairs, hnoonan@symphony.org, if you have contacted your Senators. The League will be closely tracking contacts to the Hill.