NEMA Joins Federal Formula Grants Coalition
As we’ve been reporting in NEMA News, a coalition of more than forty national, state and regional museum organizations led by the American Association for State and Local History is working to obtain a Federal Formula Grants program for museums. This program would be administered through the Institute for Museum and Library Services and would provide museum funding to states according to a formula (in part population-based) in the manner that libraries are currently funded. States would then match these funds. In October 2007, the NEMA board voted to join this coalition in order to achieve the goals listed below.
Current Status
The Coalition’s Legislative Language Committee is working with IMLS and members of Congress to come up with appropriate recommended language. The Committee will continue to refine the language and bring it back to the Coalition for discussion.
The Coalition’s State Readiness Committee will soon issue a survey to state museum associations to learn how they should proceed in developing training materials and models to help associations work toward funding at the state level.
The Coalition’s lobbyist, Washington Strategies, is currently visiting members of Congress, targeting US House of Representative members of the Education & Labor Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, a key committee in the reauthorization of IMLS.
How You Can Help
Write to your Congressperson about this important issue. Visit www.aaslh.org/FederalFormulaGrant2.htm for a draft letter for your use, along with a one-page Case for Support. Print the letter on your own stationery and FAX the letter to the Congressperson’s Washington office. Keep a copy of your letter and share it with the Coalition’s lobbying firm, Washington Strategies, so they can track contacts. Washington Strategies fax: 703-312-7139; phone: 703-351-5030.
NEMA Goals
1) To continue our efforts to obtain increased federal funding for museums.
As a member of the AAM Museum Advocacy Team, NEMA regularly contacts our senators and congressman to ask for their support. Through the “Advocacy” issue of our newsletter, regular newsletter articles, advocacy conference sessions and online Advocacy Resources, we offer museums the tools to do the same. Our participation in the Coalition is an extension of this effort.
2) To understand the most politically sophisticated approach to increasing funding.
We look forward to participating in efforts to ensure that a formula grants program will be in addition to existing museum funding. We will also assist with the development of federal legislative language and rules that help to ensure that the funding will be distributed fairly at the state level.
3) To employ our understanding of the advantages of various public funding models to inform legislative proposals.
4) To work with the Coalition to gauge the long-term financial and human resource costs of supporting the formula grants, in particular, for the state museum groups that would work to secure the matching funds.
NEMA’s efforts to secure formula grants will be in addition to our efforts to increase federal funding through IMLS, NEH, NEA and other agencies. In addition, the NEMA staff and board recognize that NEMA is your association. You represent, and NEMA exists to serve, museums of every size and discipline; this is a responsibility that we take very seriously. NEMA will continue to promote the interests of all of our members as we work with you to build a stronger museum community.
For More Information
To learn more about formula grants and the work of the Formula Grants Coalition, visit www.aaslh.org/FederalFormulaGrant2.htm and look for continuing coverage in NEMA News.