A budget recommendation which emerged from the American Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee in late June, has proposed an increase in National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding from US$115.2 million to $119 million for FY03, according to reports from the National Humanities Alliance (NHA) and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). In contrast, the equivalent House committee has only recommended that $116.5 million be allocated to the NEA. However, NASAA reports that the Congressional Arts Caucus is working with arts advocates to develop a floor amendment which would 'further increase NEA and NEH (Humanities) appropriations when the Interior spending bill goes before the full house.' According to a report issued by Arts Wire, in addition to allowing an administrative increase, the extra funding would give an extra $2 million to Challenge America, a program which promotes education and access to the arts. Americans for the Arts states that the value of the NEA lies in its ability to 'nurture the growth and artistic excellence of thousands of arts organisations and artists [throughout the country], making the performing, visual, literary, media and folk arts available to millions of Americans.' In order to commit funds to support arts infrastructure, the organisation is urging a budget of $155 million be allocated to the NEA. Steve Horn, co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, has stated that 'An educational curriculum that excludes the arts limits a child's capacity to learn.' He also noted that according to the Americans for the Arts study, the non-profit arts industry generates $134 billion in annual economic activity, and has highlighted the importance of this evidence in demonstrating how far the arts reach – 'supporting not only the arts community but also the economy as a whole.'