Hearing was held jointly with the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development and focused on tourism, arts, culture, museums and libraries
The House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability held a hearing on the Trump Administration’s impact on the tourism, arts and culture and library sectors in Massachusetts. The hearing was held jointly with the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. The hearing featured testimony from libraries including the Boston Public Library, the Cambridge Public Library, the American Library Association and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Testifiers from the arts and culture space included museums such as Mass MoCA, the Peabody Essex Museum, the Museum of African American History, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, and organizations such as the New England Museum Association, Mass Cultural Council, New England Foundation for the Arts, MassCreative and Mass Humanities. Testifiers from the tourism sector included the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, MeetBoston and a panel of representatives from three regional tourism councils (RTC).
“Massachusetts is home to some of the world’s best museums and libraries, most vibrant artistic and cultural communities, and is a top destination for tourists, both domestic and international. Just five months into this presidential administration, we are seeing devastating effects to these critical sectors that make Massachusetts unique and drives our economy,” said Representative Kathy LaNatra, Chair of the House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability (D – Kingston). “This hearing was an opportunity for both the Legislature and the public to better understand the effect that federal funding cuts, program eliminations, tariffs and political rhetoric are having on tourism, culture and the arts in the Commonwealth. I want to thank my co-Chairs, Senator Paul Mark and Representative Sean Garballey for their continued leadership in this space and for their partnership in hosting this hearing.”
Millions of dollars in federal spending cuts have already been made across the Commonwealth, with many stemming from the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in Executive Order 14238, as well as the 35% proposed cut to the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Grants supporting artistic, cultural, and historic organizations, as well as libraries have been abruptly rescinded, typically through a non-governmental email account in the middle of the night. While some have been reinstated through court decisions, those cases are still playing out in the judicial system, leaving many organizations uncertain of where there funding stands.
The tourism industry in Massachusetts is a top driver of economic activity in the Commonwealth. MOTT Deputy Director Ticotsky testified that there was $23.6 billion in direct spending from domestic and international visitors each year, and See Plymouth President Lea Filson testified that tourism is the number one industry in Plymouth and Plymouth County. Despite strong projections last year that international and domestic visitation would see strong growth this year, projections have changed from a near 10% increase from last year to a near 10% decrease. Among the reasons cited for this change were the political rhetoric coming from the Presidential Administration, the concern over visa crackdowns and issues at the border, leading students, workers and visitors not to enter the United States, as well as the funding cuts to organizations, such as BrandUSA that support local destination marketing organizations such as MeetBoston and RTC’s.
The Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability was created to monitor the effects of federal policy decisions on Massachusetts, particularly in areas like education, public health, veterans’ services, civil rights, and climate policy. The committee will engage with residents, businesses and stakeholders who have been impacted by President Trump’s actions, a process that will allow the House to better understand how to respond to the developments in Washington.
For questions about the Committee, concerns about Federal funding or policy that you would like directed to the Committee, or to submit written testimony to the committee, please email Christopher.Jean@mahouse.gov.