1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

As a constituent and arts education advocate, I am asking you to retain and increase funding for programs that support a well-rounded education that includes dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. The FY 2026 budget released by the president in May proposes drastic cuts to federal education funding, which could have a devastating impact on students, teachers, and communities. Cuts to K-12 competitive and formula grants would subject arts programs across the country to reductions in funds, lowering their capacity to provide students with a space to express themselves creatively, collaborate with classmates, and for many, serve as a catalyst for engagement in other subject areas. As Congress considers the FY 2026 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations bills, I urge you to support robust funding for the U.S. Department of Education, including specific allocations for the following: $18.67 billion for Title I, Part A $2.19 billion for Title II, Part A $1.6 billion for Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants under Title IV-A $40 million for the Assistance for Arts Education program $209 million for the National Endowment for the Arts Thank you in advance for being a champion for arts education!