Following is an alert AAM Government Affairs faxed out earlier today to
the Museum Advocacy Team:


July 10, 1997

To: Museum Advocacy Team
About: House Floor Vote on NEA Expected Today
        CALLS AND FAXES NEEDED IMMEDIATELY

At 3:00 p.m. today, the House of Representatives is expected to begin floor
debate on the Interior Appropriations bill, which contains funding for the
federal cultural agencies.  The major focus will be on the fate of the
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).  You will recall that House
appropriators have recommended a 90 percent cut for the NEA -- down to
$10 million for FY 1998 from $99.5 million (which in turn represents nearly a
40% cut from FY 1995).

Last night, the powerful House Rules Committee, which sets the parameters
(known as "the rule") for debate and amendments on every bill before it
proceeds to the House floor for a vote, decided that they would not allow
any amendments to be offered to restore funding to the NEA.

On the other hand, "the rule" will allow an amendment, expected to be
offered by Rep. Ehlers (R-MI), which would eliminate the NEA, but provide
$80 million to be split three ways:  60% to local school boards for
school-based arts activities, 37% to go to state arts commissions, and the
remainder for administrative costs.  Before debating the merits of the Interior
Appropriations bill, the full House must vote on "the rule."  In this
case, the vote on "the rule" is the equivalent to a vote on the NEA.

Your advocacy efforts have been having a strong positive impact on
Capitol Hill.  The Republican Leadership is pushing the
Ehlers amendment as a "compromise" because they trying to win over
moderate Republicans who have promised to defeat a rule which does not
allow for a vote to restore NEA funding.  As of yesterday the Republican
Leadership believed NEA supporters would defeat them on a rule vote.

The House vote is a major step in the Congressional funding process.
While we have better hopes for the Senate, where members of the
authorization and appropriations committees have spoken out strongly in
support of the NEA and against House plans for elimination, a strong
showing of support for the agency in the House is critical.  The vote on
the rule is expected to be very close.  Therefore, we need to make one
last big push in the House. Please contact your Representative immediately
by phone or fax and urge him/her to:

  - Oppose a rule that would NOT allow a fair vote on restoring
NEA funding to at least the current level ($99.5 million).

  - Oppose the Ehlers amendment and other attempts to reduce the current
functions or funding of the NEA.

  - Support amendments to restore NEA funding to at least the current level.

        You can reach the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121.  In
addition, many legislators are reachable via e-mail and you can access
Congress via the Library of Congress web site: http://thomas.loc.gov.
Please call us if you have any questions at (202) 289-9125.  WE NEED YOU
NOW;  THIS IS THE BIG ONE.  Thank you.
**********************************************

  At the time of this posting, it appeared as though the House was a bit
ahead of schedule and would turn to the Interior Appropriations bill
around 2:30 pm.  Debate on the bill will continue for a while and
Representatives will be checking with their offices to see "how the calls
are coming in."  In other words, there is still time to make calls.  Keep
them coming.


Barry Szczesny
AAM Government Affairs
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