HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2017.05.10 - 22914MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #17121
BY: Commissioners David Woodward, District #19; Marcia Gershenson, District #13; Helaine Zack,
District #18; Janet Jackson, District #21; Gary McGillivray, District #20; Nancy Quarles, District #17; David
Bowman, District #10
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — OPPOSING PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP'S PROPOSED
ELIMINATION OF FUNDING PROVIDED TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the budget proposed by President Trump signals a disturbing and perilous vision for America
that abandons the millions of people who view the arts as a fundamental part of American lives and
American education; and
WHEREAS the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the independent federal agency that works to
give people across America the opportunity to participate in and experience the arts; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) through their 'Arts and Cultural Production
Satellite Account" calculates the arts and culture sector's contributions to U.S. gross domestic product
(GDP) at 4.2 percent or $730 billion; and
WHEREAS according to the Congressional Budget Office, the NEA's FY2016 appropriation of $147,9
million constitutes approximately .004 percent of the federal budget; and
WHEREAS in FY 2016, the NEA recommended more than 2,400 grants in nearly 16,000 communities in
every Congressional District in the country; and
WHEREAS approximately 36% of NEA grants go to organizations that reach underserved populations
such as people with disabilities, people in institutions, and veterans; and
WHEREAS approximately 33% of NEA grants serve low-income audiences; and
WHEREAS approximately 50% of NEA arts education grantees are located in high-poverty
neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS the NEA grants provide a significant return on investment of federal dollars with $1 of NEA
direct funding leveraging up to $9 in private and other public funds, resulting in $500 million in matching
support in 2016; and
WHEREAS N EA research shows that federal funding for cultural activities stimulates local economies and
improves the quality of civic life throughout the country, the NEA supports programs, such as those within
the Detroit Institute of Arts which enhances community and regional development, promotes cultural
planning, stimulates business development, spurs urban renewal, attracts new businesses, draws
significant cultural tourism dollars, and improves the overall quality of life in the tri-county region; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners believes it is essential that the National
Endowment for the Arts appropriations be funded ensuring that all Americans have access and
opportunity to engage with the arts.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby
opposes the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts funding as proposed by President Donald
J. Trump's 2018 America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again Budget Proposal and
fully supports the National Endowment for the Arts in their priorities and partnerships in communities
across the country.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to the President of the United States, the President of the United States
Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan
congressional delegation, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services,
the Governor of the State of Michigan, the State Senate Majority and Minority leaders, the State House
Speaker and Minority leader, the Director of the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Chairperson of the Oakland
County Arts Authority, the members of the Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, the
Michigan Association of Counties, the Macomb County Executive, the Wayne County Executive, the
Mayor of the City of Detroit.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner David Woodward
District #19
District #18
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Comm is n Gar( McGillivray
District #20 -----
Commissioner David Bowman
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Commissioner Marcia Gershenson
District #13
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Resolution #17121 May 10, 2017
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.