FY24 Funding Status for National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Education
Following Labor Day, Congress returned to D.C. and they have less than a month to negotiate a fiscal year 2024 spending package in order to avert a government shutdown. The likelihood of a government shutdown seems quite possible, especially because members of the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate are far apart on funding levels. In fact, the House has passed a budget for the NEA that would lower funding from its current level of $207 million to $183 million (a 10% reduction). The Senate has passed a budget that calls for level funding for the NEA for FY24. The disparity in funding for the NEA and all spending bills needs to be reconciled.
Arts advocates can do our part to help Members of Congress from both parties understand why the proposal to reduce funding for the NEA by 10% is so harmful, and why we instead fully endorse and support the bipartisan figure approved in the Senate of $207 million. Now is an important time to contact your Members of Congress and urge that they support maintaining level funding for the NEA.
Please tell your stories and talk about the important work your theatre is providing to your communities and how funding reductions will impact their constituents. Also, remind your elected officials that public funding for the arts strengthens every city, town and rural community nationwide. In challenging moments like this one, Members of Congress need to have tangible and specific information about the impact these cuts will have so that they can effectively push for the highest level of funding possible.
Further, the House Committee responsible for education funding has zeroed out the Assistance for Arts Education grant program at the U.S. Department of Education.
Advocates can play their part by contacting their federally elected officials to let them know how their constituents feel about the public good and benefit of these programs.
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Good News: Visa Fee Decision Delayed to 2024
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported that a final decision on new visa fees and rules will not occur until March 2024. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is still considering the high volume of public feedback on the massive fee increases proposed in January 2023, and will take those comments into account before issuing final rules that set new fee levels and the date the fees would go into effect. Theatres have been speaking up in opposition to the fee increase. TCG went on record alongside 120 arts organizations and businesses in joint comments to oppose proposals that would more than triple the current artist visa filing fee, cap the number of beneficiaries for group petitions, and lengthen the time USCIS has to respond to petitions filed via Premium Processing Service. These messages were reinforced in comments from Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.
Department of Labor Overtime Proposed Rule Change
At the end of August, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced issuance of its proposed rule raising the salary thresholds for white collar employees. The DOL is seeking to raise the current threshold for executive, administrative, and professional employees by 55% - from $684/week ($35,568/year) to $1,059/week ($55,068/year). The special category of Highly Compensated Employees would be increased from $107,432/year to $143,988/year, a 35% increase. The DOL is also proposing automatic adjustments to these thresholds every three years. Once published in the Federal Register, the public will have 60 days to provide comments, which means right at Halloween.
· Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees
· Frequently Asked Questions About the Proposed Rule
· Press Release: Department of Labor Announces Proposal to Restore, Extend Overtime Protections for 3.6 Million Low-Paid Salaried Workers