Congressman Cohen Receives an "A+" on the Arts Action Fund Congressional Report Card

“I am very grateful for this recognition by Americans for the Arts,” said Congressman Cohen. “Throughout my legislative career, I’ve advocated for more arts education, specifically more public arts education. The arts should not be viewed as an ‘add-on’ to core educational programs but recognized as an integral part of a complete education. Arts education should not be a luxury of the wealthy, but available to all children to enrich their lives, broaden their horizons and encourage success in education, career and life.”

The Report Card assigns each Member of Congress a letter grade and numerical score based on his or her voting record on specific arts and arts education policy issues. Four separate congressional actions are covered, and each is weighted based on its importance to the arts—with the greatest weight given to four votes on funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). A perfect score equals 100 points, and the points are correlated to a letter grade of A+ through F. Congressman Cohen is one of just 36 House members who scored an A+, and the only member from Tennessee to do so.

House Members received grades chiefly based on:

• Four anti-arts amendments in the First Session of the 110th Congress that attempted to cut, substantially reduce, or transfer significant funding for the NEA Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Membership in the Congressional Arts Caucus
• Introduction or cosponsorship of arts-related legislation
• Signatures on “Dear Colleague” letters to the Appropriations Committee, asking it to increase funding for the NEA or for arts education

“This Congress has made art-friendly public policies a priority,” said Congressman Cohen. “I was proud to vote for and cosponsor legislation to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts by $20 million earlier in the session, and I will fight against any efforts by the minority party to undermine this vital organization.”

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, (202) 225-3265/ (202) 368-9275 (mobile)
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, (202) 225-3265 / (202) 320-2817 (mobile)