07-R390

2007 -- H 6140

Enacted 03/08/07

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MARCH 12TH-13TH, 2007 AS "ARTS ADVOCACY DAYS" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Lewiss, Costantino, Kilmartin, Naughton, and Diaz

Date Introduced: March 08, 2007

     WHEREAS, This year marks the 20th consecutive celebration of Arts Advocacy Day, a

national event designed to draw various cultural and civic groups together in order to educate,

promote, and advocate for increased funding for our nation's arts programs; and

     WHEREAS, For six successive years, the President's budget proposed decreased funding

for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs in schools; and

     WHEREAS, The new Congress will decide the fate of arts funding. Currently, the House

Appropriations Committee has approved a funding bill for FY 2007 that once again negatively

impacts our nations' arts programs by eliminating funding for Arts Education and cutting $115

million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB); and

     WHEREAS, The arts education programs are critical to the schools' quality of life, as it is

believed that one of the best ways to nurture imagination is to have school-aged children learn

and actively participate in the arts; and

     WHEREAS, Studies show that students who involve themselves in the arts are not only

more likely to partake in a math and science fair, but will also out perform their peers on the

SAT'S by 87 points; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, This House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby proclaims March 12th-13th, 2007 as "Arts Advocacy Days" in the State of

Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby respectfully urges the Rhode

Island Congressional Delegation to support increased funding for our Nation's Arts Programs;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the members of the Rhode Island Congressional

Delegation.

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LC02496

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