Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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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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