Charitable Giving Still At Risk: What You Can Do
As the Congressional "Super Committee" considers how to cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending, the nonprofit community continues its vigilance to ensure that incentives that promote charitable giving are not jeopardized or diminished in any proposals. With one-third of museum budgets coming from charitable contributions, the proposed changes could be disastrous. AAM has joined a coalition of nonprofits in sending this letter, and encourages the museum field to express its concern about these proposals.
What Can I Do?
- Send a letter to your Members of Congress TODAY!
- Watch the recorded Online Advocacy Training Session: Congress Takes a Hard Look at Charitable Giving: How Will Museums Fare?
- Access the Power Point
Learn More: Senate Finance Committee to hold hearing Tuesday, October 18: Tax Reform Options: Incentives for Charitable Giving
Latest Update (Sept. 16, 2011) —The Senate has passed legislation (H.R. 2887), extending FAA operations through January and surface transportation programs through March, that includes dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements Program (TEP). Following Sen. Tom Coburn's (R-Okla.) efforts this week to stop the legislation, unless the mandatory TEP funding was eliminated, compromise was reached based on agreements to review TEP funding during consideration of the upcoming multi-year surface transporation reauthorization. Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Cali.) worked with Sen. Coburn, allowing the current bill (H.R. 2887) to move foward. Learn More
BREAKING NEWS (Sept. 15, 2011) -Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) is once again targeting funding for museums by threatening to hold up critical legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unless dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements Program (TEP) - which supports historic preservation efforts and museums in addition to bike paths and pedestrian trails - is eliminated. This week, the House of Representatives passed a transportation bill (H.R. 2887) that would reauthorize FAA and the surface transportation program. The bill includes an existing requirement that states spend at least 10% of their surface transportation funds on this program.
Since 1992, the Transportation Enhancement Program has provided more than $110 million to support programs in transportation-related museums. It has allowed states and communities to rehabilitate bridges and tunnels, restore historic structures and revitalize local historic districts, and preserve our nation's heritage and state and local history. If you live in Oklahoma, please contact Senator Coburn TODAY at 202-224-5754 to tell him you oppose his efforts to eliminate mandatory funding for the Transportation Enhancements Program.
July 28, 2011 - Two amendments were just voted on in the U.S. House of Representatives:
- An amendment offered by Rep. Paul Broun (GA) to cut Smithsonian funding for FY12 by $55.6 million - FAILED by a 110-317 vote.
- An amendment offered by Rep. Tim Walberg (MI) to cut NEA funding for FY12 by $10.6 million - FAILED by a 181-240 vote.
An additional amendment offered by Rep. Paul Broun to further cut FY12 NEH funding by $13.5 million was also offered Thursday night (7/27/11) and has yet to be debated. House consideration of the FY12 Interior funding bill will continue at a future time. Stay tuned for additional updates and THANK YOU to everyone who contacted their Representative this week in opposition to amendments to reduce funding for these programs!
July 27, 2011 - The House of Representatives is continuing consideration of the FY12 Interior funding bill, including funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and other museum-related programs this afternoon. Consideration of this bill could conclude later today or tomorrow.
Currently, we are aware of several amendments that have been proposed and may be voted on during consideration of this bill, including:
- Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA): Amendment to reduce NEH funding by $2,510,000
- Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA): Amendment to reduce NEH funding by $13,500,000
- Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI): Amendment to reduce NEA funding by $10,600,000
It is also possible that additional amendments may be offered on the House floor.
NOW is the time to contact your Representative - through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 – and urge them to OPPOSE any amendments to eliminate or further cut funding for NEA or NEH in the FY12 Interior bill (HR 2584).
Or, use our tools to find your legislators and contact information for their offices.
Earlier this week your efforts helped defeat attempts to eliminate funding for NEA and NEH, and it is important that legislators continue to hear from you as consideration of this bill continues.
7/20/11 Legislative Update
Your AAM Government Relations and Advocacy team is following several developments in Washington, DC. Check out the NEW Legislative Update covering the following: the IMLS Strategic Plan (including how you can provide your input), the nonprofit tax Form 990, the current budget and debt negotiations (and the potential impact on charitable giving), House Committee action on federal education policy (and how you can weigh in), Let's Move! Museums & Gardens, and NAGPRA.
House Committee Approves NEA/NEH Funding Cuts
July 13, 2011 - The House Appropriations Committee considered this week the FY12 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which provides funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). As expected, the Committee approved the bill (by a vote of 28-18) that would fund both the NEA and NEH at $135 million, representing a nearly $20 million cut from current funding and $11 million less than the President's FY12 request for each agency. Several other historic preservation, conservation and museum-related programs were also affected. Learn more
AAM Submits Comments to Senate Committee and Department of the Interior on NAGPRA
AAM has submitted comments to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in response to its June 16, 2011 Oversight Hearing, "Finding Our Way Home: Achieving the Policy Goals of NAGPRA," and to the Department of the Interior as it undertakes a discretionary review of the implementation of NAGPRA. You can read AAM's statements here:
Do You Love Museums? Participate in the "Write One Letter Campaign!"
Write One Letter is a way for all those who love museums to do just that - let your elected officials know about your passion for museums and urging their support for museums. AAM has made it simple - use our online templates to send a personalized letter to your Member of Congress. Send a letter today!
Happy Birthday MAP!
Share the Impact of MAP with your Members of Congress!
June 22, 2011 - The Museum Assessment Program (MAP) celebrates 30 years of helping museums serve the public, and AAM has developed an easy way for you to show your appreciation and support for this important federal grant program. Tell your legislators how a MAP grant helped your museum!
House Panel Votes to Eliminate More Than 40 Critical Education Programs - Congress Needs to Hear From You!
On Wednesday, May 25, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed H.R. 1891 (by a vote of 23-16) , a bill sponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R -CA) that would eliminate 43 U.S. Department of Education programs. Our representatives in Congress must be made aware of the vital ways museums are utilizing these programs to partner with schools and educate our nation's students. Learn more and contact your Representatives TODAY!
Learn More
12 Senators Sign FY12 Museum Funding Letter!
Thanks to the efforts of museum advocates around the country, 12 Senators signed this year's letter circulated by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to support $50 million for the Office of Museum Services in FY12. If one of these Senators represents you, please THANK THEM today. You can call the Senate Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senators' offices. See the final Senate letter
FY12 Senate Museum Funding Letter Signers:
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
Sen. Jack Reed (RI)
Sen. Richard Durbin (IL)
Sen. Tim Johnson (SD)
Sen. Tom Udall (NM)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Sen. Carl Levin (MI)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT)
Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Sen. Ben Cardin (MD)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT)
Learn More
Additional Details from Final FY11 Budget
Recently, AAM reported on the cuts to IMLS included in the Final FY11 Budget recently agreed to by Congress and the President. Though it remains to be seen exactly how cuts will be allocated across individual programs at several federal agencies, additional information about some funding levels has become available:
- The National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities (averting deeper cuts considered by Congress earlier this year) will face $12.5 million in cuts, reducing their FY11 funding to $155 million.
- The Arts in Education program at the Department of Education was spared elimination and will receive FY11 funding of $25.5 million (compared to FY10 funding of $40 million).
- Similarly the Teaching American History program will face a funding cut of $73 million, receiving a FY11 allocation of $46 million (but was not zeroed out as proposed by some in Congress).
- Additionally at the National Science Foundation, Research programs will face a cut of $43 million, and the Education and Human Resources directorate (that includes the Informal Science Education program) will face a $10 million cut.
See a detailed list of cuts included in the FY11 Final Budget
59 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Sign Museum Appropriations Letter!
Congratulations, Museum Advocates! Thanks to your efforts during Museums Advocacy Day 2011 and emails and letters from around the country, we are pleased to report that a record-setting 59 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed on to this year’s museum funding letter.
Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ) took the lead on circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter in the House of Representatives, encouraging Members of Congress to join their letter to the House Appropriations Committees urging $35 million for the Office of Museum Services (OMS) at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Thanks to our combined advocacy efforts and outreach, the following Members of Congress signed the FY12 museum letter:
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lead
Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Co-lead
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Co-lead
Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU)
Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK)
Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA)
Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA)
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT)
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA)
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY)
Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI)
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA)
Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Rep. James Moran (D-VA)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA)
Rep. Steven Rothman (D-NJ)
Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA)
Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY)
Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
ADDITIONAL FY11 FUNDING NEWS
February 17, 2011
Statement by Ford Bell on the House-passed amendment (offered by Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan) to cut $20.6 million from the National Endowment for the Arts for the remainder of the current fiscal year (FY11):
"Today's vote by the House of Representatives - by a 217-209 vote - to cut $20.6 million from the National Endowment for the Arts budget for the remainder of FY11, would have a disastrous effect if it is enacted into law. The National Endowment for the Arts supports many of our nation's outstanding museums and plays a key role in building creativity, innovation, and the skills necessary to compete in the 21 st century. I urge the Senate and President Obama to reject this language as it finalizes the federal budget for the remaining 7 months of FY11."
The House also voted (248-177) to eliminate the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs Program, which has previously been funded at $4.5 million.
FY11 FUNDING NEWS
February 15, 2011
Statement by AAM President Ford W. Bell on the House of Representatives actions today:
"Today the House of Representatives is debating a bill to complete funding for the current fiscal year (FY11), which began on October 1, 2010. More than 400 amendments have been filed proposing cuts to numerous agencies and programs. At least one of these amendments targets the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and others target the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. We strongly urge the House to oppose any such amendments, especially at a time when these cultural and educational agencies are contributing to the economy, creating jobs, spurring tourism, and fostering innovation and creativity that will keep our nation competitive in this global economy. While it is not yet clear which of these amendments may be considered or voted on, we will keep you posted on any new developments."
FY12 FUNDING NEWS
February 14, 2011
Statement by AAM President Ford W. Bell on President Obama's FY12 budget proposal:
"I am greatly disappointed to see that President Obama's proposed FY12 budget calls for cuts to so many federal agencies that work so hard to support the essential work of museums in our communities. Reducing funding for the Office of Museum Services at the Institute of Museum and Library Services from its current funding level of $35.2 million to $32.3 million - an 8.2% reduction - is a step in the wrong direction, especially in light of the agency's unanimous re-authorization by Congress in December, 2010. If museums see a decline in federal support, they may have to lay off employees or reduce services, negatively impacting their surrounding communities and local economies. I urge Congress to consider the economic impact of museums - which provide 400,000 jobs, spend $21 billion annually in communities, and drive valuable tourism dollars - and the educational foundation they provide in helping to teach the local curriculum and providing lifelong learning. I am further disappointed that the president's budget aims to de-incentivize charitable giving, limiting the deductibility for certain donations to nonprofit organizations. I recognize that the president is attempting to close a serious budget gap, but it is unfortunate that we cannot provide greater support for the important work of museums - it would be a wise investment in our nation's educational infrastructure, and in creating the kind of innovations that help keep our nation competitive in the global economy. I am thrilled that more than 300 museum supporters - staff, trustees, volunteers, and students - will soon convene in Washington , DC for Museums Advocacy Day, and I hope the rest of the museum field will also join in a national day of advocacy - in communities across the country - on March 1. Stay tuned for details on how to get involved from home."
IMLS REAUTHORIZATION NEWS
See Ford W. Bell Statements - President Obama signsS. 3984 to reauthorize IMLS and U.S. Senate confirms nomination of Susan Hildreth to be next IMLS Director.
