PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

National Endowment Restructuring Act of 1995

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 25, 1995

National Endowment Restructuring Act of 1995 - Establishes a National Endowment for Arts, Humanities, and Museum Services (the Endowment), as an independent establishment to administer activities established under this Act. Provides for appointment of an Endowment Director and for the positions of Deputy Directors of Arts, of Humanities, and of Museum Services. (Sec. 7) Sets forth provisions for grants. Requires the Director, acting on the recommendation of the National Council on Arts, Humanities, and Museum Services (established by this Act), to use specified reserved funds to make grants to: (1) nationally prominent groups and institutions (and, in the humanities, scholars) for projects, productions, and workshops in the arts and in the humanities; (2) States and regional groups in allotments to support local groups and institutions in the arts and in the humanities (allowing the use of up to five percent of such grants for strengthening elementary and secondary education in the arts and humanities, especially in underserved communities); and (3) museums to increase and improve museum services. Sets the Federal share for: (1) nationally prominent arts and humanities grants and museum services grants at 25 percent (or 16.67 percent in the case of a group with an annual budget in excess of $3 million), with permissible increases to up to 50 percent under certain conditions; and (2) grants to States and regional groups to support local groups and institutions in the arts and humanities at up to 50 percent, with permissible increases to up to 100 percent to cover excess costs in certain situations. (Sec. 8) Sets forth grant application procedures. Prohibits activities that are determined to be obscene from being funded under this Act. Sets forth requirements and procedures for advisory panels to: (1) review grant applications; and (2) make recommendations to the Council in all cases involving requests for grants under this act, except where the Director exercises certain delegated authority. (Sec. 10) Establishes in the Endowment a National Council on Arts, Humanities, and Museum Services (the Council). Sets forth requirements for Council membership appointments, qualifications and terms, and for Council duties and powers. Directs the Council, with the advice of the Deputy Directors of the Endowment, to ensure that Endowment policies and activities are coordinated with other Federal Government activities. (Sec. 11) Sets forth limitations on grants, including: (1) certain requirements for groups, installments, and labor standards; and (2) prohibitions on grants to individuals (except nationally prominent scholars in the humanities), lobbying, subgrants, seasonal support, and preferential treatment. (Sec. 12) Sets forth administrative provisions relating to the Director's authority, an Office of Inspector General in the Endowment, donations, bequests and devises, tax laws, and grant review and evaluation procedures. (Sec. 13) Requires an annual report of the Director and certain financial reports by grant recipients. (Sec. 14) Sets forth provisions for grant payments and sanctions for noncompliance with grant conditions or use of funds for obscene works. (Sec.15) Authorizes the Director, with the advice of the Deputy Director of the Humanities and the council, to annually award: (1) the Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities Award; and (2) the Charles Frankel Prize. (Sec. 16) Amends the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act to authorize the Council to make agreements to indemnify eligible items against loss or damage. (The Council replaces the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities in this.) (Sec. 17) Authorizes appropriations for grants under this Act. (Sec. 18) Provides for certain transfers of functions, appropriations, and personnel to the Endowment. (Sec. 19) Repeals: (1) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965; and (2) the Museum Services Act. Terminates the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum Services, Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities, National Council on the Arts, National Council on the Humanities, and National Museum Services Board.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX] · R–TX

Committees

  • Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10657-10658)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1071 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1071 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1071 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1071 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources