Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Montana) is leading a bipartisan coalition to prevent the Interior Department from eliminating funding for three Indian museums.

Rehberg is working with Sen. Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota), Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-South Dakota), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) and Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Oklahoma). They wrote a letter to the White House and plan to meet with Interior officials next week.

The Bush administration plans to eliminate funding for the Museum of the Plains Indian in Montana, the Sioux Indian Museum in South Dakota and the Southern Plains Indian Museum in Oklahoma by 2007. Jana McKeag, the chair of the Arts and Crafts Board, has said tribes could take over the museums' collections.

Get the Story:
Johnson, Herseth join team to save museums (AP 1/23)

Relevant Links:
Indian Arts and Crafts Board - http://www.doi.gov/iacb

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