Joint resolution to authorize the President to call a White House conference on the Arts, and to authorize the President to call a White House Conference on the Humanities.
PL 95-272 (H.J.Res.649), enacted 05/03/1978

92 STAT. 222 
PUBLIC LAW 95-272—MAY 3, 1978 
Public Law 95-272 
95th Congress 
May 3, 1978 
[H.J. Res. 649] 
White House 
Conferences on 
Arts and 
Humanities. 
1979 White 
House 
Conference on 
the Arts Act. 
20 use 951 note. 
20 use 951 note. 
Joint Resolution 
To authorize the President to call a White House Conference on the Arts, and to 
authorize the President to call a White House Conference on the Humanities. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled^ 
TITLE I—WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON THE ARTS 
SHORT TITLE 
SEC. 101. This title may be referred to as the "1979 White House 
Conference on the Arts Act". 
FINDINGS 
SEC. 102. The Congress hereby finds and declares— 
(1) that the development and encouragement of arts activity 
in the United States are of the utmost importance to the Nation's 
life and heritage; 
(2) that concern for the quality of life in the United States 
requires constant dedication, planning, and reflection on the state 
of the arts in the Nation; 
(3) that the arts have an increasingly significant impact on the 
economic sector of our society; 
(4) that it is appropriate to encourage the maximum and broad-
est participation by the Nation's citizenry, including, but not 
limited to, artists, knowledgeable citizens and other interested per-
sons, representatives of State and local governments, labor, agri-
culture, business and industry, educators (including art educators) 
and experts in all fields of the arts, in the process of insuring 
needed support for the arts among all parties concerned at 
Federal, State, and local levels; and 
(5) that in order to implement these findings, it is desirable to 
call a White House Conference on the Arts. 
WHITE HOUSE CONJFERENCE ON THE ARTS 
20 use 951 note. 
SEC. 103. (a) The President shall call a White House Conference 
on the Arts to be held no later than December 31,1979. The purpose of 
the Conference shall be to help develop a climate in which the arts 
can flourish, and recommendations to formulate an assessment of prob-
lems and issues relating to the arts, and to develop recommendations 
relating to the appropriate growth of the arts in all parts of the 
Nation. 
(b) The Conference shall be planned and conducted under the direc-
tion of a Presidentially appointed National Conference Planning 
Council on the Arts headed by a Chairman (appointed by the Presi-
dent) from among the members of the Council. Each department and 
agency of the Federal Government shall provide such cooperation and 
assistance to the Council, including the assignment of personnel; as 
may reasonably be required by the Council. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-272—MAY 3, 1978 
92 STAT. 223 
NATIONAL CONFERENCE PLANNING COUNCIL ON THE ARTS 
Establishment. 
20 u s e 951 note. 
SEC. 104. (a) There is hereby established a National Conference 
Planning Council on the Arts. The Council shall be composed of 15 
members appointed by the President. The Council shall provide 
guidance and planning for the Conference. 
(b) (1) Any member of the Council who is otherwise employed by 
the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition 
to compensation received in his regular employment. 
(2) Members of the Council, other than any member referred to in G)mpen8ation. 
paragraph (1), shall receive pay at rates not to exceed the daily rate 
in effect for GS-18 in section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for 
each day they are engaged in the performance of their duties (includ-
ing time engaged in travel). While so serving away from their homes Travel expenses 
or regular places of business, such members shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same maimer 
as authorized in section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons 
in Government service employed intermittently. 
(c) The Council shall cease to exist 180 days, unless extended by the Termination. 
President, but in no event a period not to exceed one year, after the 
submission of the report required in section 105. 
REPORT 
SEC. 105. A report of the Conference shall be submitted by the Coun-
cil to the President and to the Congress no later than 180 days follow-
ing the date on which the Conference is called and shall include 
recommendations for any legislative action necessary to implement 
the recommendations in the required report. The report shall 
immediately be made available to the public. 
Reports to 
President and 
Congress. 
20 u s e 951 note. 
Public 
availability. 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 106. In carrying out the provisions of this title, the Council 20 USC 951 note, 
and the Chairman shall— 
(1) request the cooperation and assistance of such other Federal 
departments and agencies as may be appropriate, including 
Federal advisory bodies having responsibilities in areas affecting 
the arts; 
(2) render all reasonable assistance, including financial assist-
ance, to the States in enabling them to organize and conduct con-
ferences on the arts before the Conference; 
(3) prepare and make available necessary background materials 
for the use of delegates to the Conference; 
(4) prepare and distribute such interim reports of the Confer-
ence as may be appropriate; and 
(5) appoint such individuals as may be necessary without Appointments, 
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
appointments in the competitive civil service, and without regard 
to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relat-
ing to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but at rates 
of pay not to exceed the rate prescribed for GS-18 in section 5332 
of such title. 
GRANTS 
SEC. 107. From any sums appropriated under section 108, the Chair- 20 USC 951 note, 
man, with the approval of the Council, may make a grant to each 
State, upon application by the State arts agency of the State, in order 
5 USC 5101, 
5331. 
92 STAT. 224 
PUBLIC LAW 95-272--MAY 3, 1978 
to assist in defraying the costs of the State in participating in the 
Conference program, including the conduct of at least one conference 
within the State: Provided^ That broad and maximum public partici-
pation is assured by such State arts agency which would include, 
but not be limited to, artists, knowledgeable citizens and other inter-
ested persons, representatives of State and local government, labor, 
agriculture, business and industry, educators (including art educa-
tors ), and experts in all fields of the arts. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
20 use 951 note. 
SEC. 108. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. 
20 use 951 note. 
1979 White 
House 
G>nference on 
the Humanities 
Act. 
20 use 951 note. 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 109. For purposes of this title— 
(1) the term "Chairman" means the Chairman of the National 
Conference Planning Council on the Arts; 
(2) the term "Conference" means the White House Conference 
on the Arts; 
(3) the term "Council" means the National Conference Plan-
ning Council on the Arts; 
(4) the term "State" means the several States, the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin 
Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern 
Marianas, and any other territory or possession of the United 
States; and 
(5) the term "arts" includes, but is not limited to, music 
(instrumental and vocal), dance, drama, theater, folk, art, crea-
tive writing, architecture and allied fields, painting, sculpture, 
photography, graphic and craft arts, industrial design, costume 
and fashion design, motion pictures, television, radio, tape, and 
sound recording, and the arts related to the presentation, per-
formance, execution, and exhibition of such major art forms. 
TITLE II—WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON THE 
HUMANITIES 
SHORT TITLE 
SEC. 201. This title may be cited as the "1979 White House 
Conference on the Humanities Act". 
FINDINGS 
20 use 951 note. 
SEC. 202. The Congress hereby finds and declares— 
(1) that the development and encouragement of national 
strength in the humanities is of the utmost importance to the life 
and heritage of the United States; 
(2) that concern for the vitality of democratic institutions, the 
character of national policies, and the application of our national 
heritage to the needs of the present and future requires full com-
mitment to, planning for, and reflection on the role of the 
humanities in national life; 
(3) that the humanities make an increasingly significant 
contribution to public and private decisions having major social 
and economic impact; 
PUBLIC LAW 95-272—MAY 3, 1978 
92 STAT. 225 
(4) that the relationship of the humanities to the health and 
pluralism of the Nation's culture and system of education is of 
fundamental importance; 
(5) that it is appropriate to encourage the maximum and 
broadest participation by the Nation's citizenry, including knowl-
edgeable citizens and other interested persons, State and local 
government, institutions and organizations in the humanities, 
representatives of labor, agriculture, business and industry, 
educators, scholars, and other participants in all fields of the 
humanities in the process of insuring needed support among all 
parties concerned at Federal, State, and local levels; 
(6) that in order to implement these findings, it is desirable to 
call a White House Conference on the Humanities. 
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON THE HUMANITIES 
SEC. 203. (a) The President shall call a White House Conference on 
the Humanities to be held no later than December 31,1979. The pur-
pose of the Conference shall be to help develop a climate in which the 
humanities can flourish, to formulate an assessment of problems and 
issues relating to the humanities, and to develop recommendations 
relating to strengthening the humanities in all parts of the Nation. 
(b) The Conference shall be planned and conducted under the direc-
tion of a Presidentially appointed National Planning Council on the 
Humanities headed by a Chairman (appointed by the President) from 
among the members of the Council. Each department and agency of 
the Federal Government shall provide such cooperation and assistance 
to the Council, including the assignment of personnel, as may 
reasonably be required by the Council. 
20 u s e 951 note. 
NATIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL ON THE 
HUMANITIES 
Establishment. 
20 u s e 951 note. 
SEC 204. (a) There is hereby established a National Planning Coun-
cil on the Humanities. The Council shall be composed of 15 members 
appointed by the President. The Council shall provide guidance and 
planning for the Conference. 
(b) (1) Any member of the Council who is otherwise employed by 
the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition 
to compensation received in his regular employment. 
(2) Members of the Council, other than any member referred to in eompensation. 
paragraph (1), shall receive pay at rates not to exceed the daily rate 
in effect for GS-18 in section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for 
each day they are engaged in the performance of their duties (includ-
ing time engaged in travel). While so serving away from their homes Travel expenses 
or regular places of business, such members shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner 
as authorized in section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons 
in Government service employed intermittently. 
(c) The Council shall cease to exist 180 days, unless extended by the Tennination. 
President, but in no event a period not to exceed one year, after the 
submission of the report required in section 205. 
REPORT 
SEC 205. A report of the Conference shall be submitted by the 
Council to the President and to the Congress no later than 180 days 
following the date on which the Conference is called and shall include 
recommendations for any legislative action necessary to implement 
the recommendations in the required report. The report shall immedi-
ately be made available to the public. 
Reports to 
President and 
20 u s e 951 note. 
Public 
availability. 
92 STAT. 226 
PUBLIC LAW 95-272—MAY 3, 1978 
20 use 951 note. 
5 use 5101, 
5331. 
20 use 951 note. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SEC. 206. In carrying out the provisions of this title, the Council 
and the Chairman shall— 
(1) request the cooperation and assistance of suoh other Fed-
eral departments and agencies as may be appropriate, including 
Federal advisory bodies having responsibilities in areas affecting 
the humanities; 
(2) render all reasonable assistance, including financial assist-
ance, to the States in enabling them to organize and conduct 
conferences on the humanities before the Conference; 
(3) prepare 
and 
make 
available 
necessary 
background 
materials for the use of delegates to the Conference; 
(4) prepare and distribute such interim reports of the Con-
ference as may be appropriate; and 
(5) appoint such individuals as may be necessary without 
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
appointments in the competitive civil service, and without regard 
to chapter 51 and subchapter I I I of chapter 53 of such title relat-
ing to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but at rates 
of pay not to exceed the rate prescribed for GS-18 in section 5332 
of such title. 
GRANTS 
SEC. 207. (a) From any sums appropriated under section 208, the 
Chairman with the approval of Council, may make a grant to each 
State, upon application by the State humanities entity of the State, 
in order to assist in defraying the costs of the State in participating 
in the Conference program, including the conduct of at least one 
conference within the State: Provided, 
That the broadest and max-
imum public participation is assured by such State humanities entity 
which would include, but would not be limited to, knowledgeable 
citizens and other interested persons, State and local government, 
institutions and organizations in the humanities, representatives of 
labor, agriculture, business and industry, educators, scholars, and 
other participants in all fields of the humanities. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
20 use 951 note. 
SEC. 208. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. 
DEFINITIONS 
20 use 951 note. 
SEC. 209. For purposes of this title— 
(1) the term "Chairman" means the Chairman of the National 
Planning Council on the Humanities; 
(2) the term "Conference" means the White House Conference 
.." 
on the Humanities; 
(3) the term "Council" means the National Planning Council 
on the Humanities; 
(4) the term "State" means the several States, the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin 
Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern 
Marianas, and any other territory or possession of the United 
States; and 
PUBLIC LAW 95-272—MAY 3, 1978 
92 STAT. 227 
(5) the term "humanities" includes, but is not limited to, the 
study of the following: language, both modern and classical; 
linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; 
philosophy; 
archeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism, 
theory, and practice of the arts; those aspects of the Social sciences 
which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; 
and the study and application of the humanities to the human 
environment with particular attention to the relevance of the 
humanities to the current conditions of national life. 
TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION 
SEC. 301. (a) Section 804 of the Education Amendments of 1974 
(20 U.S.C. 1221-1 note) is amended by striking out "1977" each place 
it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof "1980". 
(b) Section 804(e) of the Education Amendments of 1974 (20 
U.S.C. 1221-1 note) is amended by striking out "June 30, 1978" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "September 30, 1981". 
Approved May 3, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-887 (Comm. on Education and Labor). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-736 (Comm. on Human Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
Feb. 21, considered and passed House. 
Apr. 18, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 14, No. 18: 
May 3, Presidential statement.