Following is an information alert AAM Government Affairs sent out today to
its Museum Advocacy Team:
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To: Museum Advocacy Team
From: AAM Government Affairs
Date: February 8, 2000
Re: Clinton Administration's FY 2001 Budget Proposal
On February 7, the president released his $1.84-trillion proposal for the
federal budget, which includes funding requests for the cultural agencies
and education programs. The budget also proposes tax initiatives of
importance to nonprofit organizations, including museums.
The president is requesting significant increases over FY 2000 funding for
the Office of Museum Services (OMS) within the Institute of Museum and
Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). With regard to the National Science
Foundation's Informal Science Education (ISE) program, we await the agency's
decision on a final budget figure. A large increase is being proposed for
the Department of Commerce's Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) -
formerly called the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure
Assistance Program (TIIAP). Listed below are the actual FY 2000 funding
levels for these agencies and the FY 2001 request.
Agency/Program FY 2000 (actual) FY 2001 Budget Request
OMS $24.3 million $33.4 million
NSF (ISE) $46 million Awaiting NSF confirmation
NEA $97.6 million $150 million
NEH $115.3 million $150 million
TOP $14.9 million $45 million
The president's request also includes huge proposed increases for U.S.
Department of Education programs in which museums participate. For example,
he has asked for $1 billion, more than double last year's funding, for 21st
Century Community Learning Centers, "the after-school program of grants to
public schools and community-based organizations to establish or expand
after-school and other extended learning time opportunities." The proposal
also includes $175 million for the Charter Schools program, an increase of
$30 million. In addition, the Department's budget includes a request for
$12.5 million for an "Arts in Education" collaboration with the NEA.
With regard to tax proposals, items of note to museums include the almost
doubling of the allowable limit for individual gifts of appreciated property
to charities, the inclusion of a nonitemizer deduction, and a simplification
of the federal excise tax for private foundations. The nonitemizer proposal
would allow those taxpayers who do not itemize their taxes to deduct 50
percent of their charitable contributions above a $1,000 floor for the years
2001-2005. The floor will drop to $500 from 2006-2010. The proposals would
cost $14 billion over 10 years.
Note that the budget request is just the first step in this year's budget
process. Congressional consideration of the FY 2001 budget is just
beginning. Despite all of the news of budget surpluses, obtaining the
funding increases for these agencies and programs, especially the cultural
agencies, will not be easy. The tax proposals face an uphill battle, too,
as a comprehensive tax bill is not expected this year. As in the past, we
will be counting on your support in the coming months to help us boost these
important funding sources and other initiatives for museums. If you have
any questions, please contact us at 202/289-9125.
*****************
Barry G. Szczesny, Esq.
Government Affairs Counsel and
Assistant Director
Government and Public Affairs
American Association of Museums
1575 Eye Street, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
202/289-9125 Phone
202/289-6578 Fax
[log in to unmask] E-mail
http://www.aam-us.org Website
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