Update August 29, 2018: Last Thursday the Senate passed a "minibus" appropriations bill that included level funding for Title VI and Fulbright-Hays. The full House will take action on a bill funding these programs after its August recess.

August 10, 2018: The appropriations process is much further along this August than it has been in years past. Last week the Senate joined the House in passing an Interior appropriations bill that included a $2 million increase for the National Endowment for the Humanities, which would bring its funding level to $155 million for FY 2019.

Almost all of our other priorities have passed the House and Senate floor with either level funding or increases. A funding chart tracking the administration’s budget request and the House and Senate numbers can be found here.

The Appropriations Committees in both chambers have approved Labor-H bills that provide level funding for the Department of Education’s Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs. The full Senate will likely consider the bill in the coming weeks, while the House will take it up when it returns from recess after Labor Day. When the chambers do consider the bills, Members of Congress will have an opportunity to propose amendments that change these funding levels. We will alert you if urgent action is needed on this front.

In the meantime, take a minute to thank your Members of Congress for supporting the humanities, especially those who voted against the Grothman amendment in the House, which would have decreased NEH and NEA funding by 15%. The 297 Members of Congress who voted against the amendment deserve a special thank you!

And remember, it’s August. Your representatives are at home meeting with constituents. Take a look at our District Advocacy Guide for suggestions of how to engage their offices!