January 22, 2003

(Action Required by January 24th)

On January 7th, Representative Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Chairman of the Select Education Subcommittee of the House Education and Workforce Committee introduced the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 (R.R. 13) a bill to reauthorize the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The bill is largely identical to legislation passed unanimously by the Education and Workforce Committee, and supported by 94 bi-partisan co-sponsors during the 107th Congress.

Currently IMLS is functioning without authorization, and the future of IMLS financial support to museum and libraries could be in jeopardy should the agency continue to operate without authorization for an extended period. It is important to continue the momentum built up during th elast weeks of the 107th Congress and the recent congressional recess and win for swift passage of H.R. 13. Without continued public support from IMLS and other federal, state, and local entities to supplement earned income and private donations, America's museums will no longer be able to meet their responsibilities as civic enterprises that contribute to building and sustaining our communities.

ACTION NEEDED:
Please call, fax, or e-mail your Representative before January 24th and ask him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 13 and support efforts to quickly bring the bill to the House floor for a vote. Please CC pheslip@hotmail.com on emails! If your Representative agrees to co-sponsor the legislation, he or she or one of their staff members, should contact Rebecca Hunt (202-225-4401), in Representative Hoekstra's office, or Rich Stombres (202-225-4527), lead staff person on the House Select Education Subcommittee, to sign on to the bill. Remember, only a Member or his or her staff person can sign up to co-sponsor.

Contact information for all members of the House of Representatives can be found on the web at www.house.gov. If you are unsure of who your Representative is follow the "Find Your Representative" link on the House Web site where you can enter your zip code to find your congressional district and Representative's name.

 Many Thanks to AAM for providing information for this Action alert.