Too bad...  That billion dollars would buy a lot of things of much more
value to the American people...

Maybe next year...

george

================

>Following is the Information Alert AAM Government Affairs sent out to
>members of the Museum Advocacy Team last night.
>
>Barry Szczesny, Esq.
>AAM Government Affairs
>******************************************
>
>Date:    October 1, 1997
>To:      Museum Advocacy Team
>About:   CONGRATULATIONS!!
>
>Unofficial but reliable news: the House-Senate Conference on the
>Interior Appropriations bill has agreed to a FY 1998 increase of
>approximately 6 percent for the Office of Museum Services within IMLS.
>This increase works out to about $1.3 million, for a total of $23.3
>million, with most of the new funds going to joint museum-library
>projects, while GOS and other programs hold steady at current levels.
>(Note that the Office of Library Services, which is funded under a
>different bill, also has funds for joint projects.)
>
>The NEH will receive an increase of $700,000 which will be used to cover
>administrative costs, for a total of $110.7 million.
>
>As for NEA, which had been slated for elimination by its opponents this
>year, it is to receive $98.0 million -- only a $1.5 million reduction
>from last year -- and with less drastic structural changes than we
>expected.  Additionally, we defeated attempts to impose a narrow,
>arbitrary definition of "arts education."  While we are still awaiting
>some details, the changes include:
>
>-  an increase in the percentage of funds allotted to states, from 35%
>to 40%.
>
>-  priority for projects in underserved populations and for projects
>"that will encourage public knowledge, education, understanding, and
>appreciation of the arts."
>
>-  a 15% cap on the amount of NEA funds any one state can receive -- not
>including funds from a new category for touring programs or programs of
>"national impact."
>
>-  membership on the National Council on the Arts for 3 Senators and 3
>Representatives.
>
>-  permission to raise and invest private funds for use in support of
>the agency's functions (applies to both NEA and NEH).
>
>Please note that the House and the Senate must now separately approve
>this agreement.  Usually this is a formality, but the NEA is such a
>difficult issue that there could be problems.  We'll let you know if
>further action is necessary.  But for now, take a deep breath.
>
>A special thanks goes out to MAT members who contacted their Senator on
>the conference committee:  Bennett (UT), Boxer (CA), Bumpers (AR), Burns
>(MT), Byrd (WV), Campbell (CO), Cochran (MS), Domenici (NM), Dorgan
>(ND), Gorton (WA), Gregg (NH), Hollings (SC), Leahy (VT), Reid (NV), and
>Stevens (AK).  We encourage you to follow up with a thank you letter to
>the Senator you contacted.
>
>Thank you for sending us copies of your letters and responses from the
>Hill.  They are of enormous help with our work.  Congratulations again on a
>job well done.  Please contact us if you have any questions at
>phone 202/289-9125; fax 202/289-6578 or via e-mail on the Government
>Affairs page of the AAM Website at http://www.aam-us.org.
>
>