Last week a news story appeared in The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper with a strong reputation for accuracy, that the Trump administration is considering the elimination of the NEH, along with other cultural agencies. Normally the AHA would not send out an alert based on a single report in a single newspaper. It is clear, however, that the “blueprint” reported in The Hill indeed points to a threat to the very existence of the NEH. Moreover, this is a situation where we clearly need to be proactive. The humanities community, led by the National Humanities Alliance, has built considerable support in Congress and we need to mobilize our friends early.

Please help us help each other by making clear to the president and members of Congress that you value federal funding for the humanities.

The most effective way to influence members of Congress is through a telephone call. All members of Congress can be reached through the US Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you speak to a staff member, be sure to get their name and e-mail address so you can send either a message that you create or a copy of the message that the National Humanities Alliance has crafted.

You can also e-mail directly if you prefer not to call. Click here for a message that can be directed to your representative.

More detail about what is happening and why it is essential to contact your representatives now can be found here.

Thank you for joining in this important effort.

Sincerely,
Tyler Stovall, AHA President
Jim Grossman, AHA Executive Director

This post first appeared on AHA Today.