Washington, D.C. – Wyoming is a small population state, but its libraries and museums are a big part of its rural communities and these public facilities should receive their fair share of federal resources, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said today.
Enzi spoke to fellow members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) today as they considered the reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act. This legislation provides federal funding for each state to use to improve their school and community libraries and museums, but Enzi said that not all states are being treated fairly.
"Wyoming is particularly dependent on the base grant in the Museum and Library Services Act since we receive a relatively small amount of the additional funding that is awarded on a per capita basis. I am concerned that this base grant has not been increased since 1971 and I feel strongly that this committee must ensure that small states have the same capacity to provide services as larger states," said Enzi.
In fiscal year 2002, Wyoming received $566,235 for libraries under the legislation, the least of any state. California received the most, $15,858,909.
As the bill moves through the legislative process, Enzi is working to change it so that rural states receive a more equalized portion of the base funding authorized by the act.
Legislation to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act was recently approved by the House Education and Workforce Committee. This bill would modify and streamline current law to strengthen museum and library services and ensure that library services are coordinated under the No Child Left Behind education law that President Bush signed earlier this year. The Senate HELP Committee is working on a similar measure.
Senator Enzi's Statement Follows
U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
The Museum and Library Services Act
April 10, 2002
Thank you Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to be here this morning to welcome all of our panelists and to talk about the important role that museums and libraries play in Wyoming.
As an avid reader and lover of books I understand that libraries provide critical services to communities across the nation. As the Senator from Wyoming I understand that libraries and museums play a particularly important role in rural areas that are often underserved and isolated.
I am pleased that the House Education and the Workforce Committee has taken the lead in reauthorizing the Museum and Library Services Act by approving H.R. 3784. This legislation modifies and streamlines current law to strengthen museum and library services, and ensures that library services are coordinated with activities under the No Child Left Behind Act that President Bush signed into law earlier this year.
As the Senate works to reauthorize this legislation I will be paying special attention to issues that concern small states. While Wyoming is not a small state geographically, we do have the lowest population of any state. This means that we are particularly dependent on the base grant in the Museum and Library Services Act since we receive a relatively small amount of the additional funding that is awarded on a per capita basis. I am concerned that this base grant has not been increased since 1971, and I feel strongly that this Committee must ensure that small states have the same capacity to provide services as larger states. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue.
Mr. Chairman, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Wyoming's State Librarian, Lesley Boughton, for her hard work and service to Wyoming. During her time at the Wyoming State Library I have been very impressed with her ability to ensure that all communities in Wyoming, no matter how small, have access to electronic media and library services. She has also been able make sure that librarians throughout the state have access to continuing education and training. While this is an important service in all states, it is especially critical in Wyoming since librarians do not have in-state access to a graduate degree in library science.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
