Washington, DC, USA — U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and David McKinley (R-WV) are currently circulating a letter urging the House Appropriations Committee to provide robust funding in FY 2016 for the Office of Museum Services (OMS) at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
“Each year, many highly reviewed grant proposals go unfunded at the Institute of Museum and Library Services due to lack of funding by Congress,” said Alliance President Ford W. Bell. “These Congressional sign-on letters are a critical way to demonstrate support for our priorities, but legislators need to know that their constituents are watching.”
The deadline for Representatives to sign on to this letter is March 18.
The Office of Museum Services is currently receiving $30.1 million, well below its authorized level of $38.6 million (as approved by Public Law 111-340).
According to the AAM: “The Tonko/Lance/Slaughter/McKinley letter is your Representative’s chance to go on record in support of museum funding, so please ask them to sign on today!”