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Advocacy alert: urge legislators to support OMS

  • 09 Sep 2022 10:41 AM
    Message # 12912687
    Oregon Museums Association (Administrator)

    From American Alliance of Museums (AAM)

    Take Action: Urge Your Legislators to Support the Office of Museum Services (OMS) and Include a $20 Million Increase for Facilities Improvements!

    It's "back to school" month for Congress. Legislators will need to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep federal agencies funded beyond Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. The CR is likely to extend to mid-December, which gives appropriators time to reach a deal and then draft the package. At this point, a government shutdown appears unlikely. Now is a critical time for museum advocates to weigh in on a great opportunity to increase funding for museums.

    Ask Congress to Support FY 2023 OMS Funding Now

    The U.S. Senate draft fiscal year (FY) 2023 Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee Appropriations bill and associated explanatory statement released July 28-if passed by Congress-would provide a $33,800,000 increase for IMLS overall, maintaining much of the previously reported OMS increases proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Most notably, the legislation would include a $20 million funding increase for improving museum and library facilities. According to the explanatory statement:

    Improving Library and Museum Facilities.-The Committee includes $20,000,000 to make urgently needed improvements to public and Tribal library and museum facilities nationwide, with a priority for such facilities located in rural, underserved, or economically disadvantaged areas. The Committee provides this new, annual funding to enable these libraries and museums to undertake renovations, expansions, and construction projects such as plumbing, HVAC, and roof repairs, electrical upgrades, and accessibility improvements. In making grants under this authority, the Director shall prioritize rural and underserved communities and facilities that pose a severe health or safety threat to library or museum patrons or staff.

    AAM survey results underscore the need: Nearly forty percent of responding museums plan to make investments into their building, HVAC equipment, and other infrastructure to improve energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of their operations. While funding negotiations have several weeks to go, now is the time to advocate for a much needed funding increase for OMS and secure a new funding resource for museum facilities investment.

    What Can I Do? Now is a critical time to make sure your Representative and Senators know how much their support of this funding matters to constituents like you. We urge you to take a moment right now, using our quick and easy template, to contact Congress in support of OMS and new facilities funding at IMLS.

    While AAM continues to communicate with Congressional offices, it's critical that your legislators hear directly from constituents like you about this important funding. If you contacted your legislators already but have yet to hear back, please send another message. Reaching out again can help make sure your voice is heard.

    Last modified: 09 Sep 2022 10:41 AM | Oregon Museums Association (Administrator)


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