The National Endowment for the Arts is in jeopardy following a proposed elimination from the Trump administration. This budget outline, however, is not final, and will be considered by congress in the months leading up to the new fiscal year. Here's how you can let your representatives know how much the NEA means to you.

Step One: Find your representatives and senators at GovTrack.us.

Step Two: Give them a call, and use the brief script below to tell them how important the NEA is to this country.

Remember: Even if your congressional representatives already support the arts or oppose these cuts, it’s still important to call and voice your concern. Express your hope that they fight these cuts—not just disagree with them.

My name is [NAME], and I’m a constituent in [CITY or TOWN]. I wanted to call to express my concern for the proposed elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as detailed in President Trump’s 2018 budget outline.

I would like to call to clarify [SENATOR or REPRESENTATIVE]’s stance on these proposed cuts. My hope is that [SENATOR or REPRESENTATIVE] will oppose and reject any attempt to eliminate the NEA and these other domestic programs.

Having received 147.9 million dollars, the NEA accounted for only .005 of the federal budget in 2016. And while the NEA comprises a mere sliver of the budget, its return on investment is massive. Each dollar funded through the NEA leverages nine dollars in public and private funds to support the arts. The work that this money goes toward trickles down into additional business, including tourism, hotels, construction, and real estate.

Not only is the NEA vital to preserving our rich cultural heritage, but it is also a smart financial investment

Thank you for your time.