H.R. 491·Elementary Intermediate
A Bill to Create the Elementary Arts Grant Program
Rep. Lopez (D-NV)
Competitive federal grants to expand visual and performing arts in K-5 schools.
Sec. 1 — Mandate
Establishes the Elementary Arts Grant Program at the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sec. 2 — Eligibility
Title I elementary schools may apply for up to $50,000 per year.
Sec. 3 — Funding
$240 million over 4 years.
Sec. 4 — Enforcement
NEA biannual program evaluation.
Tournament Prep
Mechanical parts, sourced & timed
Use this as your pre-round checklist. Memorize the source citation. Time yourself to the delivery target.
- Bill / Number
- H.R. 491 — A Bill to Create the Elementary Arts Grant Program
- Funding source
- $240M over 4 years from NEA.
- Timeline
- Competitive grant cycle, first awards within 12 months.
- Realistic — NEA already runs comparable grant programs.
- Enforcing agency
- National Endowment for the Arts.
- Yes — NEA's core grantmaking function.
- Penalty for non-compliance
- Grant clawback for unmet performance metrics.
- Source citation
- NEA (2023), 'Arts Education Navigator' — arts.gov.
- Delivery time (read aloud)
- 55s
Strongest counter-argument
Arts funding is discretionary and doesn't belong in federal K-5 priorities.
Your pre-emptive answer
NEA's longitudinal data (2019) shows low-income students with arts access are 4x more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. This *is* an academic-equity program.