The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the federal government specifically designed to support and enhance the arts community for minority groups. The NEA was founded in 1965 and has controlled the arts community ever since. This contributed to the censorship of seemingly obscene and controversial works of art. Eliminating the NEA, or making it a private organization, would free up much-needed public taxpayer money to go to bigger parts of nations' budgets, as well as opening up artistic communities to the freedom to exhibit controversial works of art. the NEA deems it inappropriate. Congress created the National Endowment for the Arts in response to the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965. The NEH Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson and established into law the creation of two separate, independent agencies, the NEA and the NEH. The idea for the bill originated in 1963, when the National Commission on the Humanities published that the arts and humanities in schools were declining due to the emphasis on science. In March 1965 Congressman Moorhead proposed a bill to the legislature to implement the suggestions of the commission's findings. In September the NEH Act of 1965 was signed into law, thus creating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities ("How the NEH Got its Start"). The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 was enacted into law to promote advancement and scholarship in the arts and humanities in the United States. This bill was established to “encourage… and support [the] national progress… in the humanities and the arts.” The bill states that it is mainly up to the local government to initiate the Association...... middle of paper......h. 2010 Web. April 11, 2011. Rice, William Craig. “The arts will thrive without the National Arts Fund.” Free speech. Ed. Giovanni Boaz. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Current Controversies. Gale Opposing views in context. Network. March 3, 2011.Schlinkert, Sam. “Art Censorship Controversies: A Brief History. Aromatic thread:1-8. 2 December 2010. Web. 11 April 2011. < http://flavorwire.com/133635/art-censorship-controversies-a-brief-history-nsfw >.Van Harken, Joseph. “Budgets reduce the student experience.” CNN Politics. Turner Broadcasting System Inc. August 20, 2003:1-3. Network. April 4, 2011. “Change landing page.” The Metropolitan Opera. The Metropolitan Opera. 2011. Web 7 April. 2011. .