Norton Bill to Increase Transparency and Accountability at the Smithsonian Institution Passes Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that her bill, the Open and Transparent Smithsonian Act of 2015 (H.R. 3387), to subject the Smithsonian Institution to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Sunshine Act, and the Privacy Act was passed today by voice vote by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR). Norton thanked OGR Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) for bringing her bill up for a vote and her colleagues for their support.

“I am grateful to my committee colleagues for passing our nearly decade-long effort to make the Smithsonian Institution transparent and accountable to federal taxpayers, who fund 70 percent of the Smithsonian’s budget,” Norton said. “The Smithsonian is a national treasure. No Member has more of an incentive to ensure that the Smithsonian is well run than I do. It is critical to the tourist economy of my district. The Smithsonian’s structure is not unique. Government research entities like the National Institutes of Health are subject to FOIA. Corporate government entities like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) are subject to FOIA. In fact, the TVA, unlike the Smithsonian, does not receive any taxpayer funds. The Smithsonian claims it already follows the spirit of FOIA. We can only hold it accountable if it required to follow the letter of FOIA. The Smithsonian operates much like a federal agency, and should be treated like other federal agencies when it comes to openly sharing information. Although the Smithsonian has made great strides since it was dogged by scandal and mismanagement, this bill will help ensure the mistakes of the past will not be repeated. I look forward to working with Chairman Chaffetz on bringing my bill to the House floor.”

As part of her broader efforts to reform the Smithsonian, Norton has also introduced a bill, the Smithsonian Modernization Act (H.R. 3169), to strengthen both the Smithsonian’s fundraising capacity and governance. The Smithsonian has launched several crowdfunding campaigns in order to fund projects to preserve and display historical items of national importance, including Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit and Dorothy's ruby red slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.”