The House of Representatives is on the point of passing the Interior
Appropriations bill -- final vote is scheduled for later tonight.

The bill would fund IMS at $21.0 million, a cut of 27 percent from the
current level of $28.7 million.

Earlier this afternoon, the House defeated an amendment that would have
eliminated the NEH as of October 1. The vote was 277-148.

Last night, it defeated an amendment by a vote of 227-179 to cut a
further $10 million from the NEA.

As it heads to passage the bill would fund both NEA and NEH at $99.5
million, cuts of 39% and 42% respectively from current funding.

The Senate may begin to work on its bill later this month, but no firm
dates have been announced.  Final funding levels for FY 1996 will be the
result of compromise between the House and Senate bills.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Andy Finch
AAM Government Affairs
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202-289-9125
FAX 289-6578