Advocacy Alert – July 24, 2024

In this Alliance Advocacy Alert:

• Take Action Now! Urge Senators to Support Funding for IMLS

• NEH/NEA: Amendments to Slash Funding Fail on House Floor

Take Action Now! Urge Senators to Support Funding for IMLS

As a follow up to our July 19 Advocacy Alert focusing on the House of Representatives, we are reaching out now to ask that you please urge your Senators to support at least $55.5 million for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Office of Museum Services (OMS) at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and strongly oppose the drastic funding cuts recently approved by the House Appropriations Committee. As detailed in last week’s Advocacy Alert, the House Appropriations Committee recently approved a bill that if enacted would make drastic funding cuts to IMLS and OMS for FY 2025, which begins October 1, 2024.

If enacted, the House bill would cut the Office of Museum Services by $9.3 million by eliminating National Leadership Grants for Museums, leaving an OMS total of $46.1 million–down from an historic high of $55.5 million. National Leadership Grants are vital as they fund cutting edge programs that are models for the museum field at large. The bill also would entirely eliminate funding for overall IMLS Research, Analysis and Data Collection ($5.6 million), which would include ending the agency’s ability to conduct the first ever National Museum Survey, which it has already developed and field-tested. All of this preparatory work would be for naught, and all monies spent, wasted. In addition, overall IMLS Program Administration would be cut by $5 million (22%).

While these proposed cuts are unlikely to make it past the Senate and White House, it’s critical for you to champion IMLS/OMS to your Senators now! The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to consider its bill that includes funding for IMLS next week, but funding decisions are being made now.

It just takes a couple of minutes to use our template and ask your Senators to sign on.

Contact Your Senators Now to Support Funding for IMLS/OMS!

NEH/NEA: Amendments to Slash Funding Fail on House Floor

Good news for museum advocates! Two House floor amendments, offered by Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK) to cut funding to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by $48 million each, were soundly defeated last night. The NEA amendment was defeated by voice vote, while the NEH amendment was defeated by a recorded vote of 269 to 147 (See how your U.S. House Member voted). Your ongoing advocacy from Museums Advocacy Day forward helped achieve this success!