On September 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R. 3354) by a vote of 211-198 to provide $1.23 trillion for an omnibus Fiscal Year 2018 spending package. We’ve pored through the relevant sections of the bill, and the initial news is relatively good for museums (see chart below), but now the bill moves to the U.S. Senate, where the path forward is unclear.

But one thing IS clear: we need you now more than ever.

Will the Senate follow the lead of the House of Representatives, or go along with President Trump’s budget proposal? You can help us make a difference.

Take action now to:

• Review the information below and let your Senators know that you support federal funding for museums.
• Chip in $20 or more to support our fieldwide efforts.
• Plan to join us for the 10^th annual Museums Advocacy Day, February 26-27, in Washington, DC.

 

Agency/Program	Current  Funding (FY 2017)	FY 2018 Trump Proposal	FY 2018 House-passed (approved       9/14/17)	FY 2018 Senate action and final results
Institute of Museum and Library Services	$231 million	Elimination*	$231 million	TBD
National Endowment for the Humanities	$149.8 million	Elimination*	$145 million	TBD
National Endowment for the Arts	$149.8 million	Elimination*	$145 million	TBD
Smithsonian Institution	$863 million	$947 million	$885 million	TBD
Historic Preservation Fund	$80.9 million	$51.1 million	$80.9 million**	TBD
National Park Service Operations	$2.425 billion	$2.225 billion	$2.41 billion	TBD
National Science Foundation – Education and Human Resources	$880 million	$760.5 million	$880 million	TBD
NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training	$7.5 million	$0	$3.7 million	TBD

*A minimal amount of funding would be provided to begin closing the agency. No new grants would be awarded.

**The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) includes funding for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Civil Rights Movement sites, Save America’s Treasures, and other activities. An amendment was approved by the House to restore HPF funding to FY 2017 levels, but at press time it was unclear how those funds would be allocated.

Although the Senate has not completed action on any spending proposals, it has begun the process. Earlier this month, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed legislation that would increase funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services to $235 million, including level funding for the Office of Museum Services.

The 2018 fiscal year begins on October 1, 2017, but Congress gave itself additional time to complete its work by passing a temporary spending measure to fund the government (and avert a government shutdown) until at least December 8.