For Immediate Release
ARLINGTON, VA – Laura Lott, President and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, issued the following statement today in response to the spending cut package announced by the President.
“While we are relieved that the Administration’s rescission proposals delivered to Congress today did not request cuts that would harm the ability of museums to serve the public, we remain concerned about what might be included in future requests by the White House,” said Alliance President and CEO Laura Lott. “Given that the Administration has called twice for elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS) and other agencies and programs that help museums serve their communities, we will continue to closely monitor this situation and work with our bipartisan allies in Congress and museum advocates across the country to defeat any such efforts.”
Today the White House asked Congress to cut $15 billion from spending accounts with an infrequently used budget procedure called rescission. The $15 billion is far less than the $60 billion the Administration first floated last month and the $25 billion reported last week. The rescission leaves untouched FY 2018 spending approved in late March, which included significant funding increases for museum programs, and will focus on approved but unspent funds from past fiscal years. Under the procedure, Congress will have 45 days to consider the request, during which the targeted funds will be frozen. The White House has indicated that it may issue additional rescission proposals later this year.
About the American Alliance of Museums
The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.
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Media Contact:
Joseph Klem
Director, Public Relations
American Alliance of Museums
202-218-7670
