The US House of Representatives is considering the FY 1997 Interior
Appropriations bill, which contains funding for the cultural agencies
(National Endowment for the Arts, Natl. End. for the Humanities, and the
institute of Museum Services).

At least two amendments are slated for consideration:

1)  an amendment by Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) to reduce NEA funding by
$31,500.  (You read that correctly.)  This is the amount that the NEA
granted for a film that various folks find offensive.  (It's about a
fictional black lesbian in the '30s.)

2)  an amendment by Reps. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Helen Chenoweth (R-Id.)
and David McIntosh (R-Ind.) which will either:

        a)  reduce NEH funding by $12 million; or
        b)  eliminate NEH altogether

        they haven't yet decided whether to offer a) or b).

As of 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, the House was resuming consideration of
the interior bill.  It is safe to assume that the above amendments will
be offered within the next few hours.

Museum advocates should call their U.S. House members and urge them to
resist the Shadegg-Chenoweth-McIntosh amendment.  By all means urge
resistance to the Hoekstra amendment, if you wish.

House members can be reached through the Capitol switchboard at
202-225-3121.  Many have e-mail addresses which are listed at the house
gopher :  house.gov which can also be accessed through the Library of
Congress "Thomas" legislative service.

I'll post an update later in the day.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

PLEASE NOTE that although the amendments are being offered by
Republicans, it is not safe to assume that all Republicans will
automatically support them, nor that all Democrats will oppose them.  The
agencies have quite significant support among Republicans, somewhat less
opposition among Democrats.

Andy Finch
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AAM Government Affairs