Sponsors
The bill increases transparency by requiring the NEA to certify it did not lobby, but that transparency comes with risks of charter loss, added compliance costs, and reduced ability for the NEA to advocate for arts funding that supports communities and schools.
Nonprofit arts organizations (and the public) gain greater transparency and accountability because the National Endowment for the Arts must annually certify it did not engage in federal lobbying, clarifying use of its federally chartered status.
Nonprofit arts organizations, schools, and local communities could lose advocacy and funding support because restricting NEA lobbying would limit its ability to advocate for arts funding and policy, potentially reducing support for arts programs that serve communities and schools.
Nonprofit arts organizations risk institutional disruption because the NEA could lose its federal charter if found to have engaged in lobbying, threatening continuity of grant programs and partnerships.
Nonprofit arts organizations would face higher administrative costs because the required certification and related audits impose compliance burdens and divert staff time from program activities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits the National Endowment for the Arts from lobbying, requires annual certification and records, and terminates its federal charter for violations.
Prohibits the National Endowment for the Arts (the federally chartered corporation) from engaging in lobbying as defined by the Lobbying Disclosure Act, requires the corporation to submit an annual certification to the Secretary of Education and keep records for audit, and makes loss of its federal charter the penalty for any violation. The law also inserts the new provision into the Title 36 table of sections.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn · Last progress July 29, 2025