The U.S. Senate on Dec. 4 unanimously passed the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in her chamber to reauthorize and provide a total of $17 million in federal funding from fiscal years 2020 through 2025, among other purposes.
S. 3530 and the same-named H.R. 6988 would renew the federal museum and library grant funding programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency that supports museums and libraries nationwide to deliver services, increase the accessibility of their collections, and advance their educational missions, among other duties.
“The bipartisan Museum and Library Services Act represents a commitment to supporting libraries and museums that do more than accumulate artifacts – they tell stories that enrich our communities and inspire the minds of future generations,” Sen. Collins said on Dec. 6. “Our bill would bolster that commitment.”
The Senate-approved S. 3530 is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who introduced the bill on Sept. 28 with Sen. Collins, the lead original cosponsor of the bill, which has garnered 22 other cosponsors, including U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS).
“Public libraries and museums are central community institutions in Maine and throughout the country,” Sen. Collins said. “Increasingly, libraries have emerged as hubs not just for literacy and Internet access, but for workforce support and access to important information.”
The lawmaker added that she will continue to work with Sen. Reed “to ensure that libraries and museums across the country receive this vital support” for programs at more than 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums nationwide.
U.S. Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ) introduced H.R. 6988 on Sept. 28. Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), the measure remains under consideration by the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee.