Government Affairs Update: Stay Engaged During August Recess

Congress Is on August Recess

Both the House and Senate are now on August recess. While things may be quiet on Capitol Hill, your elected officials are back home and available for meetings, local events, and town halls. This is a great time to build relationships with your representatives.

👉 Schedule a meet-and-greet with your elected officials and their staff! Find contact information here. Introduce your choral organization, share your work in the community, and help them understand why the arts matter—this will keep your stories fresh-in-mind when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day.

👉 Follow your elected officials on social media to stay informed and tag them when highlighting your local performances or programs. This is an effective way to raise your visibility.

These government affairs updates are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. Nonprofit arts organizations should consult with legal counsel for guidance specific to their circumstances.

Status of FY26 Funding for the NEA & NEH

• House: The House Appropriations Committee has proposed $135 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in FY26—a 35% cut from current funding levels. Read the bill text here.
• Senate: The Senate Appropriations Committee has recommended level funding at $207 million for both agencies, with clear bipartisan support. Read the bill text here.

Next steps: Each chamber will vote on its respective bill, followed by negotiations to reconcile the differences. A final vote on the compromised legislation must occur before the September 30, 2025 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

Update on Federal Funding for Arts Education

According to Chorus America’s partner, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Senate Appropriations Committee has proposed $79 billion in funding for the Department of Education—rejecting President Trump’s proposal to eliminate the department. The House has not yet released its version of the education funding bill.
Read more about the Senate’s education funding proposals here.

👉 Take Action: Tell Congress to support arts in education! Visit the Arts Education Alliance’s Action Center to send a message to your representatives.

Attention!  New Artist Visa Petition Forms & Fees

As of July 30, 2025, petitioners for the O and P visa must use the new Form I-129 (released 01/20/25).  It is strongly recommended that all petitions visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website before each petition to guarantee you are using the most up-to-date forms.  Read the Artists from Abroad news alert here.

What Is the Johnson Amendment—And Why Should Choral Groups Care?

The Johnson Amendment is a provision in the U.S. tax code that prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations—including nonprofit choirs and arts groups—from participating in political campaigns. This has helped preserve nonpartisanship across the nonprofit sector since it was introduced in 1954.

However, a current court case could change this. The IRS is now supporting a legal argument that religious organizations should be exempt from the Johnson Amendment. If successful, this would allow religious groups to speak out in support, or against, political candidates.

National nonprofit and arts coalitions are advocating to uphold the Johnson Amendment and maintain the separation of church and state.

Read more:

• Is the Johnson Amendment in Jeopardy? – CliftonLarsonAllen

Protecting the Johnson Amendment and Nonprofit Nonpartisanship – National Council of Nonprofits

Naming Proposals Involving The Kennedy Center

The House Appropriations Committee has proposed renaming the opera house inside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to “The First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.” The Senate did not include this proposal in its version of the bill.

Additionally, Representative Onder (R-MO) has introduced a bill to rename the entire Kennedy Center as the Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts—though this legislation is not expected to advance.