Following is an *Action Alert* AAM Government and Public Affairs faxed
last night to over 2000 members of its Museum Advocacy Team.
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To: MUSEUM ADVOCACY TEAM
From: AAM Government Affairs
Date: April 20, 1999
Re: Congress begins FY2000 Funding Process, Contacts Needed for OMS
We are asking Congress for a big increase in Office of Museum Services
(OMS) funding and need your help now, as funding decisions are being
made.
AAM is urging that appropriators recommend funding for the OMS within
the IMLS at $40 million for FY2000. The agency was funded at $23.4
million in FY1999, down from $28.8 million in FY1995.
This increase would accommodate the president's budget request for new
technology and leadership initiatives as well as our request for a much
needed boost for core programs, such as General Operating Support (GOS)
grants, which have been level funded for several years. As you know,
operating support funds remain the most difficult for museums to obtain.
In addition, OMS reviewers have stated that close to 60% of GOS
applications are worthy of funding, but OMS has only the funds to award
20% of applicants.
Please contact your Senators and Representative within the next week and
urge them to increase funding for the OMS to $40 million for FY2000.
We especially urge MAT members to write if your Senator and/or
Representative is listed below -- these are the key appropriators, i.e.
members of the subcommittees who are responsible for recommending the
funding level for the OMS. (If you can't make the contact within this
time frame, remember late is much better than never.)
As always, examples of how you have used or would use OMS funding to
serve families and children are most effective. Please share copies of
your letters and any responses you get with us by mail (see address
below), fax 202/289-6578; or e-mail [log in to unmask] Thank you.
Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee: Ted Stevens, Alaska; Dianne
Feinstein, California; Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Colorado; Thad Cochran,
Mississippi; Conrad Burns, Montana; Harry Reid, Nevada; Judd Gregg, New
Hampshire; Pete V. Domenici, New Mexico; Byron Dorgan, North Dakota;
Ernest F. Hollings, South Carolina; Robert F. Bennett, Utah; Patrick J.
Leahy, Vermont; Slade Gorton (Chairman), Washington; Robert C. Byrd,
West Virginia; Herb Kohl, Wisconsin.
House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee: Robert E. (Bud) Cramer,
Jr., Alabama-5th district; Jim Kolbe, Arizona-5th; Jack Kingston,
Georgia-1st; Joe Skeen, New Mexico-2nd; Maurice D. Hinchey, New
York-26th; Charles H. Taylor, North Carolina-11th; Ralph Regula
(Chairman), Ohio-16th; John P. Murtha, Penn-12th; John E. Peterson,
Penn-5th; Zach Wamp, Tenn-3rd; James P. Moran, Virginia-8th; Norman
Dicks, Wash-6th; George R. Nethercutt, Jr., Wash-5th.
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Museum Advocacy Team (MAT): If you are a member of AAM or an affiliated
organization, or if you work for a member institution, we invite you to
join the Museum Advocacy Team. To receive our government affairs Action
Alerts, please send your name, institution, address, phone, fax, and
e-mail address to Nichole Schulze at: 1575 Eye St. N.W., Suite 400,
Washington, DC 20005 or e-mail [log in to unmask]
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