_____ 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! If you have difficulty viewing this message, please click here <http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449600&m=327358&u=Mus eum&s=http://www.magnetmail.net/actions/email_web_version.cfm?recipient_ id=15405172&message_id=327358&user_id=Museum> . _____ <http://www.magnetmail.net/images/clients/Museum/AAMreflexLogo.jpg> 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 [log in to unmask] Visit the AAM website at www.aam-us.org <http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=15405172&sid=2449608&m=327358&u=Mus eum&s=http://www.aam-us.org/> today! 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