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UPDATES FROM HARRISBURG
Yesterday new lawmakers took their oaths of office in Harrisburg. In a very unusual turn of events, members of the PA House elected a Speaker of the House late in the day yesterday when Representative Mark Rozzi (D-Berks), supported by votes from both parties, won 115 votes.
There are many new faces in Harrisburg right now. If your museum is located in the district of one of the 56 new lawmakers, we encourage you to drop them a line in the next month or so. You can find your lawmaker here. We have drafted a simple template for your communications that you can customize or use as it is.
Harrisburg is gearing up for Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro's inauguration later in the month on January 17 in Lancaster County at Rock Lititz, a live event production company that has a large campus including a hotel. Rock Lititz has served as a rehearsal and production venue for some of the music business' top acts.
FEDERAL BUDGET PASSES IN WASHINGTON
On December 29 President Joe Biden signed the 2023 omnibus spending plan developed in Congress. Increases in funding levels for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) were included in the package. The Semiquincentennial Commission will receive $15 million as part of the spending plan. You can see a summary of the 4,000+ page bill the Senate Appropriations Committee Republicans published here.
AAM ADVOCACY DAYS
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) will bring the field together for Museums Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, February 27-28, 2023. AAM organizes this effective national advocacy campaign each year. Participants enjoy a day of advocacy training with AAM staff, expert speakers, and fellow advocates followed by visits to lawmakers' offices to bring museum issues before members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Registration is open through February 1.
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