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From: AAM Museum Advocacy Team [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 8:39 AM
To: T. Patrick Brennan
Subject: Contact Congress: Battle for Museum Funding Continues!
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AAM Museum Advocacy Team(r)
Action Alert - June 26, 2007
Contact Congress: Battle for Museum Funding Continues!
Battle for Museum Funding Continues
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the
recommendations of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education and Related Agencies for the FY 2008 budget of the Institute
of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Senate appropriators proposed an
even smaller increase than their House counterparts for the museum
programs at IMLS and less funding - $1.7 million of the $4 million
requested - for the agency's new research activities which could
jeopardize the $500,000 proposed for research about museums. They did,
however, add $10 million to the IMLS budget for congressional earmarks.
There is still time for Congress to adjust these numbers in favor of
increasing funds for the museum programs at IMLS. A prime opportunity
comes after the July 4th recess when the House Appropriations Committee
can amend the recommendations of the House Labor/HHS Subcommittee when
it meets to approve the legislation prior to consideration by the full
House.
We Need Your Help
Next week, lawmakers will be back home hosting town meetings, making
appearances at parades and other civic events associated with the 4th of
July holiday. Take advantage of the opportunity to share with your
representatives the valuable role IMLS plays in supporting the field
through not only its grant and technical assistance programs, but also
through support for research like the Heritage Health Index
<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449601&m=327358&u=Mus
eum&s=http://heritagepreservation.org/hhi/> and this week's summit on
conservation, Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action
<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449602&m=327358&u=Mus
eum&s=http://www.imls.gov/about/collections.shtm> .
Our Message
It is critical that Congress and the Federal government continue to show
leadership by supporting investments through IMLS to advance America's
museums in four important areas - caring for and conserving our
collections; improving museum programs and operations; supporting museum
professionals' development; and conducting research and collecting data
to help policymakers, museum trustees and leaders make smart decisions.
The Ask
Congress needs to increase its investment in our nation's museums by
providing IMLS additional funds to:
* conduct much needed research about our nation's museums, and
* build the capacity of our nation's museums so they can continue
to serve the public by preserving and protecting our natural and
cultural heritage and by enhancing and fostering the lifelong pursuit of
knowledge and understanding of the world around us.
See Museums Working in the Public Interest
<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449603&m=327358&u=Mus
eum&s=http://www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/advocate/upload/AAM_Museums_Work
ing_in_the_Public_Interest.pdf> for additional information and talking
points.
* If you are represented by a member of the Appropriations
Committee, please contact them and ask them to support additional funds
for the museum programs at IMLS. Check here
<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449604&m=327358&u=Mus
eum&s=http://appropriations.house.gov/members110th.shtml> to see if
your representative is a member of the committee.
* If you are not represented by a member of the Appropriations
Committee, please ask your representative to talk to members of the
committee to request their support for additional funds for IMLS' museum
programs.
Please share with us your emails and faxes and let us know the views of
your member of Congress on this issue.
Although the weeks immediately following the July 4th holiday will be
critical to this year's appropriations process, remember that if you
don't get a chance to see your legislators next week you'll have another
opportunity to do so during the lengthier August District Work Period
<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449605&m=327358&u=Mus
eum&s=http://www.house.gov/house/House_Calendar.shtml> from August
6-31. Watch for the upcoming July Museum Advocacy Team(r) alert for more
about reaching out to legislators in August.
Contact Your Representatives in Congress
Legislators rely on the opinions and positions of their constituents to
inform their votes throughout the annual appropriations process.
Visit www.house.gov/writerep
<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449606&m=327358&u=Mus
eum&s=http://www.house.gov/writerep/> to write or e-mail your
Representative or www.senate.gov
<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449607&m=327358&u=Mus
eum&s=http://www.senate.gov/> to get your Senators' contact
information. If you send an e-mail, be sure to include the topic, bill
or agency in your subject line so that it can be directed to the
appropriate staff member responsible for the issue.
Or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office
of your Representative or Senators and request to speak to the staffer
responsible for the issue.
Forward to a friend!
Have a colleague who should know this information?
Feel free to pass this alert on!
The Museum Advocacy Team(r) alerts and updates are a regular publication
of AAM Government & Media Relations. Alerts and updates are distributed
at least once a month (possibly more frequently as breaking legislative
news requires) to a network of museum professionals, volunteers and
supporters who educate policymakers and advocate for federal policies
favorable museums. As a Museum Advocacy Team(r) member, you are among
the first to be informed of breaking news and can use your leadership to
express your views and make museum-related policies better. To join the
network and receive Museum Advocacy Team(r) publications, please contact
AAM Government & Media Relations at (202) 289-9125 or e-mail
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