[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 161 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. 
        Murkowski, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Warren, Mr. King, Mr. Jones, Mr. 
        Kaine, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Casey):
  S. 3530. A bill to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act; 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by a group of 
members on both sides of the aisle and in both bodies in introducing 
legislation today to renew the law that expands the reach of libraries 
and museums and enables them to better serve their communities. These 
vital institutions educate, inform, engage, and connect people from all 
walks of life.
  Our legislation, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, is 
similar to legislation I also introduced on a bipartisan basis in 
December. That legislation was developed with input and insights from 
the library and museum communities. Since that time, it became apparent 
in the library community that a vital change was needed to ensure that 
funding increases for the State formula grant program would be more 
broadly shared by States around the Nation. Under the current formula, 
smaller States have seen little in the way of new funding even as 
funding significantly increased over the last few years. The last time 
we addressed this issue was in 2003, and an update, while ensuring no 
State would lose funding, is needed today so that more communities can 
benefit from increased investments in our Federal library program.
  I am grateful our revised bill has the support of the American 
Library Association, the American Alliance of Museums, and many of 
their affiliated associations. I thank Senators Collins, Gillibrand, 
Murkowski, and our many colleagues who are joining us in introducing 
this bill today. I look forward to working with them and the entire 
Senate on moving this bill swiftly to passage.

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