<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:p="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:powerpoint" xmlns:a="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:access" xmlns:dt="uuid:C2F41010-65B3-11d1-A29F-00AA00C14882" xmlns:s="uuid:BDC6E3F0-6DA3-11d1-A2A3-00AA00C14882" xmlns:rs="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:rowset" xmlns:z="#RowsetSchema" xmlns:b="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:publisher" xmlns:ss="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet" xmlns:c="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:component:spreadsheet" xmlns:odc="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:odc" xmlns:oa="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:activation" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:q="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:rtc="http://microsoft.com/officenet/conferencing" xmlns:D="DAV:" xmlns:Repl="http://schemas.microsoft.com/repl/" xmlns:mt="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/meetings/" xmlns:x2="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/excel/2003/xml" xmlns:ppda="http://www.passport.com/NameSpace.xsd" xmlns:ois="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/ois/" xmlns:dir="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/directory/" xmlns:ds="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#" xmlns:dsp="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/dsp" xmlns:udc="http://schemas.microsoft.com/data/udc" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:sub="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/2002/1/alerts/" xmlns:ec="http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#" xmlns:sp="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/" xmlns:sps="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:udcs="http://schemas.microsoft.com/data/udc/soap" xmlns:udcxf="http://schemas.microsoft.com/data/udc/xmlfile" xmlns:udcp2p="http://schemas.microsoft.com/data/udc/parttopart" xmlns:wf="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/workflow/" xmlns:dsss="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2006/digsig-setup" xmlns:dssi="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2006/digsig" xmlns:mdssi="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/package/2006/digital-signature" xmlns:mver="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns:mrels="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/package/2006/relationships" xmlns:spwp="http://microsoft.com/sharepoint/webpartpages" xmlns:ex12t="http://schemas.microsoft.com/exchange/services/2006/types" xmlns:ex12m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/exchange/services/2006/messages" xmlns:pptsl="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/SlideLibrary/" xmlns:spsl="http://microsoft.com/webservices/SharePointPortalServer/PublishedLinksService" xmlns:Z="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" xmlns:st="" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<title>American Association of Museums</title>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1621762634;
mso-list-template-ids:1511027492;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:1916010583;
mso-list-template-ids:1287322336;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level2
{mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1:level3
{mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1:level5
{mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1:level6
{mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1:level8
{mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1:level9
{mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Please read this important message regarding legislation that
affects the Museum Community. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Thank you, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Jill Koverman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>President, SCFM <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Registrars
Committee of the AAM [mailto:RCAAM@SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Benas,
Jeanne<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:21 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> RCAAM@SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU<br>
<b>Subject:</b> AAM Washington Wire: Legislative Update<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><img
id="_x0000_i1025"
src="http://www.CongressWeb.com/Assets/images/SpeakUp_legislative_fnl_rgb.jpg"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>In this issue: </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white'><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Charitable Giving Limitation
Back on the Table - </span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red'>ACT NOW!</span></b><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white'><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Funding for IMLS Office of
Museum Services <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white'><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Senate Appropriations Committee
Approves Interior Funding Bill<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white'><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Amendment to Block Funds for
Museum Earmark Defeated in Senate<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Charitable Giving Limitation
Back on the Table </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>- </span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:red'>ACT NOW!<br>
</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Earlier this year, President Obama proposed limiting the deductibility
of charitable donations for those in the upper income levels. The proposal was
designed to help pay for his comprehensive health care reform initiative.
At first, the measure was not received well on Capitol Hill, with several
senior members of the tax-writing committees calling it "dead on
arrival." But now, with the health care reform debate heating up, the
measure and a revised version are back on the table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>On July 15, the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions
Committee passed its version of a health care reform bill - estimated to cost
$615 billion over 10 years - but financing mechanisms were not identified.
The </span><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:blue'><a href="http://www.congressweb.com/t/l/?FQMQDCNZVMGBKVP">Senate
Finance Committee</a></span></u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'> is currently debating health care reform legislation and is
expected to produce a version of health care reform legislation that includes
measures to offset the high cost of the legislation. The Committee is looking
at a number of options, including a modified version of President Obama's provision
to limit the deductibility of charitable donations. The modified version would
keep current deduction levels in place when certain tax brackets change in
2011, effectively limiting the deductibility for donors whose tax rate will
increase. This modified proposal is estimated to raise $68 billion over
ten years, a little more than 11% of the total health care bill's cost.</span><span
style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>"Limiting the deductibility of charitable gifts would really
hurt museums," said <b>AAM President Ford W. Bell</b>. "Every
member of the </span><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:blue'><a href="http://www.congressweb.com/t/l/?FQMQDCNZVMHTMRN">Senate
Finance Committee</a></span></u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'> needs to hear from constituents about how this measure could
affect your museum's bottom line. Health care reform is sorely needed in
America, but a threat to charitable giving could actually force museums to lay
off staff, or cut health benefits for current employees, which would be a step
in the wrong direction."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Please take a moment to </span><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue'><a
href="http://www.congressweb.com/t/l/?FQMQDCNZVMPFSCL">TELL CONGRESS TODAY</a></span></u><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> that
charitable giving is the lifeblood of museums, and that limiting the
deductibility could have a devastating effect on your museum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Funding for IMLS Office of Museum Services <br>
</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>On Friday, July 17, the House Appropriations Committee is scheduled
to take up the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations
bill, which provides funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services
(IMLS) and its Office of Museum Services (OMS). On July 10, an appropriations
subcommittee approved an overall funding level for the entire bill of $730.5
billion - about $52 million less than President Obama requested. At press time,
no details about the subcommittee's funding level for OMS had been made public.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Funding for the IMLS Office of Museum Services (currently at $35
million) has been essentially flat for the past several fiscal years, despite
increased attendance at museums, collections subject to increasing risk, and a
growing need among museum staff for professional development in conservation,
education, and technology. The vital services museums provide to schools
and communities are in greater demand than ever. Unfortunately, museums
are struggling significantly in these difficult economic times, being forced to
cut back on hours, educational programming, community services and jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>It is more important than ever to tell Congress that museums - and
specifically, the Office of Museum Services at IMLS - deserve increased federal
support in FY10. <br>
</span><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:blue'><a href="http://www.congressweb.com/t/l/?FQMQDCNZVMFYAAU">Click
here</a></span></u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'> to send a letter to your Representative requesting $50 million (a
$15 million increase) for the Office of Museum Services. This critical
funding will support educational programming, technology upgrades, professional
development, and preservation of treasured collections at museums of all types.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>President Obama's budget request included level funding for OMS at
$35 million.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Interior Funding Bill<br>
</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>On June 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY
2010 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (H</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:navy'>.</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>R</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:navy'>.</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> 2996)
which includes funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Save America's Treasures and
Preserve America programs. The bill includes a total of $161.3 million each for
the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the
Arts, an increase of $6.3 million above the 2009 enacted level for each agency.
The Senate bill would provide the Save America's Treasures program with $20
million and Preserve America with $3.175 million.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>The next day, the House of Representatives approved its version of
H</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:navy'>.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>R</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:navy'>.</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'> 2996, including $170 million each for NEH and NEA. Within the Historic
Preservation Fund the House approved $46.5 million for state historic
preservation offices, $8 million for tribal historic preservation offices, $30
million for Save America's Treasures and $6.175 million for Preserve America.
This bill also includes funding for National Heritage Areas, national
conservation programs and funds for agency management of heritage resources.</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>The full Senate will next take up the bill, and then the House and
Senate will reconcile any differences between the two versions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Amendment to Block Funds for Museum Earmark Defeated in Senate<br>
</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>During consideration of a spending bill in the U.S. Senate, an
amendment was offered to strike $200,000 that was intended for the Durham
Museum in Omaha. The amendment, offered on July 6 by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ),
was defeated by a vote 31-61, so the funding stayed in the bill, which passed
the Senate by a vote of 67-25.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Debate ensued during consideration of the FY2010 Legislative Branch
Appropriations Bill, which funds a variety of government entities including
Congress, the Library of Congress, the Capitol Police, and the Government
Accountability Office. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>The $200,000 was requested by Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)
and was designated to help the museum digitize the roughly half-million images
in its photo archive. The "earmark" is the only one contained in the
overall spending bill. The bill now must be reconciled with the
House-passed version and then will be sent to the president.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>P.S. on National Service Initiative<br>
</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>If you - or your museum - are participating in President Obama's
"United We Serve" national service initiative, please </span><u><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue'><a
href="mailto:gsilberglied@aam-us.org">let us know</a></span></u><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> about
it. To learn more about this effort, visit </span><u><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue'><a
href="http://www.congressweb.com/t/l/?FQMQDCNZVMZKMYJ">www.serve.gov</a></span></u><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>To get involved in more advocacy for museums visit </span><u><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue'><a
href="http://www.congressweb.com/t/l/?FQMQDCNZVMIRPTK">www.speakupformuseums.org</a></span></u><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> today!
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>To make a donation to further AAM's field-wide advocacy efforts, </span><u><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:blue'><a
href="http://www.congressweb.com/t/l/?FQMQDCNZVMNWRWQ">CLICK HERE</a></span></u><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><img
border=0 id="_x0000_i1026"
src="http://www.CongressWeb.com/Assets/images/footer2a_rgb.jpg"><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=1 height=1 id="_x0000_i1027"
src="http://www.congressweb.com/t/i/?FQMQDCNZVM"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To no longer
receive email from us <a href="http://www.congressweb.com/t/u/?FQMQDCNZVM">click
here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>