The following is an Action Alert AAM Government and Public Affairs just sent
to
its Museum Advocacy Team regarding this year's funding for the federal
cultural agencies.


To:     MUSEUM ADVOCACY TEAM
From:   AAM Government Affairs
Date:   June 29, 1999
Re:     Good News!...House Subcommittee Recommends Funding Increase for the
Office of Museum Services


UPDATE : The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee met today on the
Interior Appropriations bill, which includes funding for the federal
cultural agencies.  On a positive note, the subcommittee is recommending a
$995,000 increase over FY 1999's $23.4 million for the Office of Museums
Services (OMS) within the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
According to subcommittee staff, it is not clear yet how the extra funding
will be allocated.  It might be split with about $100,000 used for
administrative purposes and remaining funds designated to help museums
prepare and exchange educational resources through technology.

Unfortunately, the subcommittee recommended funding level with last year for
the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the
Humanities (NEH) leaving the agencies with funding levels of $98 million and
$110.7 million, respectively.  Chairman Ralph Regula (R-OH) noted the
exceptionally tight budget constraints in  discussing the subcommittee's
inability to fund more programs.  Although the subcommittee was not able to
find additional funding for the NEA and NEH, several members
[Representatives Regula, David Obey (D-WI), and Norman Dicks (D-WA)]
mentioned their desire to find increased funding for these agencies before
the bill is signed. Later this week, the full House Appropriations Committee
will meet on July 1, 1999 to review the subcommittee's recommendations on
the Interior Appropriations bill.  We will, of course, keep you updated on
any important developments.

On the Senate side, the full Senate Appropriations Committee last week
approved increases for all three cultural agencies with an additional
$500,000 for OMS, and $1 million each for NEA and NEH.  It is unclear when
the bill might go to the Senate floor.  As always, any differences between
the Senate and House bills will have to be reconciled by a Senate/House
conference committee.

To those of you who received our targeted alerts we thank you again for
responding on such short notice and contacting your representative to
request increased funding for OMS, NEA and NEH.  Your action was invaluable
during this time.  Indeed, your response has put us in a better position to
try to increase funding for all three agencies later in the appropriations
process.

For more information, please contact us at (202) 289-9125

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://museums.state.nm.us/nmmnh/museum-l.html. You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).