FY 2017 SENATE Appropriations letter in support of the IMLS Office of Museum Services
Dear Chairman Blunt and Ranking Member Murray,
We write to thank the Subcommittee for its previous support, and to urge you to support robust funding for
the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) Office of Museum Services (OMS) in the FY 2017
Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. The Office of Museum Services
was approved to receive $38.6 million annually in its most recent reauthorization.
Despite its small size, the IMLS Office of Museum Services is the largest dedicated source of investment
in our nation’s museums, which employ over 400,000 Americans and directly contribute $21 billion to the
U.S. economy each year. OMS funding multiplies this economic impact by helping museums reach more
visitors and spur community development. In addition to their economic benefits, OMS grants also
support museums’ advancements in areas such as technology, lifelong community learning, and
conservation and preservation. These successes notwithstanding, only a small fraction of the nation’s
museums are currently being reached and many highly rated grant applications go unfunded.
The demand for museum services is greater than ever. At a time when school and community resources
are strained, museums are working overtime to fill the gaps. Every year, they welcome more than 55
million schoolchildren, bring art, science and cultural heritage into communities, and partner with other
nonprofits to meet the specific needs of their local population. In addition, our nation’s museums are
opening their doors to more people than ever with over 850 million visits each year – with many of these
visitors offered free or reduced admission. Museums are also part of a robust nonprofit community
working to address a wide range of our nation’s greatest challenges, from conducting medical research to
helping veterans heal physically and psychologically, and from creating energy efficient public buildings to
collecting food for needy families.
In 2010, the Institute of Museum and Library Services was unanimously reauthorized by both the House
and Senate. The agency is highly accountable, and its competitive, peer-reviewed grants leverage
significant private resources while supporting museums in every state. The reauthorization contained
several provisions to further support museums, particularly at the state level, but many of these activities
cannot be accomplished without sustained funding.
We urge the Subcommittee to support robust funding for the IMLS Office of Museum Services for FY
2017 to support the important work museums are doing in our districts. This vital funding will aid
museums of all types and enable them to continue bolstering the economy, serving our schools and
communities, and preserving our cultural heritage for future generations.
Again, we appreciate the Subcommittee’s prior support for OMS and request this investment to
strengthen and sustain the work of our nation’s museums.
Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. Senator
For your reference, here is the list of the 33 Senators who signed on to the FY 2017 letter last year,
led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). This may be an indication that he or she will be willing to sign
the FY 2018 letter this year.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Sen. Richard Blumenthal
Sen. Cory Booker
Sen. Barbara Boxer
Sen. Sherrod Brown
Sen. Ben Cardin
Sen. Christopher Coons
Sen. Joe Donnelly
Sen. Richard Durbin
Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Sen. Al Franken
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Sen. Martin Heinrich
Sen. Mazie Hirono
Sen. Tim Kaine
Sen. Angus King
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Patrick Leahy
Sen. Joe Manchin
Sen. Ed Markey
Sen. Bob Menendez
Sen. Chris Murphy
Sen. Gary Peters
Sen. Jack Reed
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Sen. Brian Schatz
Sen. Charles Schumer
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Sen. Jon Tester
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Sen. Ron Wyden
D-WI
D-CT
D-NJ
D-CA
D-OH
D-MD
D-DE
D-IN
D-IL
D-CA
D-MN
D-NY
D-NM
D-HI
D-VA
I-ME
D-MN
D-VT
D-WV
D-MA
D-NJ
D-CT
D-MI
D-RI
I-VT
D-HI
D-NY
D-NH
D-MI
D-MT
D-MA
D-RI
D-OR
FY 2017 HOUSE Appropriations letter in support of the IMLS Office of Museum Services
Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro,
We write to thank the Subcommittee for its previous support, and to urge you to support robust funding for
the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) Office of Museum Services (OMS) in the FY 2017
Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. The Office of Museum Services
was approved to receive $38.6 million annually in its most recent reauthorization.
Despite its small size, the IMLS Office of Museum Services is the largest dedicated source of investment
in our nation’s museums, which employ over 400,000 Americans and directly contribute $21 billion to the
U.S. economy each year. OMS funding multiplies this economic impact by helping museums reach more
visitors and spur community development. In addition to their economic benefits, OMS grants also
support museums’ advancements in areas such as technology, lifelong community learning, and
conservation and preservation. These successes notwithstanding, only a small fraction of the nation’s
museums are currently being reached and many highly rated grant applications go unfunded.
The demand for museum services is greater than ever. At a time when school and community resources
are strained, museums are working overtime to fill the gaps. Every year, they welcome more than 55
million schoolchildren, bring art, science and cultural heritage into communities, and partner with other
nonprofits to meet the specific needs of their local population. In addition, our nation’s museums are
opening their doors to more people than ever with over 850 million visits each year – with many of these
visitors offered free or reduced admission. Museums are also part of a robust nonprofit community
working to address a wide range of our nation’s greatest challenges, from conducting medical research to
helping veterans heal physically and psychologically, and from creating energy efficient public buildings to
collecting food for needy families.
In 2010, the Institute of Museum and Library Services was unanimously reauthorized by both the House
and Senate. The agency is highly accountable, and its competitive, peer-reviewed grants leverage
significant private resources while supporting museums in every state. The reauthorization contained
several provisions to further support museums, particularly at the state level, but many of these activities
cannot be accomplished without sustained funding.
We urge the Subcommittee to support robust funding for the IMLS Office of Museum Services for FY
2017 to support the important work museums are doing in our districts. This vital funding will aid
museums of all types and enable them to continue bolstering the economy, serving our schools and
communities, and preserving our cultural heritage for future generations.
Again, we appreciate the Subcommittee’s prior support for OMS and request this investment to
strengthen and sustain the work of our nation’s museums.
Paul Tonko
U.S. Representative
Leonard Lance
U.S. Representative
Louise M. Slaughter
U.S. Representative
David B. McKinley, P.E.
U.S. Representative
For your reference, the following page lists the 160 representatives who signed on to this letter last
year, led by Representatives Tonko (D-NY), Lance (R-NJ), Slaughter (D-NY), and McKinley (R-WV).
This may be an indication that he or she will be willing to sign the FY 2018 letter this year.
Rep. Alma Adams
Rep. Brad Ashford
Rep. Andy Barr
Rep. Karen Bass
Rep. Joyce Beatty
Rep. Xavier Becerra
Rep. Don Beyer Jr.
Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
Rep. Brendan Boyle
Rep. Robert Brady
Rep. Susan Brooks
Rep. Julia Brownley
Rep. Cheri Bustos
Rep. G.K. Butterfield
Rep. Lois Capps
Rep. Michael Capuano
Rep. Tony Cárdenas
Rep. André Carson
Rep. Matt Cartwright
Rep. Kathy Castor
Rep. Judy Chu
Rep. David Cicilline
Rep. Katherine Clark
Rep. Yvette Clarke
Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
Rep. Mike Coffman
Rep. Steve Cohen
Rep. Chris Collins
Rep. Barbara Comstock
Rep. Gerald Connolly
Rep. John Conyers, Jr.
Rep. Joe Courtney
Rep. Kevin Cramer
Rep. Danny Davis
Rep. Susan Davis
Rep. Peter DeFazio
Rep. Diana DeGette
Rep. John Delaney
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier
Rep. Ted Deutch
Rep. Debbie Dingell
Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Rep. Robert Dold
Rep. Dan Donovan
Rep. Mike Doyle
Rep. Tammy Duckworth
Rep. Donna Edwards
Rep. Keith Ellison
Rep. Renee Ellmers
Rep. Eliot Engel
Rep. Anna Eshoo
(D-NC)
(D-NE)
(R-KY)
(D-CA)
(D-OH)
(D-CA)
(D-VA)
(D-GA)
(D-OR)
(D-OR)
(D-PA)
(D-PA)
(R-IN)
(D-CA)
(D-IL)
(D-NC)
(D-CA)
(D-MA)
(D-CA)
(D-IN)
(D-PA)
(D-FL)
(D-CA)
(D-RI)
(D-MA)
(D-NY)
(D-MO)
(D-MO)
(R-CO)
(D-TN)
(R-NY)
(R-VA)
(D-VA)
(D-MI)
(D-CT)
(R-ND)
(D-IL)
(D-CA)
(D-OR)
(D-CO)
(D-MD)
(D-CA)
(D-FL)
(D-MI)
(D-TX)
(R-IL)
(R-NY)
(D-PA)
(D-IL)
(D-MD)
(D-MN)
(R-NC)
(D-NY)
(D-CA)
Rep. Elizabeth Esty
Rep. Sam Farr
Rep. Chaka Fattah
Rep. Bill Foster
Rep. Marcia Fudge
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
Rep. Ruben Gallego
Rep. John Garamendi
Rep. Alan Grayson
Rep. Al Green
Rep. Raul Grijalva
Rep. Frank Guinta
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez
Rep. Alcee Hastings
Rep. Denny Heck
Rep. Brian Higgins
Rep. James Himes
Rep. Rubén Hinojosa
Rep. Will Hurd
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
Rep. Hank Johnson, Jr.
Rep. William Keating
Rep. Robin Kelly
Rep. Joe Kennedy
Rep. Dan Kildee
Rep. Ron Kind
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick
Rep. Ann McLane Kuster
Rep. Leonard Lance
Rep. James Langevin
Rep. John Larson
Rep. Brenda Lawrence
Rep. Barbara Lee
Rep. Sander Levin
Rep. John Lewis
Rep. Dan Lipinski
Rep. Dave Loebsack
Rep. Zoe Lofgren
Rep. Alan Lowenthal
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Rep. Stephen Lynch
Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney
Rep. Doris Matsui
Rep. Betty McCollum
Rep. Jim McDermott
Rep. James McGovern
Rep. David B. McKinley
Rep. Jerry McNerney
Rep. Gregory Meeks
Rep. Candice Miller
(D-CT)
(D-CA)
(D-PA)
(D-IL)
(D-OH)
(D-HI)
(D-AZ)
(D-CA)
(D-FL)
(D-TX)
(D-AZ)
(R-NH)
(D-IL)
(D-FL)
(D-WA)
(D-NY)
(D-CT)
(D-TX)
(R-TX)
(D-TX)
(D-NY)
(D-TX)
(D-GA)
(D-MA)
(D-IL)
(D-MA)
(D-MI)
(D-WI)
(D-AZ)
(D-NH)
(R-NJ)
(D-RI)
(D-CT)
(D-MI)
(D-CA)
(D-MI)
(D-GA)
(D-IL)
(D-IA)
(D-CA)
(D-CA)
(D-NM)
(D-NM)
(D-MA)
(D-NY)
(D-NY)
(D-CA)
(D-MN)
(D-WA)
(D-MA)
(R-WV)
(D-CA)
(D-NY)
(R-MI)
Rep. Gwen Moore
Rep. Seth Moulton
Rep. Tim Murphy
Rep. Jerrold Nadler
Rep. Richard Neal
Rep. Donald Norcross
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Rep. Beto O'Rourke
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter
Rep. Scott Peters
Rep. Collin Peterson
Rep. Chellie Pingree
Del. Stacey Plaskett
Rep. Mark Pocan
Rep. Charles Rangel
Rep. Kathleen Rice
Rep. Cedric Richmond
Rep. Dennis Ross
Rep. Bobby Rush
Del. Gregorio Sablan
Rep. Loretta Sanchez
Rep. Linda Sanchez
Rep. John Sarbanes
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Rep. Adam Schiff
Rep. David Scott
Rep. Robert Scott
Rep. Krysten Sinema
Rep. Albio Sires
Rep. Louise M. Slaughter
Rep. Adam Smith
Rep. Jackie Speier
Rep. Eric Swalwell
Rep. Mark Takai
Rep. Mark Takano
Rep. Mike Thompson
Rep. Dina Titus
Rep. Paul Tonko
Rep. Niki Tsongas
Rep. Chris Van Hollen
Rep. Marc Veasey
Rep. Filemon Vela
Rep. Nydia Velazquez
Rep. Tim Walz
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman
Rep. Peter Welch
Rep. Frederica Wilson
Rep. Joe Wilson
Rep. John Yarmuth
Rep. Don Young
(D-WI)
(D-MA)
(R-PA)
(D-NY)
(D-MA)
(D-NJ)
(D-DC)
(D-TX)
(D-NJ)
(D-NJ)
(D-CO)
(D-CA)
(D-MN)
(D-ME)
(D-VI)
(D-WI)
(D-NY)
(D-NY)
(D-LA)
(R-FL)
(D-IL)
(D-MP)
(D-CA)
(D-CA)
(D-MD)
(D-IL)
(D-CA)
(D-GA)
(D-VA)
(D-AZ)
(D-NJ)
(D-NY)
(D-WA)
(D-CA)
(D-CA)
(D-HI)
(D-CA)
(D-CA)
(D-NV)
(D-NY)
(D-MA)
(D-MD)
(D-TX)
(D-TX)
(D-NY)
(D-MN)
(D-NJ)
(D-VT)
(D-FL)
(R-SC)
(D-KY)
(R-AK)