Rep. Norm Dicks Holds a Hearing On the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget for the Smithsonian Institution

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Rep. Norm Dicks Holds a Hearing On the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget for the Smithsonian Institution

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES HOLDS A HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET FOR THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

APRIL 9, 2008

SPEAKERS: REP. NORM DICKS, D-WASH. CHAIRMAN REP. JAMES P. MORAN, D-VA. REP. MAURICE D. HINCHEY, D-N.Y. REP. JOHN W. OLVER, D-MASS. REP. ALAN B. MOLLOHAN, D-W.VA. REP. TOM UDALL, D-N.M. REP. BEN CHANDLER, D-KY. REP. ED PASTOR, D-ARIZ. REP. DAVID R. OBEY, D-WIS. EX OFFICIO

REP. TODD TIAHRT, R-KAN. RANKING MEMBER REP. JOHN E. PETERSON, R-PA. REP. JO ANN EMERSON, R-MO. REP. VIRGIL H. GOODE JR., R-VA. REP. KEN CALVERT, R-CALIF. REP. JERRY LEWIS, R-CALIF. EX OFFICIO

WITNESSES: CRISTIAN SAMPER, ACTING SECRETARY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

ANTHONY C. BEILENSON, VICE CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

[*] DICKS: Dr. Samper, we want to welcome you to the subcommittee this morning. While this is your first appearance before the committee to testify on behalf of the Smithsonian budget, you are well known to most of us because of your leadership of the institution as acting secretary for the last 13 months, and I think you've done an outstanding job.

We all know that this has been a very difficult period for the Smithsonian's dedicated staff, but it has been a necessary period of self examination and change for the institution following the precipitous departure of the previous secretary last March.

Members will talk about the many reform efforts and organizational changes which have been put in place at the Smithsonian in some detail during our hearing this morning. At the outset, however, I want to thank you for the quality of your leadership during this challenging period.

While the process has been painful, I believe the Smithsonian is now in a position to be a much stronger institution for the future than it was when this process began. While many people contributed, no one played a more important role in putting the Smithsonian back on a positive course than you did in your position as acting secretary.

You have restored morale, led an aggressive reform effort and restored public confidence. Everyone on this subcommittee, and in fact, everyone in this nation owes you a debt of gratitude for a job well done. Dr. Samper, the president has submitted a reasonable budget for the Smithsonian in the aggregate. The overall request for the Smithsonian of $716 million is a $34 million increase -- about 5 percent above the 2008 enacted level. That is a good start if measured against the $1 billion reduction proposed by the president for programs handled by this subcommittee.

Within this proposed aggregate increase, however, there are a number of difficult tradeoffs: Increases for fixed costs and for needed maintenance improvements are offset by cuts to important exhibitions and public education activities. We need to better understand these reductions.

The subcommittee will be seeking your help over the next several weeks in finding the right mix of resources to help the Smithsonian serve the country. We look forward to your testimony and to hearing your views.

And I'll turn to Mr. Tiahrt at this point.

TIAHRT: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I also welcome you, Secretary Samper, to the hearing this morning to discuss your 2009 budget, but I first must congratulate you for helping us through a very difficult time. You led the Smithsonian through, I think, one of the most challenging times in the institution's history.

I personally believe that the Smithsonian has turned a corner by embracing the reforms, and I think you are now taking the appropriate action to ensure that this institution that is respected and recognized worldwide remains strong and significant in the future.

Thank you for your leadership.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

DICKS: We'll put your entire statement in the record. You may proceed as you wish.

SAMPER: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Moran. Good morning.

With your permission, Mr. Chairman, before I read my opening statement, I just want to draw your attention to a few of the objects I brought this morning, because I think it's important to remember what the Smithsonian's all about as we enter this hearing.

And I'll just point them out briefly, and maybe at the end of the hearing, we can spend a few more minutes...

DICKS: There's a number of those over in the Longworth Building.

(LAUGHTER)

SAMPER: Well, let me point out a few things here. Let me start with a little bit of our history, right here. This iron wedge t...

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