NEH FY ’10 Budget Increased Under House Bill

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) would receive $170 million under the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies fiscal year (FY) 2010 bill (H.R. 2996) (H. Rept. 111-180) that was passed (254-173) by the House of Representatives on June 26. This represents a $15 million increase over the FY 2009 level of $155 million.

The $170 million is in line with the Obama administration’s NEH budget request. However, the bill as passed would result in a more significant increase for the NEH than the President proposed.

The Administration proposed transferring oversight responsibility for the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program (NCACA) from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Obama administration’s budget included $10 million in new funding to NEH to administer a redesigned program of competitive grants to arts, historical, and cultural institutions in the District of Columbia.

However, the House rejected this proposal and would retain the status quo with respect to the NCACA. As a result, the entire $15 million increase in the House-passed bill would go to core NEH programs.

FY 10 NEH Funding by Program (H.R. 2996 as passed by the House vs. FY09 enacted)
(In thousands)

  • $41,124 – Federal/State partnership ($35,000) +$6,124
  • $17,442 – Preservation and access ($16,000) +$1,442
  • $15,942 – Public programs ($14,500) +$1,442
  • $17,277 – Research programs ($14,500) +$2,777
  • $16,027 – Education programs ($14,500) +$1,527
  • $750 – Program development ($400) +$350
  • $14,500 – We The People Initiative grants ($15,800) -$1,300
  • $5,138 – Digital Humanities Initiatives ($4,000) +$1,138

$128,200—Subtotal Grants————-$114,700 +$13,500

  • $4,800 – Treasury funds ($5,000) -$200
  • $9,500 – Challenge grants ($9,300) +$200

$14,300– Subtotal Matching Grants—-($14,300)

$27,500 – Administration ($26,000) +$1,500

$170,000 – TOTAL HUMANITIES ($155,000) +$15,000

Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up its version of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies fiscal year (FY) 2010 bill on June 25. The Committee recommended a much smaller increase for NEH. The agency would only receive an increase of $6.3 million increase for FY 10, up to a level of $161.3 million.

The Committee concurred with the House that the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program (NCACA) should not be transferred from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s breakdown of NEH funding at the programmatic level is not yet available.