The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is scheduled to consider a transportation reauthorization bill, the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21),” that would eliminate the current authorization category specifically dedicated to supporting transportation museums within the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program.
“Targeting transportation museums in this way represents a fundamental misunderstanding about the role that museums play in our communities,” said AAM President Ford W. Bell. “This is a misguided effort, especially if the goal of the legislation is to increase states’ flexibility in administering TE funds.”
Since 1992, the Transportation Enhancements Program has provided more than $110 million to support programs in transportation-related museums, and has allowed states and communities to rehabilitate bridges and tunnels, restore historic structures and revitalize local historic districts.
The Committee is scheduled to take up the bill for consideration on November 9 and AAM is continuing to monitor ongoing developments.
Please consider taking 5 minutes to send an email to your Senators today. You can use the email generating tool on the AAM website.