Message from Michael Butera: National Funding Crisis Update

March 8, 2011

Dear MENC members,

Please contact your elected officials today to ask for their support in voting against H.R. 1, in favor of the Inouye substitute amendment. Tell them that:

Funding must remain available to music programs in all appropriate ESEA-authorized programs, particularly in Titles I and II.

We understand the urgency to identify savings in federal expenditures, but this should not be done by further diminishing a well-balanced curriculum. For today’s students to succeed tomorrow, they need a comprehensive education that includes music taught by exemplary music educators. Please do not delay!

Click the links to find your elected officials:

• Contact your U.S. Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
• Contact your U.S. Representative: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

The background for this request, along with advocacy resources, is included below. If you have any questions, please contact advocacy staff members Chris Woodside or Nancy Townes at advocacy@menc2.org or 1-800-336-3768.

Now, for some additional information:

In the last few days, there have been important developments concerning the budget situation on Capitol Hill. The Senate is preparing to vote on the same troubling funding resolution that last week, the House of Representatives passed. This continuing resolution supports drastic spending cuts that include over 70 education programs and all Arts in Education programming, specifically. Senator Inouye of Hawaii has proposed an alternative funding measure, one that would maintain Arts in Education monies for the next 7 months, at minimum.

Today, the Committee for Education Funding, a coalition of 80 education organizations devoted to maintaining adequate funding for our nation’s educational system, sent out a letter to all Senate offices urging opposition to H.R. 1 and expressing support for the Inouye substitute, instead. As a CEF member organization, MENC supports the language of that message. Read the correspondence.

A short video message, a series of talking points, an overview of jeopardized programming, and a breakdown of funding allocations provided to assist in your advocacy efforts, are posted at Music Education and the National Funding Crisis. MENC’s March 3 webinar “Music Education and the National Funding Crisis” will be available soon on that site.

Thank you again for your support. Let’s get to work!

Sincerely,

Michael A. Butera
Executive Director, MENC