Dear Colleague Letters

A ‘Dear Colleague’ letter refers to correspondence circulated by a member, or members, to colleagues describing a new bill, requesting co-sponsors, or asking for a member's vote on an issue. Note: There may be many reasons for not signing a letter, e.g. Appropriations Committee members do not typically sign Dear Colleague letters addressed to their Subcommittee.

Dear Colleague Letters in the House

National Endowment for the Humanities

• FY 2014 Dear Colleague Letter [April 19, 2013] (pdf)
• FY 2013 Dear Colleague Letter [March 20, 2012] (pdf)
• FY 2012 Dear Colleague Letter [April 20, 2011] (pdf)
• FY 2011 Dear Colleague Letter [March 19, 2010] (pdf)
• FY 2010 Dear Colleague Conference Letter [September 29, 2009] (pdf) 
• FY 2010 Dear Colleague Letter [April 3, 2009] (pdf)
• FY 2009 Dear Colleague Letter [March 21, 2008]
• FY 2008 Dear Colleague Letter [April 27, 2007] (pdf)
• FY 2007 Dear Colleague Letter [April 6, 2006] (pdf)
• FY 2006 Dear Colleague Letter [April 19, 2005] (pdf)

National Historical Publications & Records Commission

• FY 2006 Dear Colleague Letter [May 17, 2005] (pdf)
• FY 2007 Dear Colleague Letter [May 2, 2006] (pdf)
• FY 2009 Dear Colleague Letter [March 19, 2008] (pdf)

Dear Colleague Letters in the Senate

National Endowment for the Humanities & National Endowment for the Arts

• FY 2014 Dear Colleague Letter [April 25, 2013] (pdf)
• FY 2013 Dear Colleague Letter [March 29, 2012] (pdf)
• FY 2012 Dear Colleague Letter [May 3, 2011] (pdf)

Roll Call Votes

A roll call vote is a vote held on the record. The name of the Representative or Senator and his/her voting position are noted together. Individual legislators register votes during public roll calls, which happen frequently but are not mandatory. From 2005-2010, there were no roll calls recorded on behalf of the humanities in either the House or Senate chambers. An alternative to the roll call vote is the voice vote. With this method, members answer a question with an “aye” or “no” in chorus, and the chair decides which position prevails.

House Roll Call Vote 112^th Congress (2011)

Roll call Vote 633 to approve Amendment 715 (July 25, 2011): Amendment 715, sponsored by Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), proposed reducing funding in the Interior bill by $3 billion in various accounts, including $1.9 billion in EPA spending, as well as complete elimination of the NEH and the National Endowment for the Arts (among other programs). The Huelskamp amendment was defeated by a recorded vote of 284 to 126. Roll Call Vote Results