Advocacy Alert – June 7, 2024

In this Alliance Advocacy Alert:

• Appropriations Update: Act Now to Speak Up for Museums!
• Start Today: Plan to Participate in #InviteCongress 2024

Appropriations Update – Speak Up for Museum Funding!

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Congressional appropriations process is kicking into high gear. Spending caps enacted in last year’s debt limit deal mean tight spending levels for non-defense discretionary spending, including for federal agencies that benefit museums and their workers such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Programs could face potentially drastic funding cuts, especially in the House of Representatives. With House and Senate appropriators making initial spending decisions now and in the coming weeks, it’s a crucial time to reach out to your legislators to urge their support for the IMLS Office of Museum Services (OMS).

Contact Congress Now: Support Critical Funding for Museums

It’s especially important to reach out if they are a member of the House Labor-HHS-Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds OMS, listed below. It takes just a few clicks to personalize and send your message.

Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04), Chairman
Mike Simpson (R-ID-02)
Andy Harris (R-MD-01)
Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03)
John Moolenaar (R-MI-04)
Julia Letlow (R-LA-05)
Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09)
Jake LaTurner (R-KS-02)
Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06)
Chuck Edwards (R-NC)
Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member
Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05)
Barbara Lee (D-CA-13)
Mark Pocan (D-WI-02)
Lois Frankel (D-FL-21)
Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12)
Josh Harder (D-CA-10)

In addition, please contact Congress now to urge support for the NEH and NEA.
Legislators need to hear from you–the people they represent–about how their decisions affect museums and museum people. Thanks to the hundreds of advocates who contacted their Representative and Senators to sign on to the House and Senate FY 2025 OMS funding support letters. We continue to hear from legislators your letters make a difference.

Start Today: Plan to Participate in #InviteCongress 2024

Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum week is August 12-16! Since 2012, #InviteCongress has empowered museums of all types and sizes to invite their federal, state, and local legislators and stakeholders in to the museum for a firsthand look at the meaningful work of museums and museum professionals. Inviting legislators to the museum, or otherwise connecting with legislators and their staff during state and district work periods, is a uniquely powerful way to make the case for federal, state, and local support for museums.
Legislators are planning their state and district visits now. You can get started today with our full How-To Guide, which includes these resources to help you:

• Find your legislators and their offices’ local contact information
• Determine the Who, What, When, and Where, and Get to Know Your Legislators
• Send an invitation to your legislators’ offices using our template
• Learn about 6 Reasons to Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum (2.5 min. video)

You don’t have to wait until August to connect with legislators. Representatives and Senators will be in their home states and districts the week of July 1-5!

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Your steadfast advocacy efforts make a huge difference in building needed support for museums and museum professionals.
Want to build your advocacy skills while preparing for #InviteCongress? Check out our comprehensive Speaking Up: Museum Advocacy in Action toolkit today. AAM Members get best pricing!
Visit here to access all of AAM’s advocacy resources.