create a National Theatre program to further enhance the contributions of the arts to the American economy and culture.

The U.S. is seen as a leader in the world; yet, our government does not support the funding of the arts in the same way that European governments have by subsidizing national centers of performing arts. On December 5, 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts released for the first time estimates of the contributions of the arts to the nation’s economy. Based on the most recent data from 2011, it was calculated that the mediums including performing arts, movies, broadcasting, and more, were worth half a trillion dollars. This number outperformed even the tourist industry. Ideas, innovation, and creativity are essential to growing the United States economy. We should support the arts with a national theatre backing development.