House and Senate conferees on the Interior Appropriations Bill agreed late Monday, October 27, 2003, on a final spending measure to include $122.5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a $6.8 million increase over the NEA's FY2003 budget of $115.7 million. The arts appropriations legislation first passed by the House in July added $10 million in grant funds to the NEA's budget above the president's request of $117.5 million. So, the spending increase was approved last fall? I think you should post this as a thread for all to see.