I also recognize that as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, created by Congress to carry out the bequest of James Smithson, I am also accountable to Congress and to the public. However, the guidance with our additions to the current budget has tilted the balance more and more in favor of others.
CONCERNS OVER POSSIBLE POLITICAL AGENDA
If I were to try to summarize my response to your point or criticism that is in the air and you are aware of it, I would say that the Smithsonian is not and should not be the federal equivalent of Disneyland where everything is perfect, fixed and known. Are we likely to see exhibits that allow the museum visitor to experience what it's like to live in a family that has lost its source of income due to growing environmental concerns by being coal miners in West Virginia or loggers in the Pacific? The Northwest, maybe even the miners in Nevada.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
My question is: Is the district court's decision one in which it concluded that the Smithsonian was an agency of the federal government? What concerns me is whether the court decided that the Smithsonian was an agency of the federal government.
SALARIES OF SMITHSONIAN MANAGEMENT
SMITHSONIAN PROGRAM OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES Senator Stevens. I have limited time so I'll put these in the
REPRODUCTIONS OF SMITHSONIAN QUILTS
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless the head of the federal agency concerned determines that it is not in the public interest or that the cost is unreasonable, only such products, materials, and supplies which have been mined or produced in the United States, and only such products, materials, and supplies substantially all of which have been produced in the United States from products, materials, or supplies obtained, produced, or manufactured as may be in the United States, shall be obtained for public use. 34; (b) The term ``Federal agency'' means any executive agency or any institution in the legislative or judicial branch of the government (except the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Architect of the Capitol and any activity under his direction.” (Italics).
PRODUCTION OF IMAX FILMS
There is no evidence that the increasing support given to the Smithsonian by Congress for nearly 146 years was ever intended to transform the institution of the trust instruments of the United States into a government agency. With respect to acquisitions using non-appropriated trust funds, the Smithsonian recently implemented a policy whereby the requirements of the Buy American Act will be followed in all trust fund acquisitions, with the exception of aid acquisitions (business activities).
POSTAL RATES FOR SMITHSONIAN MAIL
They are not returned to the United States and not subject to the control of this committee, is that correct. They are subject to control in the sense that our budget is fully provided for your investigation and contains all those items.
SMITHSONIAN POLICIES ON ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY Senator Stevens. The Washington Post reported that you had
The Louisville Courier reported that you have accepted control of this Kenyan ranch, a portion of this Kenyan ranch that will still be maintained by the owner. Will you use federal money to support this trust in the future without congressional approval?
NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM
In the National Museum of American History, we already have a section dedicated to - it's called Na-. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF SMITHSONIAN PROGRAMS But I think one of the things that we have to do is that we have to.
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF SMITHSONIAN PROGRAMS But I do think one of the things we've got to do is we've got to
There was every opportunity for either the Rules Committee or one of the Budget Committees to tell us that they thought there should be an authority on this. I was mayor of Salt Lake City 20 years ago and I dealt with the homeless problem at the time.
402 Senator Garn. Yes
FEDERAL FUNDING OF PROGRAMS WITH EDITORIAL COMMENT
The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian has consistently reaffirmed their decision that Dulles was the most, despite Congress reopening the entire debate. Denver is working on these planes and telling the public when they come by. If you want to see the rest of the collection, head to Denver.
OVERCOMING SETBACKS
No one can be very proud to train at Silver Hill, it is not an adequate facility with all the non-display items such as the Enola Gay and many wonderful aircraft. Geological Survey, and in fact the work of the Smithsonian, the Forest Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
MITCHELL CASE
Our ecosystems are long-term ecosystems, especially in the tropics, because that's where the Smithsonian's strength is. They make possible the kind of expertise at the Smithsonian and the study of ecosystems, which do not exist and.
SMITHSONIAN POLICIES ON COLLECTION OF SPECIMENS
FISCAL YEAR 1993 BUDGET REQUEST
Just accounting for inflation in 1993 would exceed the domestic discretionary cap by $6-2 billion. They should have looked closely at the parts of the operation that were less important and should have been cut.
SMITHSONIAN FISCAL YEAR 1993 BUDGET PRIORITIES
In a document dated April 24 of this year, the Smithsonian has provided what it describes as the first cut in the appraisal enterprise. For the record, this request is 1,666 percent above the amount appropriated for the Smithsonian for global climate change research in 1990.
LAND ACQUISITION AT THE SMITHSONIAN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER
In other words, in weighing the programs of all federal agencies and all other recipients of federal funds, the Smithsonian was considered to have a contribution to make that was not adequately funded. This seemed to represent a significant part of the problem, where no research was taking place and no research was planned. Federal cost sharing will allow the institution to protect an important area of environmental research that contributes not only to the mission of the Smithsonian, but also to that of the larger U.S. and international global change efforts. The specialized, basic research purpose that these lands require makes it more efficient for the Smithsonian to continue its historic role of land acquisition and management. long-term ecological research on air/land/water interactions in the Chesapeake Bay region.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIENCIES
Non-federal dollars were used in all purchases. No federal funds were used. We expect that future costs for acquiring additional acreage will be between $8 and $12 million (in fiscal 1992 dollars) spread over a ten-year period.
FISCAL YEAR 1993 BUDGET REQUEST FOR EDUCATION
412 [The information follows:]
TRIBUTE TO UNDER SECRETARY TURNER Senator Reid. Senator Domenici
AMERICAN ENCOUNTERS EXHIBITION
FEDERAL BUDGETARY SITUATION
I wonder if you said anything about new programs versus making sure we don't let what we do well fall apart. But the problem is always - and this is as true for Congress as it is for the Smithsonian or the Office of Management and Budget - new programs are more exciting and seem to offer the possibilities of greater public interest or something and the maintenance of what you It is very, very difficult to develop that level of enthusiasm.
INCREASE IN SMITHSONIAN VISITATION
SMITHSONIAN BUDGETARY SITUATION
DECLINE IN TRUST FUND INCOME
Fellowship Programs. - The centralized and agency grant programs will only be able to fund two of the three selected fellows. Public Affairs. – The institute's monthly calendar ad in the Washington Post has been reduced to half a page. Primary and secondary education. The Bureau had to cancel Smithsonian Opportunities for Learning, an outreach effort aimed at local teens, especially minority teens.
ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS
Visitor and Associate Information Reception Center (VIARC).—Staff, public and associate services are affected by reductions. This has resulted in the accumulation of public telephone information services; the reduction of funds available for voluntary assessment events; the elimination of participation in tourism and travel industry organizations and markets; elimination of key public information materials; Hirshhorn Museum.—All but one of the five concerts scheduled as part of the 20th Century Consort Program for fiscal year 1992 have been eliminated due to funding constraints. This program attracts a repeat audience that may now be lost. The institution has had to discontinue the practice of issuing reprints of the calendar to community groups. Limited quantities of English and foreign languages.
ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS Reorganization
The agency's request for infrastructure in the Congressional request was $3.4 million, or 25 percent of the total increase of $13.8 million (excluding uncontrollable items). 34;other expenditure items' is one of the uncontrollable increases in the agency's budget request for fiscal year 1993. 1,000,000 for the planning and design of new collections research and storage facilities at the Suitland site for artifacts related to the National Museum of the American Indian.
QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SENATOR DON NICKLES General Budget
Preventing further deterioration of finishes and restoring surfaces in the Rotunda of the Natural History Building. What is the current status of the pending permitting legislation for the expansion (page 236 of the budget statement). Ultimately, the plan is for 71 people to work at the museum as Smithsonian employees.
The drop at the Smithsonian Institution Press represents the completion of funding for the publication of the three-volume series of the Columbian Consequences. The institution will continue to look for ways to reduce the deficit.
QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SENATOR J. BENNETT JOHNSTON
It also has the ability to carry out detailed inventories of not only the better known organisms, such as the vertebrates and the vascular plants, but also poorly known organisms such as invertebrates (eg molluscs, crabs, worms, insects), algae and others groups that have not traditionally been the focus of the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Marine Systems Laboratory of the National Museum of Natural History has built detailed functional models of both the Everglades and Chesapeake Bay ecosystems. These plans have been discussed informally with officials from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and the U.
QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SENATOR JAKE GARN
Strengthening the existing Fort Pierce program and enhancing these studies by adding a comparative effort on plains and wetlands in Lafayette, Louisiana, would require $1.9 million in the first year—$950,000 and 8. Of of the total increase of $32.9 million, $22.3 million represents resources the institution needs to strengthen its programmatic, operational and facility infrastructure—an investment in its foundations—to ensure its stewardship of the Public Trust. The institution's request to OMB for infrastructure requirements equaled $32.9 million of the total increase of $43.8 million (excluding uncontrollable increases), or 75 percent.
SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS
While the agency greatly appreciates OMB's support for funding for research on global change, cultural pluralism (including the National Museum of the American Indian), and education, the strict limitations on OMB's ability to address all of the agency's priorities are support, including its infrastructure requirements, had the unfortunate result of causing this shift in the share of increases associated with infrastructure requirements and new initiatives. Because of the critical importance of addressing these infrastructure requirements, the Agency requested reconsideration of this situation as part of its call for the OMB passback for Fiscal Year 1993 in December 1991. Congress can be assured that the Agency is committed to will commit to addressing this critical infrastructure. shortcomings and will continue to make them a top budget priority within the context of these issues.
