Sponsor
Marsha Blackburn
Senator · R-TN
Senator · R-TN
The bill increases transparency and accountability of the NEA's federal-charter privileges but risks institutional disruption, reduced advocacy for arts funding, and added administrative costs for the NEA and arts organizations.
Arts nonprofits and the public: the NEA must annually certify it did not engage in federal lobbying, increasing transparency and accountability for how the federally chartered corporation uses its federal privileges.
The NEA, its staff, and grant recipients: the NEA could lose its federal charter if found to have engaged in lobbying, risking institutional disruption and potential interruption of grant programs and partnerships.
Communities, schools, and arts organizations: restricting NEA lobbying reduces the agency's ability to advocate for arts funding and policy, which could lower support for community and educational arts programs.
The NEA and arts nonprofits: new certification and audit requirements impose administrative burdens and compliance costs, diverting staff time and resources away from program activities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits the National Endowment for the Arts from lobbying, requires annual certification to the Secretary of Education, and makes charter termination the penalty for violations.
Official title: Prohibit the National Education Association from engaging in lobbying activities.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn · Last progress July 29, 2025
Prohibits the National Endowment for the Arts (a federally chartered corporation) from engaging in lobbying as defined by the Lobbying Disclosure Act and requires the organization to annually certify to the Secretary of Education that it did not lobby. The NEA must keep records the Secretary may audit, and loss of its federal charter is the penalty for violating the lobbying ban. Also updates the table of sections in title 36 to add the new prohibition. The bill creates an administrative compliance requirement for the corporation and a severe enforcement consequence (termination of the charter) for violations.