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The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly today to reject an amendment to a spending bill that would have slashed funding for the arts and humanities by 15%.

The amendment, offered by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-wi), which was defeated by a vote of 297-114. Only one Democrat — Vicente González of Texas — voted in favor of slashing the budgets of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, with a slim majority of Republicans (113-112) voting in favor.

The amendment was opposed by a coalition of a dozen entertainment industry unions, including SAG-AFTRA, the DGA, Actors’ Equity, Iatse and the WGA East. Industry opposition was led by the AFL-CIO’s Department of Professional Employees, to which many of the unions are affiliated.

“The Nea and Neh are vital to our economy, helping to support family-sustaining jobs in all 50 states,” said Dpe president Paul Almeida. “As we...

Hollywood’s unions are “steadfastly” opposing an amendment to a bill pending in Congress that would slash funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities by 15%. The coalition of 12 unions, representing half a million industry workers and artists, includes SAG-AFTRA, the DGA, Iatse, the American Federation of Musicians, Actors’ Equity and the WGA East.

The opposition is being spearheaded by the Department of Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, through which many of the unions are affiliated.

Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-wi) offered the amendment to next year’s Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

“The Department of Professional Employees and our affiliate unions in the arts, entertainment and media industries steadfastly oppose the Grothman amendment and any other attempt to slash federal arts funding,” Dpe president Paul Almeida said in a statement. “The Nea and Neh are vital to our economy, helping to...