Bipartisan, bicameral funding bill for museums, libraries to become law

The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 19 approved a bipartisan, bicameral bill to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act, which is supported by U.S. Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who are among the original cosponsors of the measure.

S. 3530 and H.R. 6988, identical bills that would renew federal museum and library grant funding programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“I am glad my colleagues came together today in a bipartisan manner to support this bill, and I will continue to ensure that south and west Texans can continue to access quality educational resources,” Rep. Hurd said following the House action.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) on Sept. 28 led the Senate version of the bill with 11 original cosponsors, including Sen. Collins. The same day, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced the House version with a bipartisan group of representatives, including Reps. Hurd and Lance.
The U.S. Senate on Dec. 4 passed the bill by unanimous consent.

“Our bill supports the largest source of federal funding for public libraries and helps ensure libraries and museums can keep telling stories that enrich our communities,” Sen. Collins tweeted on Dec. 10.

“Our public libraries, especially in rural areas, go far beyond simply providing books,” said Rep. Hurd, whose 23rd congressional district in Texas has more than 100 public libraries, college libraries and school districts. “They serve as the primary provider of literacy programming, technology training and job seeking assistance in many communities I represent across south and west Texas.”

Rep. Grijalva noted that “this bipartisan legislation conquered the gridlock of Washington, and countless libraries across the country will now have the resources they need to improve their services and reach more people.”